New OSHA Alliance Looks to Improve Safety for Hispanics in Dover, N.J.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor has joined Saint John’s Episcopal Church in an effort to reduce the number of Hispanic workers, including day laborers, exposed to falls, amputations, electrical and struck-by/crushed-in hazards in the general and construction industries in the Dover, N.J., area.

Through the alliance, formally launched at a recent signing ceremony, OSHA and Saint John’s will work together to provide safety and health expertise, training and education programs for workers with limited English skills. Included in the safety training will be ways to avoid falls, amputations, electrical and other hazardous injuries. OSHA’s 10-hour construction and general-industry courses may also be available in Spanish.

“We see this alliance as an opportunity to reach out and provide life-saving information to members of the Hispanic community, and look forward to working with Saint John’s on this vital effort,” said Phil Peist, director of the OSHA’s Parsippany office.

Among other things, OSHA and Saint John’s will encourage bilingual individuals to take the OSHA Train-the-Trainer course; work with the Hispanic community in New Jersey through the church; and raise others’ awareness of their commitment to workplace safety and health whenever Saint John’s Episcopal Church leaders address groups.

Representatives of both organizations will meet at least three times a year to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the alliance.