New Alliance to Promote Safety for La. Workers

Furthering the safety and health of Louisiana workers is the goal of an alliance signed this week between the Baton Rouge area office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ).

OSHA’s alliances are part of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao’s ongoing efforts to improve the health and safety of workers. Through alliances, trade and professional organizations, businesses, labor organizations and educational institutions are able to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for training and outreach aimed at preventing workplace injuries and illnesses.

“This is an opportunity for OSHA and the LDEQ to pool resources by cross-training investigators on how to recognize hazardous situations in the workplace and ultimately improve worker safety and environmental issues in Louisiana,” said Greg Honaker, OSHA area director in Baton Rouge.

The main goal of the alliance is to utilize the resources of both agencies to safeguard workers. “When OSHA investigators observe potential environmental hazards, they will bring them to the attention of the employer and LDEQ will do the same for potential OSHA safety hazards,” said Honaker.

LDEQ is a state agency that provides environmental, compliance and assessment services in Louisiana through comprehensive environmental programs. Services include providing outreach and educational materials related to pollution, recycling and litter. LDEQ also provides environmental assistance and improved public participation for small businesses, schools and communities and conducts compliance inspections of industrial facilities. The agency has approximately 1,000 employees in six regional offices within the state.

OSHA has created more than 300 alliances nationwide with organizations committed to fostering safety and health in the workplace.