MSHA creates safety alliance with Portland Cement Association Alliance will focus on health and safety at cement facilities in 36 states
ARLINGTON, Va. - The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced the formation of a health and safety alliance with the Portland Cement Association (PCA), a membership association consisting of 30 companies operating 115 plants in 36 states.
"This alliance will be a significant step forward in our efforts to ensure that workers go home from their jobs healthy and safe. Increasing cement worker safety awareness will help reduce risk, and improve injury and illness rates in the industry," said MSHA acting Assistant Secretary Richard E. Stickler during a signing ceremony with PCA President and Chief Executive Officer Brian McCarthy.
The alliance brings MSHA and the PCA together to promote a national dialogue on the safety and health of employees working in the cement industry. MSHA and the PCA will work together, and combine resources and expertise to jointly engage in health and safety outreach efforts to the nation's cement workers. Actions resulting from this alliance include:
Development and distribution of industry-specific health and safety information.
Analysis of citation data to create training and education tools that will focus the industry on high priority challenges to cement worker health and safety.
Evaluation of hazards using applied engineering techniques to improve cement plant safety and health.
Identification of safety and health conditions that the alliance needs to direct its attention through the analysis of industry-specific surveys.
MSHA's alliance program enables organizations committed to mine safety and health to collaborate with the agency to prevent injuries and illnesses in the workplace. MSHA and its allies work together to reach out to, educate and lead the nation's mine operators and miners in improving and advancing mine safety and health. The all-injury rate for mines declined 33 percent between 2000 and 2007 to an all-time low of 3.43 reported injuries per 200,000 hours worked.
