OSHA and Georgia Organizations Form Silica Alliance
The alliance aims to reduce Atlanta-area construction workers' exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
OSHA recently formed an alliance with a group of organizations in Atlanta in order to reduce workers' exposure to silica, OSHA reports. Officially signed April 15 in Atlanta, the alliance aims to provide those in the construction industry information, guidance and training to prevent overexposure to crystalline silica dust.
Representatives of the Georgia Tech Research Institute's Occupational Health and Safety Division, Brasfield & Gorrie LLC, the Georgia Local Section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the Georgia Chapter of the America Society of Safety Engineers, and OSHA all signed the alliance agreement. According to OSHA's news release, the purpose of the alliance is to develop compliance assistance tools and resources to educate workers and employees, and alliance participants are not exempt from OSHA inspections.
"This alliance demonstrates the proactive commitment of federal, state and other partners to protect the safety and health of workers in the construction industry," said Teresa Harrison, OSHA's acting regional administrator in Atlanta.