OSHA Enlists U.S. Army in Partnership Renewal
OSHA said Friday it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the U.S. Department of the Army to continue their commitment to improving the safety and health of civilian and contract employees working at Army installations. In all, 37 installations and organizations will participate in the partnership to achieve the following goals:
- Reduce civilian and contractor workforce fatalities, injuries, and illnesses at each participating Army installation by at least 3 percent each year consistent with the President's Safety, Health and Return-to-Employment (SHARE) goals.
- Increase awareness of the value of effective safety and health management systems.
- Expand the Army's participation in the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).
- Share best practices and successes with non-partner Army installations and others with similar safety and health issues or concerns.
- Convey civilian workforce safety and health best practices and injury/illness reduction lessons to soldiers where appropriate.
According to OSHA, strategies to achieve these goals include reviewing data to identify the underlying factors causing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities; conducting employee awareness surveys; developing communication tools to promote safety and health; and facilitating the use of mentors and Special Government Employees to help participating sites apply for and achieve VPP status.
"I am pleased that the Army has joined this partnership with OSHA to promote and achieve safety and health excellence," said OSHA chief Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "In renewing our Strategic Partnership, we will work cooperatively to reduce occupational injuries and illnesses by developing systems and best practices to prevent workplace hazards. I am confident that this partnership will continue to produce significant improvements in safety and health at Army installations nationally and worldwide."