NJDOL, OSHA Renew Alliance to Protect Workers and Promote Workplace Safety in New Jersey

Trenton,NJ(WorkersCompensation.com) – The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL), the New Jersey State Industrial Safety Committee (NJSISC), and the U.S Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today signed an agreement renewing their collaborative relationship to continue to foster safer and healthier workplaces in the Garden State. 

Recommitting to an alliance first signed on December 18, 2018, the participating agencies will continue to share information, resources, guidance, and access to training and education to develop and improve workplace safety and health practices and programs, as well as safety recognition programs to recognize New Jersey employers who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to preventing workplace injuries and illness. 

“With the amount of time and energy workers dedicate to performing their job – and sometimes several jobs – it’s essential that we work our hardest to ensure all workers can return home each and every day just as they arrived,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “Our workers need the comfort of knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that their safety and health are valued and protected wherever their work might take them.” 

“Workplace safety and health incidents have a detrimental impact on workers and their families. For businesses, each of these incidents costs capital that is better invested to grow the enterprise and create new jobs,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Richard Mendelson in New York. “The initiatives described in this alliance will help New Jersey businesses improve their workplace safety and health systems while increasing competitiveness within their respective industries.” 

“I am very pleased with the renewal of this alliance, which establishes a strong foundation for collaborative efforts amongst the federal OSHA, NJDOL, and NJSISC to work towards continuous improvement of health and safety of New Jersey workers,” said NJSISC Chair Dhruti Thaker. “The resulting efforts will benefit the businesses as well!” 

The signing falls during Safe + Sound Week, a national event held each August, taking place this year from August 15 through 21. As stipulated in the alliance agreement, this observance is to be promoted among New Jersey employers as a time to recognize the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offer information and ideas on how to keep workers safe.  

Through its Division of Public Safety and Occupational Safety and Health, the NJDOL offers both private and public sector employers free onsite consultation visits to assess workplace safety and health. The purpose is to help employers comply with OSHA regulations and keep employees safe, but does not result in citations, penalties, or fines. The NJDOL can also assist businesses by providing safety training courses. For more information, or to sign up for a free workplace health and safety consultation or training, please visit the Division’s recently updated website: https://www.nj.gov/labor/safetyandhealth/. 

OSHA, which was created by Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, inspects and evaluates health and safety for the private industry, setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. 

The NJSISC was established within the NJDOL in accordance with N.J.S.A. 34:6A-15 to advise the Labor Commissioner on proposed rules to be adopted under the Worker Health and Safety Act and on general matters of safety promotion and accident prevention. Membership is comprised of representatives from across the state who are leaders in the field of accident prevention, or are responsible for accident prevention in their place of work.

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