ACROSS Our PRESS DESK......

Sam Cahan, PE                          

OSHA Alliance To Aid Small Businesses

A new alliance between OSHA and the Center for Business and Public Policy (CBPP) at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business will focus on issues that are important to general industry and small business, such as the economic value of safety and health programs.

"Education is one of the cornerstones of safety and health," said Jonathan L. Snare, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. "This alliance offers a unique opportunity to work directly with the business leaders of tomorrow and establish a foundation of knowledge on the value of effective safety and health programs."

"Our alliance will promote both OSHA's interest in assuring a healthy and safe workplace, as well as the Center's interests in understanding the business and economic drivers behind a safe and healthy workplace," added John W. Mayo, executive director, Center for Business and Public Policy, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University. "This partnership of 
academic and government resources will create new insights and improve policymaking beyond what either of us could do alone."

Through the alliance, OSHA and CBPP will work to deliver workplace safety and health courses as part of the business school curriculum through Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business course "Contemporary Safety/Health Issues for Business" course, and others.

The alliance members also will work to provide businesses and safety professionals with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help protect employees' health and safety, with particular focus on issues significant to general industry and small businesses. The organizations will develop and disseminate best practices and case studies 
that illustrate the business value of occupational safety and health, and participate in forums and other meetings to help establish innovative solutions in the workplace.

A team of OSHA and CBPP representatives will meet at least three times a year to develop an action plan, identify potential project and activities, and establish the roles and responsibilities of the participants. OSHA also will encourage state plan states and consultation projects to participate in the alliance.

Center for Business and Public Policy: http://msb.georgetown.edu/faculty/research/public_policy 

OSHA's Alliance Program: http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/index.html