OSHA Alliance Renewed

January 1, 2008

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The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) has renewed its alliance agreement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to improve worker safety and health in the metalforming industry. Originally signed on November 17, 2005, and renewed on November 29, 2007, the alliance focuses on reducing exposure to ergonomic hazards and addressing press safety issues such as machine guarding and lockout/tagout to prevent amputations and other injuries.

“PMA is pleased to be renewing our alliance and continuing to work with OSHA on such critical issues as power press safety and ergonomics,” says William E. Gaskin, PMA president. “We look forward to building on the progress we have made during the past two years, and to further promoting employee safety and health in the metalforming industry.”

“Protecting the safety and health of America’s working men and women is OSHA’s top priority,” adds Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke Jr. “Through our partnership with PMA, we will continue to address safety hazards and develop products and tools to maintain the well-being of employees in the metalforming industry.”

Through the alliance, PMA and OSHA have revised the ergonomics and mechanical power press checklists from PMA’s Safety Guidelines booklet; are nearing completion of a series of safety posters for the industry; and are working together to update PMA’s Safety First training program. In addition, representatives from OSHA have spoken at several PMA events, including its Annual Meeting, METALFORM Conference and two pressroom safety seminars.

Additional information about the PMA-OSHA alliance is available at www.pma.org/about/osha.