OSHA, Mexican Consulate in Dallas sign alliance to protect safety, health of Spanish-speaking workers

Original article published by OSHA

Promotes employee workplace rights for Spanish-speaking workers

OSHA Dallas Area Director Basil Singh, Fort Worth Area Director Timothy Minor and Mexico’s Consul in Dallas Francisco de la Torre Galindo signing an alliance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On June 14, 2023, OSHA Dallas Area Director Basil Singh, Fort Worth Area Director Timothy Minor and Mexico’s Consul in Dallas Francisco de la Torre Galindo signed an alliance to promote understanding of the workplace safety and health rights and responsibilities and provide resources for North Texas’ Spanish-speaking workers. 

Alliance description: On June 14, 2023, OSHA’s area offices in Dallas and Fort Worth and the Dallas Mexican Consulate entered into a two-year alliance to provide Spanish-speaking employers and workers in North Texas with information, guidance and access to workers’ rights resources.

The alliance provides workplace safety and health outreach and training materials to the area’s Mexican nationals, including construction and general industry employees and employers, providing information, guidance and training resources that will help protect the health and safety of workers. The alliance is also focused on helping employers understand worker rights and their responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Background: OSHA’s Alliance Program works with groups committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. These groups include unions, consulates, trade or professional organizations, businesses, faith- and community-based organizations, and educational institutions. OSHA and the groups work together to develop compliance assistance tools and resources, share information with workers and employers and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities.

Quote: “OSHA’s alliance with the Mexican Consulate in Dallas will prevent many Spanish-speaking people working in North Texas from needless injuries or worse,” explained OSHA Area Director Basil Singh in Dallas. “Every U.S. worker, regardless of their immigration status, has the right to a safe workplace and to receive information in their own language.”

“Working with the Mexican Consulate in Dallas will help us reach out to many workers who we might not otherwise have access to,” explained OSHA Area Timothy Minor in Fort Worth, Texas. “By breaking down the language barrier, we can help these workers understand the rights to be protected from needless harm.”


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Labor Rights Week is Aug. 29-Sept. 2

First published by OSHA
During Labor Rights Week (Aug. 29-Sep. 2) we emphasize the rights of all workers in the United States to a safe and healthful workplace and full payment of wages earned. The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to improving the well-being of underserved, marginalized and excluded communities and ensuring that all workers’ voices are heard.

Durante la Semana de los Derechos Laborales (del 29 de agosto al 2 de septiembre) hacemos hincapié en los derechos de todos los trabajadores de Estados Unidos a un lugar de trabajo seguro y saludable y al pago íntegro de los salarios ganados. El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. se compromete a mejorar el bienestar de las comunidades desatendidas, marginadas y excluidas, y a garantizar que las voces de todos los trabajadores sean escuchadas.

Labor Rights Week August 29 - September 2 dol.gov/LaborRightsWeek

McCraren Compliance assists employers in protecting their workers, starting with a comprehensive Work-site Analysis, Hazard Prevention, Controls, and Safety & Health Training.

Please contact us today at 888-758-4757 to learn how we can provide mine safety training and consulting for your business.


US Department of Labor issues stronger workplace guidance on coronavirus

First published by OSHA

New OSHA guidance seeks to mitigate, prevent viral spread in the workplace

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued stronger worker safety guidance to help employers and workers implement a coronavirus prevention program and better identify risks which could lead to exposure and contraction. Last week, President Biden directed OSHA to release clear guidance for employers to help keep workers safe from COVID-19 exposure.

Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace” provides updated guidance and recommendations, and outlines existing safety and health standards. OSHA is providing the recommendations to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace.

“More than 400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and millions of people are out of work as a result of this crisis. Employers and workers can help our nation fight and overcome this deadly pandemic by committing themselves to making their workplaces as safe as possible,” said Senior Counselor to the Secretary of Labor M. Patricia Smith. “The recommendations in OSHA’s updated guidance will help us defeat the virus, strengthen our economy and bring an end to the staggering human and economic toll that the coronavirus has taken on our nation.”

Implementing a coronavirus prevention program is the most effective way to reduce the spread of the virus. The guidance announced today recommends several essential elements in a prevention program:

  • Conduct a hazard assessment.
  • Identify control measures to limit the spread of the virus.
  • Adopt policies for employee absences that don’t punish workers as a way to encourage potentially infected workers to remain home.
  • Ensure that coronavirus policies and procedures are communicated to both English and non-English speaking workers.
  • Implement protections from retaliation for workers who raise coronavirus-related concerns.

“OSHA is updating its guidance to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus and improve worker protections so businesses can operate safely and employees can stay safe and working,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick.

The guidance details key measures for limiting coronavirus’s spread, including ensuring infected or potentially infected people are not in the workplace, implementing and following physical distancing protocols and using surgical masks or cloth face coverings. It also provides guidance on use of personal protective equipment, improving ventilation, good hygiene and routine cleaning.

OSHA will update today’s guidance as developments in science, best practices and standards warrant.

This guidance is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations. It contains recommendations as well as descriptions of existing mandatory safety and health standards. The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content and are intended to assist employers in recognizing and abating hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm as part of their obligation to provide a safe and healthful workplace.


McCraren Compliance assists employers in protecting their workers, starting with a comprehensive Work-site Analysis, Hazard Prevention, Controls, and Safety & Health Training.

Please contact us today at 888-758-4757 to learn how we can provide mine safety training and consulting for your business.