OSHA, lubricant manufacturers group renew alliance

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA) recently renewed their alliance and will continue encouraging employers, including small businesses, to increase access to safety and health information for employees. The alliance focuses on reducing and preventing exposure to industrial hazards and issues related to above ground storage tanks.

"The collaborative relationship between OSHA and ILMA over the past two years has produced useful and informative materials for employers and employees in manufacturing," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke Jr. "As the alliance moves forward in its efforts to improve safety, we remain committed to promoting healthful working conditions for the working men and women in this industry."

Through the alliance, ILMA published an article by Assistant Secretary Foulke titled "Making the Business Case for Safety and Health" in the March 2007 issue of Compoundings. ILMA developed guidance resources including "Dermal Assessment Guide," a tool to help small businesses understand the potential connection between the use of metal removal fluids in facility operations and the development of dermatitis. The organization also produced Metalworking Fluids in Small Business: A Health and Safety "QUICKSTART" Guide, a step-by-step outline on working safely with metalworking fluids (MWFs) and how businesses can effectively manage the health, safety and environmental impacts of MWFs. In addition, the association's representatives serve on the editorial boards for OSHA's Safety and Health Topics pages on Dermal Exposure, Making the Business Case for Safety and Health, and Metalworking Fluids.

"ILMA is pleased to renew its alliance with OSHA for the second time," said executive director Celeste M. Powers, CAE. "Our alliance keeps open channels of communication with OSHA, enabling us to enhance our continuing efforts to share health and safety information on lubricant products with our members, their employees, their customers and different publics our industry serves."

"Renewing our alliance with OSHA was a ‘no-brainer’ for ILMA's Safety, Health, Environmental and Regulatory Affairs Committee," stated John Burke of Houghton International Inc. and ILMA's committee chairman. "Over the course of our alliance relationship, we have spoken at each other's events, written for each other's periodicals and created a series of first-rate materials that have had a material impact on improving health and safety in workplaces where lubricants are used."

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.