The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA, Des Plaines, Ill.) renewed a two-year alliance to promote worker safety and health in the areas of lift-truck operation, material handling, and hazard communication and chemical safety.
"Renewing our alliance with IWLA allows us to continue our joint efforts to enhance the safety and health of thousands of workers employed in the warehouse logistics industry," said Jonathan L. Snare, assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. "Together, we'll continue to provide valuable information and training resources on issues directly related to the warehouse industry, including a strong focus on forklift safety and youth workers."
Alex Glann, president and CEO of IWLA, added, "I am pleased to reaffirm this important alliance with OSHA on behalf of the more than 430 warehouse logistics companies IWLA represents. Working with OSHA the past two years we have expanded these efforts, enhancing the safety of the estimated 500,000 workers employed in the logistics industry.”
The relationship was first initiated in February 2004. During the first two years of the alliance, OSHA executive staff presented at IWLA conferences and the association shared information through its publications about the agency compliance assistance activities and tools. In addition, IWLA representatives reviewed and provided OSHA with feedback on the agency's warehouse-related compliance assistance tools and publications.
IWLA represents third-party warehouse-based logistics firms, warehouse/logistics divisions of industry firms, and warehouse logistics professionals around the world, and serves to foster and promote the growth and success of public and contract warehousing and related logistics services.
