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(Washington, DC) – The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced the formation of an Alliance to promote health and safety in workplaces throughout the recycling industry. Through the Alliance, ReMA will team with OSHA to provide ISRI’s members and others with information, guidance, training, and other resources to protect the health and safety of workers within the scrap recycling industry.

“ISRI’s Alliance with OSHA underscores the recycling industry’s commitment to worker safety and the fact that it is truly a core value for the association and its members,” said Doug Kramer, chair of ISRI. “Through ISRI’s safety outreach programs and initiatives such as the Circle of Safety Excellence™, we have made great strides in improving worker safety throughout the industry but know that further efforts are still needed. Now with the support of OSHA behind us, ReMA will be able to provide even greater resources for our members to ensure their workers return home safely to their families every night.”

One of the goals of the new Alliance is to promote a culture of safety within the scrap recycling industry that works towards the reduction of workplace-incidents and prevention of worker exposure to hazards. This includes those associated with powered industrial trucks and other machinery, insufficient hazard communication, lead, improper electrical wiring methods, control of hazardous energy, and others. Injury, illness, and hazard exposure data will be used to prioritize areas of emphasis for Alliance activities.

“These hazards can result in serious injuries and death for workers in the scrap recycling industry,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “We are pleased to partner with ReMA in developing effective tools to control or eliminate safety and health hazards in this industry.”

It is anticipated that alliance activities will focus in the following three areas:

• Raising Awareness of OSHA’s Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives;
• Training and Education, including improving existing resources to promote greater utilization and improved safety outcomes, as well as the development and dissemination of new tools, in different languages as appropriate; and
• Communications and Outreach.

As part of the Alliance, ReMA and OSHA will collaborate on events such as ReMA Safety and Environmental Council (ISEC) meetings, ISRI’s Safety Stand-Down Day, and ISRI’s annual convention to provide compliance assistance for attendees, and promote and distribute OSHA, ISRI, and other available safety resources. Both sides will also include information within current publications regarding cooperative programs in which ReMA members could benefit. In addition, ReMA will help OSHA in promoting initiatives such as its Fall Prevention Stand-Down Day, the use of workplace safety and health management systems, and Heat Illness Prevention Campaign.

All ReMA members will be encouraged to take full advantage of the additional resources and training this Alliance provides. There is no additional cost or requirements for ReMA members to participate.

Picture available upon request.

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The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the Voice of the Recycling Industry™. ReMA represents more than 1,600 companies in 21 chapters nationwide that process, broker and industrially consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, DC, the Institute provides safety, education, advocacy, and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development.