ISSA is pleased to announce the signing of a formal alliance agreement with the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to promote the safety and health of workers in the cleaning industry.

“ISSA has been working toward the Alliance for some time, and the association is extremely excited to have the opportunity to work more closely with OSHA to help protect the safety and health of the cleaning industry's most valuable asset--its workforce," says ISSA Vice President/ President Elect Bobby Cohen. "As the leading association representing all sectors within our industry, ISSA is ideally situated to improve workplace safety and health across the spectrum of the cleaning industry.

Ultimately, working side-by-side with OSHA will help ISSA provide crucial information to employers in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.”

The new ISSA/OSHA alliance will focus on hazard communication issues, including the use of labels, material safety data sheets and employee training to convey hazard information to workers, as well as floor safety. While the focus will be on these two topics, the alliance will also allow ISSA to provide industry-specific information and guidance on all occupational safety and health issues.

ISSA and OSHA expect to fulfill the alliance's education goals through the development and distribution of industry-specific health and safety resources, including improved training materials and a Website dedicated to workplace safety and health in the cleaning industry. Further, ISSA and OSHA expect to conduct complimentary workshops and seminars on various occupational safety and health topics, including possible seminars to be held in conjunction with ISSA's annual ISSA/ INTERCLEAN tradeshow.

"The alliance with OSHA illustrates ISSA's continued commitment to workplace safety and health," says Cohen. "Hazard communication and floor safety are crucial issues that both suppliers and users of cleaning products must deal with everyday. It is ISSA's responsibility to assist employers in maintaining a well-educated, prepared workforce."

In addition to education, ISSA and OSHA will work together to promote workplace health and safety on a national level.

OSHA has already set up a web page dedicated to the alliance. It can be found at http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/issa/issa.html.

For more information on the ISSA/OSHA Alliance, please contact Dan Wagner or Bill Balek, ISSA, at 800-225-4772 or 847-982-0800.