October 13, 2004—The US, Mexico, and Canada have agreed to an active program of cooperative efforts to advance job safety and health next year under labor accords that the three nations have established under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC). A working group consisting of government leaders and experts from the three nations held a meeting last month in New Orleans that included labor and industry stakeholders for the first time.
Highlights of the 2005 work plan include:
- An expanded and enhanced Web page,
- A training workshop for safety and health inspectors,
- A workshop on risk assessment for chemicals in the workplace,
- Continued work on the Globally Harmonized System for hazard communication, and
- Establishing a recognition program for companies that excel in occupational safety and health.
Additional future projects will include completing a strategy to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses among youth; exchanging information on safety and health management in the construction industry; providing safety and health training on fall protection and pressure vessels in Mexico; and expanding access to safety and health materials on each country’s Web site.
