WASHINGTON (September 28, 2020) – The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) signed on Tuesday, Sept. 15, the renewal of the ACC OSHA Alliance, which continues to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces operating with diisocyanate chemicals along the polyurethane value chain. Three groups from ACC continue to lead the work with OSHA: the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI), the Diisocyanates (DII) and Aliphatic Diisocyanates (ADI) panels.
The Alliance has two primary goals: raising awareness of OSHA’s national rulemaking and initiatives, the Alliance, and its goals through outreach and communication efforts; and conducting training to educate employers, workers and OSHA officials on the safe use and handling of diisocyanates in the polyurethanes value chain.
“We’re excited to continue partnering with OSHA to enhance safety in American workplaces,which remains a top priority for the polyurethanes industry,” said Lee Salamone, senior director of CPI. “The Alliance is important for cultivating new relationships with not only OSHA, but other organizations within the OSHA Alliance program all working to support safe and healthy workplaces.”
Over the past two years, the Alliance has achieved many successes, including the publication of important guidance documents focusing on strengthening worker and workplace safety. Additionally, the Alliance has helped educate the polyurethanes value chain on OSHA initiatives such as Fall Protection and Hazard Communication by inviting safety professionals from OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices to speak at industry meetings.
The Alliance partnership continues to provide members, occupational physicians, stakeholders and others in the polyurethanes value chain with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them further protect the health and safety of workers.
“Safety is a top priority of the chemical industry, and the renewal of this Alliance provides a wonderful platform to extend our efforts of enhancing worker protections,” said Sahar Osman-Sypher, director of the DII and ADI panels. “We look forward to building on our achievements from the past two years by further educating and training workers and employers on diisocyanates safe handling.”
“OSHA’s renewed alliance with ACC will help ensure that employers and employees in the polyurethane industry are able to recognize the hazards associated with these chemicals, and implement the methods to control employee exposures,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt.
The agreement, which was signed on Sept. 15, provides the framework for the two organizations to work together toward the previously mentioned common goals. The agreement also stipulates a timeframe of five years — through September 2025 — for the Alliance.
For more information about diisocyanates and polyurethanes, please visit CPI’s website, which hosts an extensive resource library. The DII panel page and the ADI panel page each contain a wide range of resources, including a video that showcases how daily products are made better with diisocyanates.