The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Wisconsin Safety and Health Consultation Program (WisCon) are boosting their relationship to support dairy processors’ employee health and safety efforts.
“There’s no more valuable resource for WCMA members than their employees, and no higher priority than keeping those team members safe at work. We have always appreciated OSHA’s willingness to work with dairy manufacturers and processors toward that common goal, and we’re pleased to build on that relationship with this OSHA Alliance,” said WCMA Senior Director of Programs & Policy Rebekah Sweeney.
According to the agreement WCMA and OSHA, representatives from both organizations will meet annually to identify areas of emphasis and track progress toward several key goals. These goals include:
- Sharing information on safety laws and standards and OSHA initiatives;
- Encouraging communication between OSHA and industry to provide input on issues and forge innovative safety solutions; and
- Developing resources for the dairy processing industry on common workplace hazards, worker rights, and employer responsibilities.
“Through this alliance OSHA and the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association will develop effective training and education programs that will protect workers in the dairy processing industry,” added OSHA Area Director Robert Bonack, in Appleton, Wisconsin. “Our programs will focus on protecting workers from known industry hazards associated with machinery, occupational noise, heat illness and electrical safe work practices to ensure every employee safely completes their shifts each day.”
WCMA has worked with OSHA on the development of two new training programs: Basic Safety Training for Dairy Processors, offered either in-person at WCMA’s training center in Madison or online, teaches participants about their rights, employer responsibilities, and - most importantly - how to identify, abate, and avoid job-related hazards they may encounter. The curriculum concentrates on safety strategies related to machine guarding, lockout/tag out, prevention of slips, trips, and falls, chemical controls, and control of hazardous energy - the key focus areas of the OSHA’s ongoing Regional Emphasis Program for food processors. The other class, Train the Safety Trainer, is designed to equip the dairy processing industry's safety trainers with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to effectively communicate safety expectations and protocols for maximum compliance.
“Training curriculum stems from OSHA recommendations and regulation, but it’s also been developed with input from dairy processors. Members of WCMA’s Health & Safety Group continue to demonstrate their dedication to the safety of not only their individual workplaces, but of the safety of all who work in our industry,” said Sweeney.
Foremost Farms was selected as the host for the launch of this alliance for its commitment to respecting OSHA standards and dedication to putting the safety of every employee first. The dairy cooperative and food manufacturer has maintained a strong safety record over the years and includes “working safely in all we do” as part of its core values. Among its eight processing plants, it currently has two impressive safety milestones. Its Richland Center, Wisc., plant has reached nearly 1.2 million hours and its Greenville, Mich., plant is approaching 1,500 days without a lost time incident.
