November 7, 2011 - The Michigan Laborers' Training & Apprenticeship Institute (MLTAI) and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) signed a formal alliance today to provide training opportunities to help participants recognize construction hazards and learn how to solve jobsite problems in a safe and productive manner.  The MIOSHA program is part of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

"We are pleased to join with the Michigan Laborers' Training & Apprenticeship Institute to protect our working men and women," said MIOSHA Director Doug Kalinowski.  "This alliance offers great opportunities to share best practices, to provide unique training opportunities and to help create safer and healthier workplaces throughout Michigan."

The Alliance formalizes a working relationship between MLTAI and MIOSHA to utilize their three state-of-the-art training centers to provide unique safety and health training opportunities for their members and all participants.  The target audience for this alliance is apprentices, journeymen and others who work on energy distribution, renewable energy, home performance, building trades and/or civil and heavy highway projects.

Signing the alliance were:   MLTAI Director Lynn Coleman, MLTAI Deputy Director Daryl Gallant, MLTAI Apprenticeship Director Scott McDonald, MIOSHA Director Doug Kalinowski, MIOSHA Deputy Director Bart Pickelman, and CET Division Director Nella Davis-Ray.

"I am really excited about this alliance between MIOSHA and MLTAI because it will help improve the quality of training for every student that attends classes with us," said Gallant.   "I believe the alliance will help our participants to become safer and more productive construction workers."

The purpose of this Alliance is to protect the safety and health of Michigan construction workers, as well as ensure employers and management view safety as a priority in the workplace.  The key goals of this alliance include:

• Provide the 5,000 participants they train each year with the best, most dynamic and engaging safety and health training, with an emphasis on pre-job planning.
• Provide detailed hands-on training to guarantee that MIOSHA regulations are implemented on participant jobsites.
• Collaborate with MIOSHA to provide simulated jobsite safety inspections during some MIOSHA 10-hour and 30-hour seminars.
• Provide training participants with the skills needed to implement and participate in accident prevention programs.
• Share information on MLTAI and MIOSHA websites and through other communication methods to improve the working environments of the participants.
• Work with the seven Laborers' Locals, the EPA Minority Grant Department and all participating contractor associations throughout Michigan to promote MIOSHA Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division services.

Alliances enable organizations committed to workplace safety and health to collaborate with MIOSHA to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses.  Alliances are open to all groups, including: trade or professional associations, businesses, labor organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies.

There are many benefits to participating in an alliance with MIOSHA.  Through this program, organizations will:

• Build trusting, cooperative relationships.
• Network with others committed to workplace safety and health.
• Exchange information about best practices.
• Leverage resources to maximize worker safety and health protection.

"The MIOSHA program is dedicated to working with employers, both public and private sector - to find innovative ways to enhance workplace safety and health," said Kalinowski.  "Through alliances, MIOSHA can offer employers a voluntary, cooperative relationship to eliminate serious hazards and achieve a high level of safety and health."

For over 30 years the Michigan Laborers' Training and Apprenticeship Institute has served the training needs of Construction Craft Laborers and their Signatory Employers.  MLTAI's goal is to assist in making members of the Laborers' International Union of North America safer, more productive and more employable construction workers.  Whether it is commercial construction, underground construction, highway construction or environmental remediation, MLTAI develops relationships with industry leaders to ensure that training offered is up-to-date and relative to the needs of the industry.  With its three state-of-the-art facilities and its mobile training unit, MLTAI is poised to serve the training needs of Construction Craft Laborers' and their Signatory Employers for years to come.

For more information about forming an alliance or partnership with MIOSHA, please check our website at www.michigan.gov/miosha or contact the Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division at 517.322.1809.