The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) has become part of a critical new dairy-focused alliance, teaming up with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Wisconsin Safety and Health Consultation Program (WisCon) to further 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 Rebekah Sweeney, WCMA Senior Director of Programs and Policy.
Representatives from both organizations will meet annually to identify areas of emphasis and track progress toward several key goals, according to an agreement signed by WCMA and OSHA. As outlined in a recent release, these goals include:
“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 Robert Bonack, OSHA Area Director 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 collaborated with OSHA on the development of two new training programs. Basic Safety Training for Dairy Processors teaches participants about their rights, employer responsibilities, and how to identify, abate, and avoid job-related hazards they may encounter.
As the release detailed, 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.
The announcement of the newfound alliance was hosted by Foremost Farms USA, a WCMA member cooperative active in the Association’s employee safety programs. As the press release added, 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.
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