The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) announced on Feb. 4 that they have formed an alliance with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to enhance workplace and community safety. The associations said the alliance will build upon the stewardship efforts of ResponsibleAg, a voluntary program created in 2014 by TFI and ARA to improve safety and security at agricultural retail facilities.
“Safety is a key priority for the fertilizer industry,” said TFI President and CEO Chris Jahn. “Through this alliance we will provide partner members and the public with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help them protect the health, safety, and security of workers, emergency responders, and the communities surrounding agricultural retail and supply facilities, with a particular focus on the safe storage and handling of fertilizers.”
The alliance will remain in effect for two years, with representatives from each organization meeting periodically to discuss the responsibilities of the participants, share information on activities, and track results in achieving goals. The alliance said it has already completed its first project with the launch of a training video showing a mock agricultural retail facility inspection. The video was filmed at the ResponsibleAg training facility in Owensboro, Ken.
Additional objectives include the sharing of information on OSHA’s National Initiatives, and opportunities to participate in initiatives and the rulemaking process; sharing information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers; speaking, exhibiting, and/or appearing at OSHA, TFI, and ARA conferences, local meetings, or other events, including the OSHA Alliance Program Forum; sharing information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding TFI and ARA good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures; and encouraging TFI local sections and ARA members to build relationships with OSHA regional and area offices to address health and safety issues, including the safe storage and handling of fertilizers.
“Safety is much larger than one person or one company,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “Safety also means being a good steward – a good steward of the land, business, employees, and the communities in which we operate. This alliance is a positive step for ARA, TFI, and OSHA to work together on an issue that is top of mind for ag retailers.”