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PCCA Journal|4
th
Quarter 2010
31
B
ecause motor vehicle crashes
are a leading cause of worker
fatalities, Secretary of Labor
Hilda L. Solis in September
announced a partnership between
the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration and the U.S. Depart-
ment of Transportation to combat
distracted driving.
“It is imperative that employers
eliminate financial and other incen-
tives that encourage workers to text
while driving,” Solis said. “It is well
recognized that texting while driving
dramatically increases the risk of a
motor vehicle injury or fatality.”
Prohibiting texting while driving
is the subject of an executive order
signed by President Obama last
year for federal employees and the
subject of rulemaking by the Depart-
ment of Transportation. OSHA is
launching a multi-pronged initiative
that includes:
An education campaign for em-
•
ployers, launched during “Drive
Safely Work Week” in early
October, will call on employers
to prevent occupationally related
distracted driving, with a special
focus on prohibiting texting while
driving.
An open letter to employers to be
•
posted on OSHA’s website during
“Drive Safely Work Week.” The
website also will showcase model
employer policies and encourage
employer and labor associations to
communicate OSHA’s message.
Alliances with the National Safety
•
Council and other key organiza-
tions as outreach to employers,
especially small employers, aimed
at combating distracted driving
and prohibit texting while driving.
Special emphasis on reaching
•
younger workers by coordinat-
ing with other Labor Department
agencies as well as alliance part-
ners and stakeholders.
Investigate and issue citations and
•
penalties where necessary to end
the practice when OSHA receives a
credible complaint that an employ-
er requires texting while driving.
“We call upon all employers to
prohibit any work policy or practice
that requires or encourages workers
to text while driving,” said OSHA’s
Dr. David Michaels. “The Occupa-
tional Safety and Health Act is clear;
employers must provide a workplace
free of recognized hazards.”
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