The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently renewed its alliance with the American Staffing Association with the goal of protecting temporary employees from workplace hazards. All workers have the right to be safe, regardless of how long they have been on the job.

"It is part of our mission to make sure that at the end of every work shift, all temporary workers in the United States are able to go home safely to their families," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "Through our continued alliance with the ASA, we will increase outreach to staffing agencies and host employers and provide information and education that is essential to protecting temporary workers."

During the five-year agreement, OSHA and ASA will continue to educate workers about their rights, and train staffing firms and their clients on their responsibilities to protect workers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The partners will work together to distribute information on how to recognize and prevent workplace hazards, and to further develop ways of communicating such to staffing firms, host employers and temporary workers.

Previous accomplishments include a webinar that discussed the safety and health obligations of host employers or clients using the services of staffing firms. Additionally, ASA provided their members with webinars focused on: the shared responsibility of host employers and staffing agencies to workplace safety; Ebola-related liability challenges for staffing and recruiting firms; and how to handle workplace incident investigations.

ASA, founded in 1966, has served as the voice of the U.S. staffing and recruiting industry. With more than 1,800 members, ASA advances the interests of staffing and recruiting firms through advocacy, public relations and education.

Through its Alliance Program, OSHA works with unions, consulates, trade and professional organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, businesses and educational institutions to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. The purpose of each alliance is to develop compliance assistance tools and resources and to educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Alliance Program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA inspections or any other enforcement benefits.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.