The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA), Fairfax, VA, a member of the Graphic Arts Coalition (GAC), announced it renewed the Printing Industry Alliance agreement with the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Flexographic Technical Association, the Gravure Association of America, and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation/Printing Industries of America also are GAC members.
 The alliance, in effect since 2002, allows members of the GAC and OSHA to jointly address safety and health concerns associated with printing and related graphic communications. Under this year’s renewal, SGIA and the Alliance will focus on hazard communication, machine guarding, and lockout/tagout issues.

“Pending changes to standards resulting from OSHA’s ‘Globally Harmonized System of the Classification and Labeling of Chemicals’ make hazard communication an issue throughout the manufacturing world,” says Marisabel Torres, government affairs associate for SGIA. Torres notes that clear and correct labeling is essential to health and safety, regardless of the manufactured product or process.
 In regards to solutions on issues related to machine guarding and lockout/tagout, Torres says, “Proper practices in these areas can potentially save lives. As we work with our Alliance partners to find solutions, we’ll take advantage of the wide range of expertise and experience each participating organization contributes.”

The Alliance established an ergonomics train-the-trainer program—the only training of its kind specifically focused on specialty imaging. OSHA recognizes that companies that implement this program are making a good-faith effort to reduce injuries and illness in the workplace. The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) is located at 10015 Main St., Fairfax, VA 22031-3489, 703-385-1335, fax: 703-273-0456, e-mail: sgia@sgia.org, Web: www.sgia.org.