Dow Agro, State Announce Safety Initiative
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA new strategic alliance will help advance worker and transportation safety in the state's agriculture industry. The Indiana Department of Labor and Indianapolis-based Dow AgroSciences say the two-year partnership will inform and engage key players in the agricultural sector on health and safety technology and innovations. November 7, 2013
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS – (Nov. 7, 2013) – The Indiana Department of Labor (IDOL) and Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: Dow) today announced a strategic alliance to exchange best practices and jointly work to advance worker health and safety, as well as transportation safety, in the agriculture industry. Under this two-year occupational safety and health alliance, Dow AgroSciences and IDOL will combine their knowledge of safety technology and innovations to inform and engage key stakeholders in agriculture regarding worker and transportation safety.
“We are committed to ensuring the safest and healthiest workplaces for our fellow Hoosiers, and this includes our agriculture workers,” said IDOL Commissioner Rick Ruble. “Formalizing this worker safety and health alliance is an important and positive step for those engaged in agriculture in Indiana. We look forward to partnering with Dow AgroSciences, a global life science leader in agriculture based here in Indiana.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses report for 2012, the Hoosier agriculture industry has an occupational injury and illness rate of 7.2 per 100 workers, which is the highest industry rate in the state. Additionally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries report for 2012, the agriculture industry has one of the highest raw numbers of occupational fatalities.
“Dow AgroSciences is honored and privileged to join forces with the Indiana Department of Labor to advance safety performance in the Indiana agriculture industry. The health and safety of our employees is our top priority, and we have many best practices to share that might help farmers and those involved in agriculture improve how they approach safety. We look forward to collaborating with the Indiana Department of Labor to share information that can make a difference,” said Rick Oakley, Dow AgroSciences employee health and safety business operations leader.
The alliance goals are to:
• Eliminate agriculture worker fatalities
• Reduce the number and severity of agriculture worker injuries and illnesses
• Reduce work-related transportation incidents and worker fatalities
• Increase communication with industry stakeholders
• Share technological knowledge and best practices to improve workplace safety and health performance
For more information about the alliance, visit www.in.gov/dol/2387.htm.
About the Indiana Department of Labor
The mission of the Indiana Department of Labor is to advance the safety, health and prosperity of Hoosiers in the workplace. In order to make significant strides, we emphasize both enforcement and compliance assistance by employers. Learn more at www.in.gov/dol. Follow the Indiana Department of Labor on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
About Dow AgroSciences
Dow AgroSciences, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, develops leading-edge crop protection and plant biotechnology solutions to meet the challenges of the growing world. Dow AgroSciences is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company and had annual global sales of $6.4 billion in 2012. Learn more at www.dowagro.com. Follow Dow AgroSciences on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed. Source: Indiana Department of Labor, Dow AgroSciences