The agency is expected to play a leading role in developing strategies to end road deaths by 2050
WASHINGTON, January 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has joined the National Safety Council Road to Zero Coalition, the nation's largest traffic safety alliance dedicated to eliminating traffic fatalities. As a member of the Steering Committee, OSHA will provide key insights and proven solutions to address the leading cause of workplace deaths – transportation accidents.
In 2023, traffic fatalities accounted for 37% of all work-related deaths. Representing OSHA on the Coalition's Steering Committee represents a significant step toward addressing this ongoing challenge. OSHA's leadership will strengthen ongoing collaboration with traffic safety stakeholders, bring additional expertise to working groups, and reinforce the Coalition's vision and values across the U.S. Department of Labor.
“The most dangerous thing a person can do at work is get into a vehicle,” he said Lorraine MartinNSC President and CEO and Chair of the Road to Zero Coalition. “That’s what makes this partnership so important. By joining Road to Zero, OSHA strengthens our ability to protect workers both on and off the job. Together we can create safer streets for everyone – whether they drive to work or share the roads with others.” those who do.
Founded by NSC in 2016, the Road to Zero Coalition is based on a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation and over 2,000 traffic safety stakeholders to combat the public health crisis of fatal and non-fatal traffic crashes on our roads. The Road to Zero Coalition is the leading coalition of those committed to implementing all aspects of the Safe System Approach, which has been integrated into the current National Road Safety Strategy. The coalition was founded on the belief that traffic accidents are preventable and that through joint efforts there will be no more traffic fatalities by 2050.
Joining the coalition allows OSHA to work with highway safety leaders to ensure road users practice safe driving behavior and road workers have access to the latest technologies to keep them out of harm's way.
“Unlike other workplaces, the roadway is not an enclosed environment. Preventing work-related incidents on the roadway requires a combination of road safety principles and sound safety management practices,” said the Deputy Minister for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. “By working with the National Safety Council and the Road to Zero Coalition, we can promote safe driving policies to prevent unnecessary tragedies.”
Road to Zero's previous successes include the distribution of the 2024 Community Traffic Safety Grants to support local organizations in implementing safety programs and the publication of the Massive dangers Light Commercial Vehicle Diffusion Report and Minister Pete Buttigieg Join us for a fireside chat at the coalition's annual meeting in 2024.
NSC estimates that more than 44,000 people died in traffic accidents in 2023. Through this new partnership, OSHA and NSC will work together to reduce these tolls and increase road standards nationwide.
For more information about the Road to Zero Coalition, visit nsc.org/roadtozero.
Through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthy workplaces for their employees. OSHA's mission is to help ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, education and support. For more information, visit osha.gov.
About the National Security Council
The National Safety Council is America's leading nonprofit safety advocate for 110 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the root causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace and the roads. We create a safety culture to keep people safe not only at work but beyond so they can live their lives to the fullest.
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SOURCE National Security Council
