The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mexican Consulate in Dallas, Texas, have formed a strategic alliance to enhance workplace safety for Spanish-speaking workers in North Texas. This collaborative effort, formalized on June 14, 2023, aims to provide crucial resources and training to a significant demographic within the North Texas workforce.
Signing ceremony for OSHA and Mexican Consulate in Dallas TX alliance. From left to right: OSHA Fort Worth Area Director Timothy Minor, Mexican Consul in Dallas Francisco de la Torre Galindo, and OSHA Dallas Area Director Basil Singh.
Strengthening Workplace Safety for Spanish Speakers through Dallas Mexican Consulate Alliance
The two-year alliance agreement, signed by key representatives from both OSHA and the Mexican Consulate, is specifically designed to bridge the gap in workplace safety information and accessibility for Spanish-speaking employees and employers in the region. This initiative recognizes the vital contribution of Mexican nationals to the North Texas economy, particularly in sectors like construction and general industry, and seeks to ensure their safety and well-being at work.
The partnership between OSHA and the Mexican Consulate in Dallas focuses on delivering essential safety and health outreach, training programs, and informational materials in Spanish. By providing resources in their native language, the alliance aims to empower Spanish-speaking workers to understand their rights and responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This proactive approach is crucial for preventing workplace accidents, injuries, and fatalities within this community.
OSHA’s Alliance Program and the Dallas Consulate: A Proactive Approach
OSHA’s Alliance Program has a proven track record of fostering safer work environments by collaborating with diverse organizations committed to worker safety. These alliances, which include unions, consulates, trade groups, businesses, and community organizations, work to develop compliance assistance tools, share vital safety information, and educate both workers and employers. The alliance with the Mexican Consulate in Dallas exemplifies this proactive approach, extending OSHA’s reach to a vulnerable worker population.
Basil Singh, OSHA Area Director in Dallas, emphasized the significance of this alliance: “OSHA’s alliance with the Mexican Consulate in Dallas will prevent many Spanish-speaking people working in North Texas from needless injuries or worse. Every U.S. worker, regardless of their immigration status, has the right to a safe workplace and to receive information in their own language.”
Timothy Minor, OSHA Area Director in Fort Worth, further highlighted the importance of overcoming language barriers: “Working with the Mexican Consulate in Dallas will help us reach out to many workers who we might not otherwise have access to. By breaking down the language barrier, we can help these workers understand the rights to be protected from needless harm.”
In conclusion, the alliance between OSHA and the Mexican Consulate in Dallas represents a significant step forward in protecting Spanish-speaking workers in North Texas. By providing accessible safety resources and training in Spanish, this partnership aims to create safer and healthier workplaces for all, regardless of language spoken.
