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The Automotive Industry Action Group''s (AIAG) newest occupational safety and health initiative is gaining momentum as a result of several key automotive suppliers pledging their support.
In addition to DaimlerCrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., the initiative has been given the support of several major automotive suppliers, including Delphi Automotive Systems, Federal-Mogul Corp., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., PPG Industries Inc., Tenneco Automotive Inc. and Visteon Corp.
"These companies will play a major role in helping to identify emerging safety and occupational health concerns and become the voice on the development of best practices for the industry," said Ronald Tillinger, AIAG program manager.
As members of AIAG''s occupational health and safety steering committee, these automakers and suppliers are identifying and discussing safety issues, gathering new ideas, sharing experiences and developing solutions.
The 19-member committee is responsible for supervising work groups, which focus on key safety issues in the automotive industry, including industrial machine controls, hazardous materials and ISO for healthcare.
According to Tillinger, this initiative area was formed to bring attention to global occupational health and safety issues in the automotive industry, reduce the number of work-related injuries and improve overall work environments.
"It is valuable to know what is going on in safety from the perspective of other suppliers and customers. If we can share our successes and failures in the safety area, we can save lives," said Karl Bosung, corporate manager for health and safety at Delphi Automotive Systems. "The occupational health and safety initiative at AIAG is a way to share our practices and create solutions that will benefit the entire industry."
by Virginia Sutcliffe-Foran