SC Employers Help SC OSHA Mark 50 Years as a State Plan by Participating in Safety Stand Down
South Carolina OSHA celebrated 50 years as an OSHA State Plan with a statewide call to employers to provide at least 50 minutes of additional safety training for their employees during Safety Stand Down Week, December 5th - 9th, 2022. And employers answered that call.
Statewide, at least 96 employers, including 24 State agencies, provided an extra 50 minutes of safety training. That training covered at least 10,860 employees.
"We know that training is key to a safe and healthy work environment, and we are proud of South Carolina employers for investing 50 extra minutes that week to make SC worksites even safer," SC OSHA Deputy Director Kristina Baker said.
LLR Director Emily Farr said the safety of South Carolina's workers depends on strong relationships with employers, employees, and the community.
"We are fortunate in our state to have employers and employees committed to safety," Farr said.
Also, as part of the celebration SC OSHA hosted a 50-year Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at the Denny Auditorium on the South Carolina Fire Academy Campus to recognize the program's accomplishments, former and current employees, and stakeholders. Governor Henry McMaster recognized SC OSHA with a Safety Stand Down Week proclamation.
South Carolina became the first state to receive initial approval to administer an OSHA state plan on November 30, 1972. This approval was later filed in the Federal Register on December 6, 1972. In 1976, the State received certification, and in 1987, final approval to administer the State Plan.
Over the past 50 years, SC OSHA has worked diligently to ensure safe and healthy worksites for all workers. In addition to its Compliance Division, SC OSHA has a dedicated group of employees in its Office of Outreach and Education, who provide free consultation and training services to employers throughout the State. In recent years, the Office also developed a Youth Safety program, provided outreach services during natural disasters, and provided support and education during a global pandemic.
During the Safety Stand Down Week, employers provided their own training to employees or participated in SC OSHA's 50-minute training sessions that were offered virtually at noon each day at site locations listed below.
- 12/5 - Nucor Steel Berkeley - Fall Protection Training
- 12/6 - Juneau Construction Company - University of South Carolina Campus Village Project site - Forklift Training
- 12/7 - Milliken & Company, Greenville/Spartanburg - Fall Protection Training
- 12/8 - Holder Construction - Clemson University Daniel Hall Expansion and Renovation Project - Fall Protection Training
- 12/9 - SC OSHA Virtual - Workplace Violence Training
Governor Henry McMaster presents SC OSHA with 50th Anniversary Safety Stand Down Week proclamation. From left to right: Kristina Baker, Deputy Director of Labor, Gwen Thomas, State Plan Manager, Emily Farr, SCDLLR Director, Governor McMaster, Anthony Wilks, Compliance Manager, Sharon Dumit, Outreach and Education Manager, and Deidre Laws, Chief Labor Counsel.
Holder Construction provides 50 minutes of extra safety training to workers Clemson University Daniel Hall Expansion and Renovation Project during Safety Stand Down Week.