Virtually unobserved in the background of interesting events yesterday, the Federal Government and various State of Wisconsin agencies signed an “alliance”, followed by a press release. Bureaucratic writing usually sucks because most of it is intentionally designed to simultaneously inoffensive, virtuous and devoid of meaningful content.
The official statement reads like it was written by committee and as a concerned citizen I feel the need to make my own alterations to the text. I feel very, very strongly that the word “alliance” has militaristic overtones with the potential to offend the sensitivities of peace loving Wisconsin citizens, especially those in Madison. Therefore, after careful review of many possible synonyms, I am replacing the word “alliance” with the word “friendship” to make this memo a happier group of words.
OSHA and Wisconsin State Agencies Launch Job Safety FriendshipThis is sweet. Our State and Federal Government employees should be friends. Friends don’t let friends get hurt at work. Friends get together and share their thoughts and teach each other new ways to do things. Sometimes the conferences are at really swell places where comrades can gather and take pride in protecting the working class.
MADISON, Wis. -- The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Wisconsin state agencies have launched a friendship aimed at preventing workplace hazards statewide. … "OSHA friendships are part of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao's efforts to improve the health and safety of workers," said Kimberly Stille, OSHA's area director in Madison.
The friendship was signed by OSHA area offices in Eau Claire, Appleton, Madison and Milwaukee. ... The friendship will provide members and others with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety.
At conferences and public forums, friendship members will share information and forge innovative solutions to improve workplace safety and health. ... The friendship will promote and encourage participation in OSHA's cooperative programs. … The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has created more than 240 friendships with organizations committed to fostering safety and health in the workplace.
