CLINTON, Miss. — U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta visited in early February the employee training center established by Continental Tire the Americas in Clinton late last year.
Mr. Acosta toured the center, which Conti opened in November 2018 to train employees for its Clinton truck tire plant, which is under construction nearby. At the center, the cabinet secretary viewed a virtual-reality presentation of the projected plant and the manufacturing technology it will contain.
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant accompanied Mr. Acosta during the vist, which was hosted by Plant Manager Michael Egner.
Mr. Acosta reportedly stressed the importance of workforce education during his visit, according to multiple local news reports.
Conti broke ground on the $1.4 billion Clinton tire plant in November 2016, and plans to open it in January 2020.
In its first phase, the plant is scheduled to employ 400 and produce 750,000 truck and bus tires annually. By 2028, Conti expects the facility to reach its full employment of 2,500.
Mr. Acosta's visit coincided with the announcement that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had signed a "strategic partnership" with Mississippi State University's Center for Continuing Education Industrial Health & Safety Program and Brasfield & Gorrie L.L.C. to promote worker safety and health at the Clinton plant.
The partnership seeks to prevent injuries and exposure to hazards during the construction of the 750,000-sq.-ft. facility.
Under the agreement, the partners will encourage contractors to develop and implement safety and health programs, and provide safety and health training to employees, employers, and supervisors.
Through the Strategic Partnership Program, OSHA works with employers, employees, professional and trade associations, labor organizations, and other interested stakeholders to establish specific goals, strategies, and performance measures to improve worker safety and health.
OSHA is part of the Labor Department.