The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is launching a pilot program seeking to partner with building inspectors in 11 cities to reduce injuries and fatalities at construction sites. The pilot program was initially announced during the April 14 - 15, 2010, Latino Worker Health and Safety Summit held in Houston, Texas.
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has sent
letters to the mayors of the selected cities, proposing that OSHA work with and train local building inspectors on hazards associated with the four leading causes of death (falls, electrocution, being crushed or caught between objects, or being struck by moving machinery or objects) at construction sites.
Under this program, building inspectors would notify OSHA when they observe, during the course of their work, unsafe work conditions. OSHA, in turn, would send a federal agency compliance officer to that workplace for a safety inspection.
OSHA seeks to partner with building inspectors in the following cities:
| Austin, Texas
Boise, Idaho
Cincinnati, Ohio
Concord, N.H.
Greenwood Village, Colo.
Madison, Miss. |
Atlanta Metropolitan area, Ga.
Newark, N.J.
Oakland, Calif.
Washington, D.C.
Wichita, Kan. |
AGC encourages Chapters and their members in the selected cities to meet with their local building inspectors to discuss the proposed partnership and express their concerns with this approach to policing safety. Meanwhile, AGC will continue to monitor OSHA activities as they pertain to this issue.
To view a copy of the letters click here.
For more information, please contact Kevin Cannon at (703) 837-5410 or cannonk@agc.org.