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OSHA News Release
2007 - 01/25/2007 - U.S. Labor Department's OSHA and Barton Malow Co. in Partnership to Promote Safety During Construction of New Convention Center

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Region 3 News Release:    07-106-PHI (008)
Jan. 25, 2007
Contact: Leni Uddyback-Fortson
Phone: (215) 861-5102


U.S. Labor Department's OSHA and Barton Malow Co. in Partnership to Promote Safety During Construction of New Convention Center

ERIE, Pa. -- Workers involved in the Bayfront Convention Center (BCC) and Sheraton Headquarters Hotel project will be safer thanks to a new partnership formed between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Barton Malow Co. OSHA and the Barton Malow Co. formalized the partnership today at a special ceremony held at the project worksite with representatives of the Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Program and the Great Lakes Building Trades Council.

Representing OSHA at the ceremony were Ed Selker, director of OSHA's area office in Erie, Assistant Area Director Barry Burbage and Compliance Assistance Specialist Joe Chmielewski. Their partners in the job safety effort were represented by Douglas L. Maibach P.E., vice president, Barton Malow Co.; John Engler, project director for the Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Program; and Dale Niemenski, president, Building Trades Council.

"The primary goal of this partnership is to eliminate fatalities and reduce injuries and illnesses during this major construction project," said Selker.

The overall development of the BCC site includes a 150,000-square-foot convention center with a ballroom, banquet and meeting rooms, an exhibition room, offices, a hotel/restaurant complex and parking facilities. Attached to the BCC is an elevator tower that supports a walkway attaching to an identical tower which will provide an all-weather enclosure from the convention center to the Sheraton Headquarters Hotel.

During construction of the convention center and the Sheraton Hotel Headquarters, the Barton Malow Co. and its contractors will develop, implement and maintain effective and comprehensive safety and health programs to keep the total days away from work rate below 2.8 for 2005, the national average for building construction.

OSHA's Strategic Partnership Program is part of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao's ongoing efforts to improve the health and safety of employees through cooperative relationships with trade associations, labor organizations, employers and employees. More than one-million employees and more than 33,000 employers across the United States have participated with OSHA in more than 440 Strategic Partnerships since the program began in 1998.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, contact OSHA's Erie area office at (814) 461-1492 or visit www.osha.gov.


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U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7765 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.

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