Region 6 News Release:   USDL-OSHA-01-65-06-19
Tuesday, June 19, 2001
Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd
Phone: (214) 767-4776, ext. 222 or 221

OSHA-AGC PARTNERSHIP WILL ADVANCE CONSTRUCTION SAFETY IN LOUISIANA
Partnership Forged Between Federal Agency and Louisiana Associated General Contractors, Inc.

BATON ROUGE, La. - Construction workers' safety and health in Louisiana will be enhanced by the signing of a partnership between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Louisiana Associated General Contractors, Inc. (AGC) which takes place 10 a.m., June 21 at the AGC office at 620 North Street in Baton Rouge.

The agreement will allow OSHA to more effectively utilize its resources by targeting problem work sites for regular inspections rather than work sites that have demonstrated effective safety and health programs. OSHA and the AGC will conduct safety training for the partnership members to improve hazard recognition and take corrective actions at the work sties.

"The partnership will provide a higher level of employee safety and health training," said John B. Miles, Jr., OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. "Additionally, it should benefit the subcontractors who work for the participating contractors."

Establishing partnerships with the private sector to improve safety and health is one of OSHA's major goals. While participation in the partnership is voluntary, OSHA anticipates that contractors who enter into partnerships such as this will experience fewer workplace accidents and a decrease in worker compensation costs.

"The partnership will help OSHA to achieve its strategic goal of reducing injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the construction industry," said John J. Deifer, OSHA area director in Baton Rouge.

For more information, contact the OSHA Baton Rouge office at (225) 389-0474 or the AGC office at (225) 344-0422.