Background:
The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Wisconsin (WI) OSHA Strategic
Partnership (OSP) was formed in May 2007 to promote a safe and healthful work
environment for employees within the construction industry. The OSP provides
assistance and incentives to contractors who voluntarily participate in the ABC
National Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) program and demonstrate
that they have developed and implemented an effective safety and health
management system (SHMS). The expected completion date of the OSP is July 2010.
Success Impact:
Increased Safety and Health Training Leads to More Attention to
Potential Hazards Onsite
Increasing the number of safety and health training sessions offered has been a
key focus of the OSP. During the first year, close to 5,000 hours and over 1,000
safety and health training sessions were conducted. Approximately 3,890
employees were trained and 1,100 managers and supervisors.
In January 2009, the OSP hosted the Construction Workers Safety Conference where
715 participants were in attendance. During the conference the OSHA 10-hour
course was offered (in addition to providing the 10-hour course through
apprenticeship training). Also, the Wisconsin Area Office conducted a VPP
training session for ABC member companies that are pursuing Voluntary Protection
Programs (VPP) recognition – OSHA’s premier recognition program.
As a result of the increase in safety and health training, more employees
brought potential jobsite hazards to the attention of their supervisors. Close
to 1,700 self-inspections were performed resulting in over 5,000 hazards being
identified and corrected. Also, 11 OSHA enforcement inspections were conducted
resulting in 100 percent compliance.
Injury and Illness Rates Below National Average - Days Away, Restricted,
and Transferred (DART) Rate, Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR)
The recent injury and illness data demonstrates the success of the OSP. So far
to date, the OSP’s average injury and illness rates have been below the Bureau
of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) national average for construction. The chart below is
representative of the injury and illness data collected during the first year of
the OSP:
| |
DART |
TCIR |
# of Fatalities |
| Year 1 of OSP (2007) |
.7 |
4.7 |
0 |
| BLS Industry National
Average (2007) |
2.8 |
5.4 |
-- |
|
Percentage Difference |
75% |
13% |
-- |
During the first year of the OSP, member companies worked 3,391,270 hours.
As shown above, the OSP’s overall TCIR was 4.7 (13 percent below the 2007 BLS
rate of 5.4 for all construction), and the DART rate was .7 (75 percent below
the 2007 BLS rate of 2.8 for all construction).
Partnership Objectives:
Key objectives of the OSP include reducing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities
in the construction industry by addressing key industry hazards (falls,
electrocution, caught in-between, and struck-by); increasing safety and health
training; promoting recognition for construction safety excellence; implementing
best practices and effective SHMS; and increasing collaborative relationships
between stakeholders.
Origin: Region V, Milwaukee Area Office
Partners: Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin (ABC of WI)
and the Wisconsin Consultation Program (WisCon)
Partnership Signed: May 2007
Industry (NAICS Code): Construction (NAICS Code 23621)
Employees: 978
Employers: 6
Source and Date: George Yoksas, AD and Jim Lutz, CAS, Milwaukee Area
Office
James Dillard, Chicago Regional Office (Region V)/January 2009
Status: Open
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