Background:
On September 27, 2005, OSHA’s Region VIII Denver and Englewood Area Offices
formed an OSHA Strategic Partnership (OSP) with the Home Builders Association of
Metro Denver (the Association) to facilitate the goal of reducing
occupational-related fatalities and serious injuries in the residential
construction industry in Colorado. As of September 2008, 30 of the Association’s
members were participating in the OSP.
Success Impact:
Safety and Health Culture Enhanced
To further the OSP’s efforts of reducing and/or eliminating hazards and
recognizing the value of cooperative, focused, and voluntary efforts to ensure
safe and healthful work environments, the Association developed the Home Safe
Colorado Ten-Point List: A Guide to Safe Work Practices. The list is utilized by
all participants to assist them in identifying and abating hazards, as well as
preventing hazards through increased safety and health training. As outlined in
the OSP agreement, all participants perform the following objectives:
1)
Develop and implement an effective safety and health management system (SHMS)
based upon the material in the Ten-Point Home Safe Booklet,
2) Make adjustments to their work practices to conform to the Home Safe Program,
3) Report accidents to the Home Builders Association Job Safety Committee,
4) Apply for Master Builder Status, and
5) Submit to audits performed by the Home Safety Committee and OSHA.
All of the participants have met their OSP responsibilities with their
compliance with the 10-point jobsite booklet. Among the safety and health
activities listed in the jobsite booklet additional examples include: conducting
monthly jobsite training sessions, ensuring subcontractors are following the
builder's SHMS, and requiring designated safety persons to conduct and document
regular safety and health inspections during all projects.
At the end of the most recent evaluation period, four OSP participants
successfully implemented effective SHMS which met or exceeded the OSHA 1989
Guidelines and helped them attain Master Builder status. Of the remaining 26
builders, 17 are in the process of improving their SHMS in order to obtain
Master Builder status, and the remaining nine are in the process of developing
their SHMS.
Continued Successes of Home Safe Colorado Partnership Maintain Injury and
Illness Rates Below the National Industry Average
As a result of the participants incorporating various SHMS requirements outlined
in the 10-point booklet and increasing bilingual safety and health training
among the participants’ employees, managers and supervisors, the OSP maintained
its aggregate injury and illness rates below the 2006 Bureau of Labor
Statistics’ (BLS) national average for the Residential Construction industry (NAICS
236). Below is a table comparing the aggregate rates for the first two years of
the OSP with their respective industry average:
| |
TCIR |
DART |
| Year 1: 2006 |
1.2 |
0.9 |
| Year 2: 2007 |
2.4 |
1.5 |
| BLS Industry National Average for Most
Recent Year (2006) |
5.1 |
2.6 |
Safety and Health Training is a Key Focus
Increasing safety and health training among the employees of the participants is
a key focus of this OSP. During the most recent evaluation period, 178 managers
and supervisors received training through 10-Hour OSHA Certification Class
program. Several OSP participants volunteered to serve as instructors which
helped to leverage resources and increase the number of times the course is
offered, as well as the number of employees trained. In addition to the OSHA
10-hour training course, participants reported 5,810 tailgate meetings conducted
in English and Spanish. Finally, 2,842 employees received safety orientation
prior to starting any work.
In addition to the increased safety and health training, the OSP continued its
communication and outreach efforts by creating an OSHA 10-Hour Training DVD and
CD. It will be available in both English and Spanish and also will be accessible
for the hearing impaired.
Partnership Objectives:
The key objectives of this OSP are to promote safety and
health for all staff at Home Safe Master Builder construction sites in Colorado.
Specific goals of the OSP are to:
1) Maintain injury and illness rates below the BLS national average for each
participant's three-digit NAICS code and maintain the weighted average rate for
all participants at least 10 percent below the corresponding national average.
2) Increase the percentage of the participants’ supervisors and subcontractors
receiving appropriate safety training for both English- and Spanish-speaking
employees.
Origin: OSHA Region VIII, Denver and Englewood Area
Offices
Partners: Home Builders Association of Metro Denver
Partnership Signed: September 27, 2005
Industry: Residential Construction (NAICS Code 236)
Employers: 30
Employees: 2,842
Source and Date: Bill Wright, Region VIII OSPP
Coordinator, Denver Regional Office and David Nelson, Team Leader, Englewood
Area Office (September, 2008)
Status: Open
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