Region 4 News Release: USDL99-20
Wednesday, February 17, 1999
Roger Alcorn (954)424-0242 x14
Jose Sanchez (954) 424-0242 x29

Charles Jeffress, the U.S. Department of Labor's assistant secretary for occupational safety and health, will be the keynote speaker at the kickoff meeting for a new OSHA program designed to reduce fatalities in the construction industry. Jeffress will be joined by officials from the Florida Department of Labor who will also participate in the kickoff event.

Florida will be a major beneficiary of the new OSHA program, entitled Construction Accident Reduction Emphasis (CARE). The state ranks third in the nation and is the South's leader in number of fatal worker accidents. Statistics gathered by the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the number of worker fatalities investigated by OSHA in Florida has increased over the last three fiscal years -- 108 in 1996, 124 in 1997, and 133 in 1998. More than 50% of these fatalities involve construction activities.

The CARE meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m. in Room 305 at the Broward County Convention Center at 1950 Eisenhower Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.

Builders' associations, construction companies and labor organizations have been invited to the meeting to learn more about the CARE program which will increase inspection activity at construction sites throughout the state. OSHA officials will be joined by representatives of the Associated General Constractors, the Association of Builders and Contractors, the National Association of Home Builders, and the Latin Builders Association.

The CARE meeting is open to the media. For additional information, please call OSHA's Fort Lauderdale Area Office at (954) 424-0242 and speak with Roger Alcorn at x/14 or Jose Sanchez at x/29.