OSHA tests higher safety-standard program at construction sites

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Posted 8:26AM on Tuesday, January 15, 2002

CINCINNATI - The federal government announced Monday a program that encourages construction contractors to exceed federal workplace safety requirements at temporary work sites. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's new program is an extension of one that began in 1982 for general industry. The national pilot program is being tested only in central and southern Ohio, including Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton and Portsmouth. The program is aimed at short-term construction projects. OSHA has a limited number of inspectors, making it difficult to inspect those types of jobs, which can be as short as two weeks, said Paula White, an OSHA program administrator from Washington. Companies that have participated in the voluntary program for general industry have had 60 to 80 percent fewer lost workday injuries than would be expected for similar operations in their industries, OSHA officials said. The new program would let OSHA focus on contractors with a history of workplace injuries and fatalities, instead of companies with good safety records, White said. The voluntary program would hold managers accountable for the safety and health of workers, require companies to continually identify potential hazards and actively inform workers about how to protect themselves against them. In return, OSHA officials would reduce the number of scheduled workplace visits but would still investigate complaints or workplace deaths or injuries, White said. Companies that participate could reduce worker accident rates, resulting in lower workers' compensation costs, White said. Companies also could advertise they are recognized by the federal government as being safe and safety conscious. An AFL-CIO spokeswoman said the new program will work only if a company commits itself to making safety a priority and regularly consults with union leaders about how to make workplaces safer. It also can be difficult for OSHA to locate key, accountable managers at construction projects because many of those jobs have a general contractor and numerous subcontractors, said Peg Seminario, an AFL-CIO spokeswoman in Washington. "It's a difficult issue. It's one that really needs to be looked at," Seminario said. OSHA hopes to decide by the end of 2003 whether to make the project a permanent addition, White said.