The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released statistics in April documenting the success of a partnership formed with ABC’s Wisconsin chapter in 2007. The strategic partnership was designed to enhance the safety and health of craft workers in Wisconsin’s construction industry.
According to OSHA, during the first year of the partnership, more than 1,000 safety and health training sessions were conducted in the state, and in that same time period, approximately 3,890 employees and 1,100 managers and supervisors were trained.
In addition, as a result of increased safety and health training, more employees reported potential jobsite hazards to their supervisors. Nearly 1,700 self-inspections were performed resulting in more than 5,000 hazards being identified and corrected. Also, OSHA conducted 11 enforcement inspections and found 100 percent compliance.
To date, the safety partnership has resulted in injury and illness rates below the Bureau of Labor Statistics national average for construction. During the first year, member companies worked 3,391,270 hours with a total case incident rate (an average of all reported work-related injuries incurred per 100 employees within a one-year period) of 4.7. This is 13 percent below the national average for all construction. In addition, the Days Away, Restrictions and Transfers (DART) rate, or only those injuries severe enough to warrant time away from work, restrictions from performing duties or transfers to another position, was .7. This is 75 percent below the national average.
Wisconsin is one of several ABC chapters that have similar agreements with OSHA.
For more information visit
www.osha.gov.