OSHA Strategic Partnership Program<< Back to Region V



  Turner
Ozanne
Van Auken Akins		 OSHA

Cleveland Building & Construction

Trades Council

Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation

Signing Date, 2012

  1. IDENTIFICATION OF PARTNERS

    1. Background

      To facilitate the goal of reducing occupational-related fatalities and serious injuries within the construction industry, OSHA, Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation (BWC) Division of Safety and Hygiene Cleveland Office, Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council, and Turner Construction Company (Turner) in association with Ozanne Construction Company and Van Auken Akins Architects, LLC have agreed to enter into a cooperative partnership agreement which will effectively implement all facets of jobsite safety and health and achieve self-compliance through cooperative efforts from labor, management, and OSHA.

      The project consists of the construction of a new 4-story, 235,000 square foot Medical Mart facility that will consist of permanent medical showrooms, state-of-the-art conference facilities, and flexible meeting rooms, tailored to the needs of the medical marketplace. It will serve as the main entrance for the new Convention Center facility, also part of the construction project. This 750,000 square foot building will include an exhibition hall, grand ballroom, and meeting rooms.

      This partnership agreement is designed to promote and maintain an open line of communication between OSHA and contractors on the worksite and to foster the development of a joint approach to safety management. The partnership allows for better use of OSHA resources and innovation in safety management and encourages more participation in the safety process from the construction community.

    2. Partners

      • Cleveland, Ohio OSHA Office
      • Turner Construction Company in association with Ozanne Construction Company, and Van Auken Akins Architect, LLC.
      • Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation (BWC) Division Of Safety And Hygiene Cleveland Service Office
      • Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council
  2. PURPOSE/SCOPE

    The purpose of this Partnership is to provide a safe and healthful work environment for employees involved in the construction industry through increased training, implementation of best work practices, enhanced safety and health programs, and compliance with applicable OSHA standards and regulations.

    This initiative represents a voluntary agreement by all parties to focus its efforts, skills, knowledge and resources toward the primary goal of reducing employee exposure to safety and health hazards and minimizing their risk of serious injuries and illnesses.

  3. GOALS, STRATEGIES, AND MEASURES

      Goal Strategies Measures
    1. Reduce the current Total Case Injury and Illness Rate (TCIR) of 4.4 by 10% over the duration of the project.
    1. Establish proactive measures for the common hazards found at construction sites.
    2. Provide all necessary engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment.
    1. Calculate the TCIR and Days Away and Restricted and Transfer rate (DART) on a monthly basis.
    2. Monitor rates monthly and adjust strategies accordingly.
    2. Promote cooperative relationship between labor, management, Federal, State, and local government agencies and encourage employee participation to achieve a safe and healthful workplace.
    1. Conduct weekly toolbox safety meetings.
    2. Sponsor training courses each month that are available to all employees working onsite. Training is conducted by BWC, manufacturer representatives, and consultants.
    3. Keep open door safety policy and encourage hazard reporting.
    4. Conduct hazard analysis during Pre-Task Planning Safety meetings.
    5. Ensure worker/stewards' participation in safety meetings and representation in monthly site walks of the jobsite.
    1. Minutes of tool box meeting will be used to track participation at the meeting..
    2. Course rosters to be used to track number receiving training..
    3. Track incoming safety issues, suggestion forms and complaints and their resolution..
    4. Record number of Pre-task meetings and nature of topic..
    5. Maintain minutes of monthly safety meetings and inspection results from jobsite tour.
    3. Identify and prevent the most common causes of workplace injuries and illnesses in the construction industry, associated with but not limited to: falls, electrical use, struck-by, caught in/between, crane operations, heat stress, and environmental exposure to noise, silica, hexavalent chromium, welding fume, carbon monoxide, and isocyanates.
    1. Conduct First Day Safety orientations for all employees.
    2. Implement pre-shift huddles for all employees using Safety Task Analyzes (STAs).
    3. Implement employee protection for:
      - 100% six feet fall protection
      - 100% hand protection when
      exposed to hand hazards.
      - Hearing protection when
      noise exposure exceeds 85
      dBA.
    4. BWC will conduct monitoring for environmental exposures to noise and airborne hazards when requested.
    5. Conduct site audits and daily site inspections
    6. Encourage daily morning stretch and flex.
    1. Record employee attendance and track number of orientations provided.
    2. Review and record number of STAs delivered.
    3. Review "Safety Net" inspection reports and identify the type and number of the most common hazards.
    4. Monitoring results for environmental exposure measurements (i.e. noise) will be compared to OSHA PELs.
    5. OSHA 300 Log will be used to track the number of work-related injuries and illnesses.
    4. Require 100% of contractors and subcontractors to submit site-specific written safety and health programs and Pre-Task work plans.
    1. Written safety and health programs will be required for all contractors, subcontractors and tier-subcontractors.
    2. Pre-Construction meetings are held with each contractor and CBCTC representatives to review site specific safety plans and pre-task work plans for their primary tasks.
    1. Turner will maintain copies of all contractor's, subcontractor's and tier-subcontractor's S&H programs and minutes of pre-construction meetings and track the number of programs submitted.
    5. Require specific training for employees to improve their understanding of safety requirements and the recognition of workplace hazards, specific to their job position and responsibilities.
    1. 100% of Turner's on-site field supervisory personnel and 100% of the subcontractor's safety representatives will complete the 30-hour OSHA construction course (or its equivalent).
    2. Turner will offer the 10-hour OSHA construction course (or its equivalent.) to non-supervisory employees with a goal of training 25% of the enrolled workforce.
    3. All employees will receive site-specific orientation regarding jobsite safety hazards and procedures relative to the work they are performing and the requirements outlined in the Partnership Agreement.
    4. Safety and health training to non English speaking workers will be conducted in the appropriate language to ensure their understanding of safety requirements, as needed.
    5. Hazard specific training (i.e. confined space, lock-out / tag-out, etc) will be provided, as needed.
    1. Turner will verify and record the number of employees receiving training and the type of training provided.

  4. ANNUAL EVALUATION

    The program will be evaluated annually on the anniversary of the signing of the partnership through the use of the Strategic Partnership Annual Evaluation Format measurement system as specified in Appendix C of CSP 03-02-002, OSHA Strategic Partnership Program for Worker Safety and Health Directive.

    Turner will gather the required participant data to evaluate and track the overall results and success of the partnership program. This data will be shared with OSHA and all Partners.

    OSHA will conduct, write and submit the annual evaluation.

  5. BENEFITS

    Participant benefits from OSHA may include:

    1. Maximum penalty reductions allowed in the OSHA Field Operations Manual (FOM) for good faith and history.

    2. OSHA will not issue penalties to participating contractors for other-than serious violations, provided that violations are immediately abated. OSHA reserves the right to issue penalties for regulatory violations for which mandatory penalties are established pursuant to the policy set forth in the Field Operations Manual (FOM).

    3. Priority consideration for compliance assistance and offsite technical assistance (phone calls/faxes/emails) by OSHA as resources allow.
  6. OSHA INSPECTIONS AND VERIFICATION

    OSHA will conduct one unannounced enforcement verification inspection each year for the term of the project. These inspections will be conducted through normal enforcement inspection activity. Inspections conducted in response to complaints, Local Emphasis Programs, or referrals will qualify as the monitoring inspection if, in addition to addressing the complaint/referral item(s), the compliance officer completes the focused inspection protocol for the worksite.

    Quarterly progress meetings will be held to check the progress of the Agreement and trends regarding incident rates, employee training data, Safety Net inspection reports, and environmental monitoring results.

  7. PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION

    Turner Construction Company in association with Ozanne Construction Company and Van Auken Akins Architects, LLC, OSHA, Ohio BWC Division of Safety and Hygiene Cleveland Office, and the Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council will form a partnership committee to monitor the implementation of this Agreement. It will consist of a representative from each of the designated partners. Turner's Site Safety Manager will serve as the chairperson and as OSHA's primary contact. The Committee will review contractor compliance and involvement in the partnership, analyze job site audits, make partnership improvements, and evaluate partnership modifications, achievements, and success.

    Turner Construction Company

    • Fully support and encourage participation in matters relative to safety and health with a spirit of cooperativeness.
    • Participate in quarterly partnership meetings.
    • Require subcontractors to meet the OSHA requirements.
    • Participate in the training sessions and the partnership evaluation.
    • Provide a representative to serve as a point of contact.
    • Collect data and information related to hazard identification and control and share the information as appropriate.
    • Promoting and/or conducting safety and health training on a continuous and ongoing basis.
    • Quarterly review with contractor owners and CBCTC representatives regarding safety performance and progress.
    Cleveland Building Trades

    • Appoint a member to the committee.
    • Participate in monthly safety audits.
    • Participate in quarterly partnership meetings.
    Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation

    • Participate in monthly inspections of the construction work site.
    • Participate in quarterly partnership meetings.
    • Provide training courses routinely for employees during working hours.
    • Provide industrial hygiene services, as requested to support the partnership. Emphasis areas include noise, silica, hexavalent chromium, welding fumes, carbon monoxide and isocyantes.
    OSHA

    • Prepare the annual partnership evaluation. Review and compile data provided.
    • Participate in quarterly partnership meetings.
    • Provide technical assistance upon request.
    • Conduct one enforcement verification inspection.
    • Optimal use of phone and fax and e-mail process to handle complaints.
    • Other-than-serious violations will not be cited if corrected at the time of the inspection.
  8. EMPLOYEE / EMPLOYER RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

    This partnership does not preclude employees and/or employers from exercising any right provided under the OSH Act, nor does it abrogate any responsibility to comply with rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the Act.

  9. TERMINATION

    This agreement shall be in effect until completion of construction activities (August 31, 2013). Should any "signatory" stakeholder choose to withdraw prior to project completion, a written notice shall be given stating the reason(s) and providing 30 days notice to the other party(s).

    If OSHA chooses to withdraw its participation in the partnership, the entire agreement is terminated. Either party may also propose modification or amendment of the agreement.

    Changes to the Partnership Agreement may be implemented if all parties are in agreement that it is in the best interest of all members involved.

  10. SIGNATURES

    The date of this Turner/Ozanne /VAA/OSHA/BWC/Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council Partnership Agreement is _____________,______, 2012.



    Howard B. Eberts, Area Director
    Cleveland Area Office
    Marty Burgwinkle, Project Executive
    Turner Construction Company

    P. David Gura, Safety Director
    Turner Construction Company
    Abe Al-Tarawneh, Director
    Ohio BWC Division of Safety and Hygiene

    Terence P. Joyce
    Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council
     
    Medical Mart acknowledges and applauds the commitment to safety that is evidenced by the above partnership of OSHA, Ohio BWC, Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council, and Turner Construction in association with Ozanne Construction Company and Van Auken Akins Architects, LLC. They fully support the efforts of the Partners and are fully committed to an environment of workplace safety.