Background:

In September 2007, Consigli Construction Company and OSHA's Region I Providence Area Office formed an OSHA Strategic Partnership (OSP) to eliminate injuries and illnesses and promote safety and health for the contractors performing work at the Cranston Street Armory Project. The project consisted of restoration of the old National Guard Armory whose footprint encompasses three city blocks. The National Historic landmark was built in 1907. The building is currently occupied by two Rhode Island State Agencies and is considered to be one of 11 most endangered buildings in the United States. The project includes, but is not limited to, two 180-foot stone towers, two 90-foot stone balconies, and a 60-foot stone chimney.

Success Impact:

OSP Achieves Key Goal of Reducing Injury and Illness Rates through Increased Safety and Health Training and Self-Inspections

During the 12 month period of the restoration project no injuries and illnesses were recorded. The OSP achieved a Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR) of zero and a Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) Rate of zero, which was 100 percent, respectively, below the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) national average for the Nonresidential Building Construction Industry. The table below presents the OSP's TCIR and DART from September 2007 through September 2008, compared to the 2007 BLS national average and the total percentage difference.

The OSP's zero injury and illness rates can be directly linked to the increase in safety and health training conducted over the course of the project. Site safety orientation training was provided to each contractor and its employees prior to performing work. A review of the contractor's safety and health management systems (SHMS) to ensure compliance with OSHA's 1989 Guidelines was also performed. Weekly discussions were held with contractors that covered subject such as fall protection, scaffolding, and electrical safety as well as the four most common hazards involved in construction (falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, and electrocution). Additionally safety awareness was introduced to the employees through daily self-inspections. These self-inspections resulted in identifying and correcting/abating over 140 job site hazards.

Partnership Objectives:

Key objectives of the OSP include encouraging contractors to improve their SHMS and to eliminate injuries and illnesses.

Partnership Signed: September 19, 2007

Industry: Construction (NAICS Code 2362)

Employees: 50 total for the entire project

Employers: Consigli Construction Company, C & K Construction, Lanco Staging Company and Stumpo Masonry Company

Source and Date: Patrick J. Griffin, Area Director, Region I, Providence Area Office, January 2009