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Region 3 News Release:   USDL: III-00-04-04-025-PA
Tues., Apr. 4, 2000
Contact: Leni Uddyback
PHONE: OFFICE: (215) 861-5102

OSHA AND BLACKWOOD, NJ COMPANY REACH HEALTH AND SAFETY AGREEMENT; Company takes proactive stance on worker safety

A.P. Construction, of Blackwood, NJ today entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration for $135,000 to settle all outstanding OSHA citations and proposed penalties, and to eliminate the cost and burden of litigation. A.P. Construction is an excavation contractor headquartered in Blackwood, NJ.

The agreement was reached simultaneously with the issuance of unclassified OSHA citations for alleged health and safety violations of OSHA's trenching standards, which occurred while the company was working as a prime contractor for the University of Pennsylvania.

OSHA initiated an inspection on Oct. 5, 1999 in response to an anonymous complaint alleging that employees were working in unsloped excavations more than five feet deep while installing 20 and 16 inch water mains on 38^th Street between Spruce and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia, Pa.

"I applaud A.P. Construction management for its full cooperation and commitment to improving worker safety. Their new safety program will go above and beyond the standards required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act," states Richard Soltan, OSHA regional administrator.

In addition to paying $135,000, A.P. Construction will institute an extensive health and safety program, including:

• forming a safety committee that will include employees, foremen, managers and superintendents.

• hiring a full-time safety and health manager responsible for conducting a pre-job hazard evaluation at each worksite during the bid process; and conducting and documenting weekly onsite safety and health audits at each active worksite.

• job site superintendents conducting daily job site safety inspections.

• requiring all A.P. Construction subcontractors to follow a safety and health program at least as effective as the A.P. Construction program.

• providing safety and health training to address hazards at each site; including: confined space, material handling, fall protection, hazardous materials and excavation safety.

• Using the agreement and the issued citations as training materials for all employees of A.P. Construction.

The inspection was conducted by the Philadelphia Area Office, U.S. Customs House-Room 242, 2^nd and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2902, (215) 597-4955.

This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD). Telephone: (800) 927-9273.