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New York City
Region


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Region 2 News Release: 07-784-NEW/BOS 2007-147
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Contact: Ted Fitzgerald
Phone: (617) 565-2074


U.S. Labor Department's OSHA forms safety partnership for construction of Goldman Sachs Headquarters

NEW YORK -- A comprehensive construction safety partnership has been formed to minimize hazards and maximize safe and healthful working conditions for employees constructing the new Goldman Sachs headquarters in Battery Park City.

The partnership unites the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) with the project's construction manager, Tishman Construction, the New York Labor Department's On-Site Safety Consultation Program (NYS Consultation), the Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC), the Building Trades Employers Association (BTEA) and the General Contractors Association of New York Inc. (GCANY).

"This partnership emphasizes employee training and an ongoing commitment by contractors to identify and eliminate hazards before they harm employees," said Patricia K. Clark, OSHA's regional administrator. "Other goals include a top priority of zero fatalities and full compliance with the project's stringent safety requirements."

Under the partnership, all project subcontractors will be required to have a site-specific safety and health program administered by a qualified person, ongoing safety and health training that addresses new project tasks or processes, safety and health orientation for all new hires, and certified OSHA training for all foremen.

Among other requirements are task-specific weekly toolbox instructions for employees to inform them about safety and health standards that apply to each week's work, as well as documentation of all safety and health activities, including corrected hazards and near accidents.

"This partnership is a mutual investment in safety and health that should pay dividends in reduced costs, greater productivity and, most important, employees being able to end each day whole and healthy," said Richard Mendelson, OSHA's area director for Manhattan.

The partnership was signed by OSHA's Clark and Mendelson; William Motherway, executive vice president, Tishman Construction; James Rush, program manager, NYS Consultation; Edward J. Malloy, chairman and chief executive officer, BCTC; Lou Coletti, chairman and chief executive officer, BTEA; and Christopher Ward, managing director, GCANY.

OSHA's Strategic Partnership Program is part of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao's ongoing efforts to improve the health and safety of employees through cooperative relationships with trade associations, labor organizations, employers and employees. More than 1.2 million employees and more than 33,000 employers across the United States have participated with OSHA in 455 strategic partnerships since the program began in 1998.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.


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