Region 6 News Release: 10-693-DAL (306)
May 25, 2010
Contact: Michael Wald Michael D'Aquino
Phone: 404-562-2078 404-562-2076
Email: Wald.Michael@dol.gov D'Aquino.Michael@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA and Lee Lewis Construction
partner to promote construction safety in West Texas

LUBBOCK, Texas - Providing better health and safety for construction workers in West Texas is the goal of a new strategic partnership formed between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Lee Lewis Construction Inc. in Lubbock.

"This partnership affirms a shared commitment to promote construction safety in the West Texas area," said Jack Rector, director of OSHA's El Paso Area Office, which is overseen by the Lubbock District Office. "We welcome the opportunity to participate in this cooperative effort to help prevent injuries and fatalities."

The agreement includes 15 worksites and approximately 53 subcontractors in the West Texas area. Partnership objectives include ensuring that all worksites have effective safety and health programs, ensuring that employees receive the necessary training toward preventing workplace hazards, focusing efforts on increased communication among the stakeholders, and reducing exposure to hazards and incidence of serious injuries and fatalities.

Lee Lewis Construction began operations in 1976 and has provided construction services for corporations, school districts, universities, municipalities, religious institutions, government agencies and health care systems.

OSHA's Strategic Partnership Program helps encourage, assist and recognize the efforts of partners to eliminate serious workplace hazards and achieve a high level of worker safety and health. Most strategic partnerships seek to have a broad impact by building cooperative relationships with groups of employers and workers. These partnerships are voluntary relationships among OSHA, employers, worker representatives and others (for example, trade unions, trade and professional associations, universities and other government agencies).

Employers and employees with questions about this or other OSHA partnerships my call OSHA's Lubbock District Office at 806-472-7681, the El Paso Area Office at 915-534-6251, or visit the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov (click on "Cooperative Programs").

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 these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audiotape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.