OSHA Announced Partnership with Allied Construction Industries

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has announced a joint partnership with Allied Construction Industries (ACI).

Technically, this isn't a "new" partnership but rather OSHA is renewing its age-old partnership with the trade association. ACI is arguably the largest construction trade organization in the country. It represents some 500 companies and 30,000 construction workers.

So, what does this renewed partnership mean? Among other things, the two like-minded organizations will seek to reduce the number of work-related injuries and illnesses that occur in the construction industry through the use of training programs, safety meetings, safety orientations, stand-downs and more. The general idea is to educate employees and employers about the potential safety hazards in the construction industry.

It's no secret that construction is one of the most dangerous industries in terms of injury rates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 4,836 construction workers were killed on the job in 2015. The BLS also says that roughly 13 construction workers die each day in the United States -- a number that OSHA and ACI is hoping to lower through its renewed partnership.

The BLS further adds that by eliminating the 'Fatal Four' -- falls, struck by object, electrocutions, caught in/between -- would save more than 600 lives each year. Falls, for instance, are the leading cause of work-related injury among construction workers. Falls are typically classified as either same level or elevated level. The latter, while less common, generally has a higher risk of severe injury. Same-level falls are more common but typically result in less severe injury.

"OSHA and ACI renewed their partnership to protect construction industry workers through increased training, daily work shift safety meetings, safety orientations and stand-downs designed to increase worker's knowledge of hazards, required safety procedures, protective measures and equipment," wrote OSHA when announcing the new partnership.

The ACI first partnered with OSHA back in 2000. Since then, the two organizations have actively engaged in discussions and projects to improve the safety of working conditions for construction workers.

You can learn more about OSHA's partnership with the ACI by visiting https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=33723.