Region 3 News Release: 11-1758-PHI (osha 12-031)
March 12, 2012
Contact: Leni Fortson Joanna Hawkins
Phone: 215-861-5102 215-861-5101
Email: uddyback-fortson.lenore@dol.gov hawkins.joanna@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA forms partnership to protect construction workers
on PPL Corp.'s data and operations center in Upper Macungie Township, Pa.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a partnership with Skanska USA Building Inc. and Indiana University of Pennsylvania's PA/OSHA Consultation Program. The partnership will promote workplace safety and health, and provide guidance, technical assistance and training for workers involved in the construction of PPL Corp.'s new data and operations center in Upper Macungie Township.

The utility company's new center will combine existing transmission and distribution operations centers in the Allentown and Harrisburg areas as well as host its new emergency response functions. The project is expected to take approximately 14 months to complete and will employ 160 individual construction tradespeople. The partnership aims to reduce the number of at-risk conditions and behaviors that could result in worker fatalities, injuries or illnesses, especially those relating to falls, "struck-by," "caught-in" and electrical accidents.

"This partnership underscores OSHA's commitment to keeping workers safe," said OSHA's Allentown Area Office director, Jean Kulp. "We look forward to working closely with our partners to identify methods to reduce falls and other dangers common in the high-hazard construction industry."

New York City-based Skanska USA Building Inc. will implement a site-specific safety program during the construction of the center, which will provide incentives to construction contractors who voluntarily participate in the partnership and demonstrate implementation of their own effective safety and health programs.

PA/OSHA Consultation Program representatives will ensure that subcontractors who request services from the OSHA-funded, free consultation program receive priority assistance. They also will review partnership issues as well as examine and provide feedback on subcontractors' injury and illness rates and trends.

Through its Strategic Partnership Program, OSHA partners with employers, workers, professional and trade associations, labor organizations and other stakeholders to establish specific goals, strategies and performance measures to improve worker safety and health. For more information, call OSHA's Allentown office at 267-429-7542 or visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/partnerships/index.html.

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 ensure 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 news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.