June 2, 2017

State Farm at Park Center safety partnership announced

Participants:

U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Georgia Institute of Technology Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program

Holder Construction Co.

Associated General Contractors of Georgia Inc.

Partnership: Signed on June 1, 2017, the strategic partnership will protect and educate workers on construction hazards during the second and third construction phases of the State Farm at Park Center project in Atlanta.

Daniel J. Ortiz, program manager, Georgia Tech Research Institute’s Safety, Health & Environmental Technology Division, signs the partnership on June 1 along with Jorge E. Cisneros, corporate safety director for Holder Construction and William Fulcher, OSHA’s area director in the Atlanta-East Office.

Developed jointly, the partnership is consistent with OSHA’s long-range efforts to develop a contractor/government partnership approach to safety management. It allows for better use of OSHA resources and innovation in safety management and encourages more participation in the safety process from the construction community.

The partnership will:

• Develop effective safety and health training programs and procedures.
• Reduce injury and illness rates.
• Increase the number of employers with effective safety and health management systems.
• Increase the monitoring of health hazards at the worksite.

The State Farm at Park Center project is a mixed-use development incorporating a 1 million-square-foot corporate office building, with a 2.5 million-square-foot parking deck and the demolition of the existing Hammond Exchange Building. During construction, approximately 50 subcontractors and 4,000 workers will be on-site. 

Duration: This agreement is in effect until completion of construction activities at this worksite, but not more than three years.

Background: Through its Strategic Partnership Program, OSHA works with employers, employees, professional and trade associations, labor organizations and other interested stakeholders to establish specific goals, strategies and performance measures to improve worker safety and health. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/partnerships/index.html.

Quote: “Partnerships like these provide a top-down emphasis to ensure a safer and healthier workplace for construction workers,” said William Fulcher, OSHA’s area director in the Atlanta-East Office. “The partnership at the State Farm at Park Center project is a great opportunity for knowledge and skills to be passed down to smaller employers so their workers are better protected, not only for this project but for years to come.”

Media Contacts:

Michael D’Aquino, 678-237-0630, daquino.michael@dol.gov
Eric R. Lucero, 678-237-0630, lucero.eric.r@dol.gov

Release Number: 17-671-ATL (77)

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