Region 5 News Release: 12-2181-CHI
Nov. 7, 2012
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6876
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA establishes partnership with Black & Veatch
Construction for work on Columbia Energy Center in Pardeeville, Wis.

PARDEEVILLE, Wis. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has established a strategic partnership with Black & Veatch Construction Inc. to reduce workers' exposure to hazards and the likelihood of serious injuries at the Columbia Energy Center Air Quality Control Systems Project site in Pardeeville. The Wisconsin On-Site Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program, which is operated by the state but funded by federal OSHA, also is participating in the partnership.

The partnership's goals include increasing the number of safety and health programs and best practices implemented among subcontractors, increasing the number of workers who have completed relevant safety training and maintaining participant data for self-evaluation of the partnership's overall success.

Black & Veatch Construction will implement a site-specific safety and health program. Other major contractors involved in the project site may choose to participate in this partnership, but the agreement is not contingent upon their participation. Approximately 600 workers are anticipated to be on-site at the peak of the project.

"This voluntary strategic partnership is focused on identifying and controlling hazards, improving safety and health programs, and encouraging employee participation in achieving a safe and healthful workplace," said Kim Stille, OSHA's area director in Madison. "These goals can be met through increased training, implementation of best work practices, and compliance with applicable OSHA standards and regulations."

Overland Park, Kan.-headquartered Black & Veatch Construction is tasked with engineering and constructing air quality control system retrofits to the existing coal-fired units at the Columbia Energy Center.

Through its Strategic Partnership Program, OSHA develops alliances with employers, workers, 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.

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 or CD from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.