September 16, 2021

US Department of Labor, the Builders' Association renew 20-year partnership
to train, protect Missouri, Kansas construction workers on job sites

KANSAS CITY, MO – To combat the dangers workers face in construction, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Builders' Association renewed their 20-year Build Safe Partnership Program recently to train and protect industry workers throughout Missouri and eastern Kansas.

The program focuses on reducing the number of injuries, illnesses and fatalities resulting from construction's top four hazards – falls, struck-by, caught-in/between and electrocutions. The program also trains workers on how to prevent other construction site hazards, such as lacerations and amputations and lack of adequate machine guarding and lockout/tagout procedures.

During the five-year partnership, participants will also raise awareness about fall prevention and reducing trenching and excavation collapses by participating in the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction and Trench Safety Stand Down. The partners will also participate in Construction Suicide Prevention Campaign events each September to promote suicide prevention and mental health awareness.

“The Build Safe Partnership Program serves an important role in helping to prevent worker injuries and fatalities from construction hazards,” said OSHA Area Director Karena Lorek in Kansas City, Missouri. “The 20-year partnership between OSHA and the Builders' Association has provided contractors and workers with training and resources to improve workplace safety in this high-hazard industry.”

Partnership members will continue educating employees and employers about workers' rights and employers' responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Learn more about OSHA.

OSHA works cooperatively with businesses, labor groups, and other organizations through its Cooperative Programs to help prevent fatalities, injuries, and illnesses in the workplace.

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Media Contacts:

Scott Allen, 312-353-4727, allen.scott@dol.gov
Rhonda Burke, 312-353-4807, burke.rhonda@dol.gov

Release Number: 21-1651-KAN

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The department's Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).