December 14, 2021

US Department of Labor, Langlas & Associates align to promote worker
safety during construction of Rocky Vista University medical school

BILLINGS, MT – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Langlas & Associates Inc. have signed a strategic partnership to prevent serious hazards, and enhance workplace safety and health practices for workers on the Rocky Vista University construction project in Billings.

Through the OSHA Strategic Partnership Program, the joint initiative will help engage workers in safety meetings and committees, and seek employee participation in construction site audits. It will also encourage feedback, and use employee suggestions in the development of job hazard analysis.

“This partnership recognizes that workers bring critical skills and perspectives and can help ensure the successful implementation of any construction safety and health management system,” said OSHA Area Director Art Hazen in Billings, Montana. “We will use our resources and strategies to make sure workers on the Rocky Vista project end their work days safely.”

The $40 million project will construct Montana’s first four-year medical school, and lead to the creation of 100 to 120 full- and part-time university jobs.

This is the second strategic partnership between OSHA and Langlas & Associates in Billings. In 2019, they signed an agreement to promote worker safety during completion of the Lockwood High School construction project. At Lockwood, the partnership led to the development of best practices for fall protection, traffic control and housekeeping.

OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program works with businesses, trade associations, unions, consulates, professional organizations, faith and community-based organizations, and educational institutions to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. For more information on OSHA partnerships and alliances, please call OSHA's toll-free hotline 800-321-OSHA (6742) or OSHA’s Billings Area Office at 406-247-7494.

# # #

Media Contacts:

Michael Peterson, 415-625-2630, petersen.michael.w@dol.gov
Jose Carnevali, 415-625-2631, carnevali.jose@dol.gov

Release Number: 21-2142-MON

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).