In 2018, an expansion project at the Tomahawk Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility in Leawood, Kansas got underway. As a result of previous successful Strategic Partnerships with OSHA on other projects across the country, McCarthy Construction contacted OSHA Region VII to discuss a partnership agreement with OSHA and the Kansas OSHA Consultation Program (“Kansas Consultation”). Under the partnership, Kanas Consultation would provide recommendations to improve the company’s safety program. The Partnership Agreement was signed on July 11, 2019. The signatories included the Kansas Consultation, the OSHA Wichita Area Office, and McCarthy Construction. This was the first time that Kansas Consultation was invited to enter into an OSHA Strategic Partnership Agreement.

Kansas Consultation was on-site every quarter, except for one meeting that was held virtually because of COVID-19. Kansas Consultation was in continuous communication with the project safety managers to discuss issues, events, and ideas for better safety protocols as the project continued. A Kansas Consultation consultant collaborated with multiple sub-contractors while on-site and discussed potential hazards, interim protections, and preventive measures. The number of workers on-site during construction ranged from 25 at the start to 450 during its peak.

During each visit, consultants reviewed and discussed any injuries and illnesses that occurred during the previous quarter. They reviewed the OSHA 300 logs, the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRC), and Days Away Restricted Transfer (DART) rates. The consultants also conducted a complete walk-through of the site to identify any hazards. There were 7 OSHA Recordable Injuries during this project. The DART rate of 0.0 and TRC Rate of 1.0 were below the national averages according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

During the 30-month project (July 11, 2019, to February 14, 2022), 3,232 safety audits were performed on-site, 310 safety meetings occurred, and 2,119 craft workers were provided safety orientation. Topics for the safety meetings were based on the hazards identified during the walk-throughs by Kansas Consultation.

The Kansas Consultation Program provided informal safety and health training during quarterly meetings. During the project, Kansas Consultation also promoted participation in OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week and the National Fall Prevention Stand Down. A consultant came onsite for the company’s fall protection training and demonstration during Safe + Sound Week. At the conclusion of the Partnership, McCarthy Construction requested that Kansas Consultation be involved in their next wastewater treatment plant construction project in 2023.

The OSHA On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards and how to fix them, provide advice for compliance with OSHA standards, train and educate workers, and assist in establishing and improving safety and health programs. On-Site Consultation services are separate from OSHA enforcement efforts. To locate the OSHA On-Site Consultation program nearest you, call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit www.osha.gov/consultation.