Project Overview:

The Major League Soccer Stadium Project "CITYPARK" was a joint venture project between Mortenson, Alberici, L. Keeley (MAK JV). The $440 million Major League Soccer stadium development includes the open-air stadium with a seating capacity of 22,500 and the ability to expand to 25,000 seating capacity on an approximate 31-acre site. The project included construction of the CITYPARK Stadium, a practice facility, practice fields, and a retail pavilion. In addition to addressing hazards within the construction industry, this partnership promoted a comprehensive and collaborative effort that exceeded minimum best practices in sports stadium construction. The new stadium opened to the public in September 2022.

Safety and Health Management Programs Lead to Improved Safety Awareness:

The partnership agreement set a strong tone for safety collaboration on the Major League Soccer Stadium project. The entire team, including OSHA, Kwame Building Group (owner's representative), MAK JV (the Construction Manager) and the trade partners were engaged in developing a strong safety culture.

Safety highlights from the project include:

• Total case rate of 0.39 on a challenging project with more than 2.5 million craft hours worked
• Good communication and collaboration between contractors to achieve a common goal
• Partner participated in the OSHA Stand Down for Fall Protection weeks, Trench Safety Stand Downs, and hosted a large-scale Construction Suicide Awareness & Prevention Stand Down
• Commitment to a genuine safety culture from the trades workers up the chain to project executives
• This partnership required frequent inspections of the worksite by MAK JV, the subcontractors, and other members of the partnership to identify and correct hazards. It serves as a model to all partners by demonstrating how to implement a strong safety and health program on a large multi-employer jobsite. The partnership encouraged a higher level of participation in the safety process by involving everyone on the jobsite.
• The knowledge gained from this partnership is intended to reduce injuries and illnesses at future work sites. Subcontractors were required to conduct daily non-documented safety audits/inspections of their work area and operations. In addition to daily non-documented audits/inspections, subcontractors participated in weekly documented audits/inspections completed by MAK JV. This allowed subcontractor employees to increase hazard awareness for not only their work operations but also all work operations being performed on site. Audit/inspection findings and mitigation efforts were communicated to all employees on site.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Imitative

Forum for a Safety Mentoring Program initiative by MAK JV to assist Minority based and disadvantaged businesses in the development and implementation of quality safety programs and the promotion of a positive Safety Culture within their organization.

Increased Safety Training and Improved Safety and Health Management Programs Lead to Reduced Injury and Illness Rates:

Increased training was a key component of the OSHA Strategic Partnership. More than 4,400 employees received approximately 5,000 hours of training on topics including: site safety orientation, fall prevention, trench and excavation hazards, heat illness prevention, COVID-19 training / vaccination promotion, Pre-Task Planning, housekeeping, dropped tool prevention, safe driving education, work zone struck-by/blind spot training, hearing protection, suicide awareness and prevention training, mobile elevated work platform, and industrial athlete training (provided by MLS team training staff).

MAK JV Implemented "Best Practices" for this job site:

• 100% Fall Protection in all aerial lifts including scissor lifts. Additionally, scissor lifts will require the use of a retractable lanyard system for personal fall protection.
• The use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices will be strictly prohibited during work activities. Cell phones only permitted to be used in Safe Areas away from the work area and not to be used during any activities being performed.
• Along with other "standard" required Personal Protective Equipment, MAK JV required all worker to always wear a minimum of Cut Level 3 Gloves and a Class 2 Reflective Vest or Shirt.
• Implemented a "Ladders Last" program that requires the worker to use other safe means for working at heights besides the use of ladder. Additionally, the Podium Style ladders will be the only approved type of step ladders on site. Traditional "A Frame" stepladders were not permitted.
• Implemented a dropped tool protection program to include barricading the work area below, limiting tools and materials to the essentials and tethering tools.
• Required that any apprentice level worker be under the supervision of a journeyman level worker while performing activities on this job site.
• Required, at a minimum, all workers to have completed the OSHA 10- hour training course.

Quote provided by Tim Gunn, Sr. Project Manager MAK JV:

"As a construction manager, all on the MAK JV valued the relationship formalized under the OSHA Partnership for the MLS Stadium Project. The stadium was constructed through the COVID-19 Pandemic, which brought its own set of unique challenges in addition to those regularly faced by large complex projects. With OSHA, the project team created and maintained a world class safety culture in which workers and managers were aligned around the same goals. The Partnership focused on daily education and team building to create a workplace where everyone participated in the Safety Program."

Quantitative Results Data

Submitted By: Corey Hayes and Maryanne Martin, OSHA Region 7.