All commercial construction work in North
and East Texas stopped Wednesday, May 18, 2005,from 10-11:30 a.m., as contractors
conducted safety training activities to raise safety awareness among their
employees.
Sponsored by industry trade associations and supported by OSHA
(Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the "stand-down" made a
strong statement about the importance of safety to all construction workers.
The industry trade associations represent more than 1000 contractors and 600
service and supplier companies.
"Commercial construction activity has been on the rise throughout the area for several years, and as a result the industry had to increase its focus on improving safety awareness, practices and measures," said Warren Andres, board chair of QUOIN, a chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America.
"We take very seriously the OSHA requirement that each contractor is responsible for providing a workplace free of recognizable hazards to the health and safety of their employees.
"In turn, each construction worker is responsible for complying with OSHA standards and their employers' standards," Andres added. "And employees also have the responsibility and right to stop work when a hazard exists that they cannot eliminate or control."
"Stand-Down" activities included training devoted to areas such as:
identifying jobsite hazards;
reporting and correcting safety hazards;
inspecting work areas and equipment; and
reviewing all jobsite safety rules and procedures for all employees.
Workers Inspect Construction Sites
In addition to participating in safety training, construction workers used
a form developed by QUOIN's Safety Leadership Team to inspect their work
areas, tools and equipment. The form, as well as workers' safety comments and
recommendations, was returned to help measure safety awareness by employees.
"QUOIN members are very interested in workers' safety observations and
other feedback that will improve jobsite conditions," Andres said.
Future plans include circulating a summary of workers' safety
recommendations to industry members, and conducting Stand-Down meetings on a
quarterly basis.
"We firmly believe that having taken this action as a construction
community will make a strong statement, both internally and externally, about
the importance of jobsite safety," Andres said.
The commercial construction trade associations participating in the Stand-
Down represent the top contractors, service and supplier companies in North
and East Texas and have contributed greatly to the success of this event:
Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.; Black Contractors Association;
QUOIN; and The Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
SOURCE Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.; Black
Contractors