OSHA News

OSHA And J&J Contractors Inc. Partners For Armed Forces Reserve Center Construction

March 7, 2009-- The chief goal of a site safety partnership between the Methuen and Springfield Area Offices of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the project's general contractor, J&J Contractors Inc., of Lowell, Mass is to achieve a high level of worker safety and health during the design and construction of a new Armed Forces Reserve Center in Ayer, Mass

Under the partnership, J&J Contractors and the project's subcontractors commit to developing and maintaining effective safety and health management practices that go beyond OSHA requirements. These will include a site-specific safety and health program, weekly safety and health inspections and safety audits, project-specific safety orientation, task-specific instruction, comprehensive risk assessments, project-specific safety and health guidelines, and compiling data on injuries, illnesses and hazardous conditions.

"This partnership with J&J Contractors forges a working relationship that makes safety the number one priority for employees working on this project," said Paul Mangiafico, director of OSHA's Boston North Area Office in Methuen. "Rather than just reacting to hazardous conditions, these contractors will work proactively to evaluate, identify and eliminate them before they hurt workers."

"Our goal here is a systematic and effective approach to safety and health throughout the life of the project," said Mary Hoye, director of OSHA's Springfield Area Office. "This approach will reduce injuries and illnesses and their associated human and financial costs."

The project encompasses the erection of six buildings and the construction of a 5,900 square foot parking area, and is scheduled for completion around January 2012. The partnership was signed March 3 at the project site by OSHA's Mangiafico and Hoye and by J&J Contractors Inc. President Kamlesh Patel and Safety Director Phillip Bova.

OSHA's site safety partnerships are designed to encourage, assist and recognize efforts to eliminate serious hazards and achieve model workplace safety and health practices. More than 1.4 million employees and nearly 28,000 employers across the United States have participated with OSHA in more than 585 strategic partnerships since the program began in 1998.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health.
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