Public/Private Partnership Improves Safety at Hollywood Slots Construction Site Bookmark and Share

January 15, 2008

Augusta - The U.S. Department of Labor?s Occupational Safety and Health Administration?s (OSHA) Augusta Area Office has entered into a partnership with Cianbro Corp. and the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards, Maine 21(d) Consultation Project. The goals of the new partnership are to enhance safety and health and reduce injuries for employees working on the Hollywood Slots construction project in Bangor, Maine.

?This partnership seeks to minimize the risks inherent in construction work by emphasizing employee training and requiring an ongoing commitment from contractors to identify and eliminate hazards before they harm employees,? said Marthe Kent, OSHA?s regional administrator for New England.

?Taking an aggressive stance toward worksite safety and health,? William Coffin, OSHA?s area director for Maine, added, ?should reduce injuries and illnesses and their associated human and financial costs, increase productivity and, most importantly, help ensure that every employee on this project finishes each workday healthy and whole.?

Under the partnership, Cianbro will develop and implement a comprehensive safety and health program that adheres to or exceeds OSHA guidelines. The program will emphasize employee involvement and include mandatory OSHA 10-hour construction safety training for all supervisors and employees; weekly worksite safety training; documented safety inspections; and the collection of injury and illness data to track trends and identify hazards.

The Hollywood Slots project consists of a seven-story hotel, four-story parking garage and 146,000-square-foot gaming facility. The project is ultimately expected to employ approximately 450 employees from 24 contractors.

The partnership was signed in Bangor by Coffin; Peter Vigue, president, Cianbro Corp.; and David E. Wacker, director, Workplace Safety and Health Division, Maine Department of Labor.

OSHA?s Strategic Partnership Program is part of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao?s ongoing efforts to improve the health and safety of employees through cooperative relationships with trade associations, labor organizations, employers and employees. Since the program began in 1998, nearly 1.3 million employees and more than 22,000 employers across the U.S. have participated with OSHA in 512 Strategic Partnerships. For information about OSHA partnerships in Maine, contact the Augusta Area Office at 207-626-9160.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA?s role is to assure 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. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

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