North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Barnhill Construction has entered into a voluntary safety partnership with the North Carolina Department of Labor and its Occupational Safety and Health Division at the Highline at The Creamery project in Raleigh.
The agreement, announced with N.C. Labor Commissioner Luke Farley, is designed to strengthen worker safety and health practices throughout the life of the project. Barnhill and its subcontractors will work with OSH to identify and eliminate serious hazards and to implement comprehensive safety and health management systems.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better day to celebrate our commitment to safety,” the company said in a statement, adding that the partnership reinforces its focus on putting worker safety first.
Under the program, OSH partners with general contractors for a specified period to encourage and recognize high standards of construction safety. Participating projects must meet established performance measures, which are verified through quarterly joint inspections and monthly documentation. The partnership ends one month after project completion or may be terminated by either party with 30 days’ notice.
OSH officials say the program helps reduce injuries and illnesses by supporting long-term safety planning in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Because of the resources involved, partnerships are limited in number, and companies may enter into no more than two agreements within a 10-year period.
The partnership program is open to general contractors working in areas where OSH has jurisdiction. Benefits include improved employee safety, fewer illness and injury cases, greater access to training and safety information, and the development of formal safety and health management systems.
Current OSH construction partnerships include projects involving Jacobs Engineering Group in Holly Springs at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies; a Barnhill–Balfour Beatty–Metcon joint venture in Raleigh; Ames Construction on an N.C. Education project in Raleigh; Barnhill Building Group on the I-40 reconstruction in Clyde; and Barnhill Building Group at The Creamery in Raleigh.
OSH said contractors interested in applying for a partnership can submit an online application and will be contacted with further guidance once it is received.