Carolinas Associated General Contractors (CAGC) says it has recently renewed its long-standing alliance with the NCDOL Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division.
Meanwhile, a new relationship formed Jan. 8, 2019, when NCDOL’s OSH Division and the North Carolina Association of Local Governmental Employee Safety Officials (NCALGESO) signed a two-year alliance agreement.
In an effort to support the National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls, May 6-10, both CAGC and NCALGESO will be assisting with NCDOL construction forums. The forums will be day long events with a focus on the Big Four hazards in construction: falls, electrical, struck-by and caught-in.
“The alliance Carolinas AGC has with the NC Department of Labor and Commissioner Cherie Berry is one of the most important alliances we have. Nothing is more important than safety in the construction industry and the team effort we have here is a win-win for everybody,” said CAGC president and CEO Dave Simpson.
The alliance, which was first signed, March 22, 2010, aims to reduce accidents and fatalities in the construction industry through increased education, training and outreach. The two organizations furthered their alliance by signing a renewal alliance agreement Oct. 30, 2018.
The alliance also promotes safe and healthful working conditions by:
- Providing CAGC employees/members with information and guidance that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to recognized occupational hazards.
- Providing OSH employees with information and training on the industry’s best practices.
- Increasing access to safety and health information and training resources.
“Our alliance with Carolinas AGC is extremely important to the construction industry in North Carolina,” Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said in a statement. “As one of the smallest state agencies, we need to work together with construction trade organizations such as Carolinas AGC to best reach those workers on the front lines doing some of the state’s most hazardous work. We believe these types of relationships have helped drive down the state injury and illness rate for private industry to a historic low.”
“We are very excited about the new alliance with NCALGESO,” Marcy Collyer, training supervisor with the Education, Training and Technical Assistance (ETTA) Bureau said. “Collaboration with NCALGESO will help increase awareness about safety and health issues that affect public sector employees. Our ultimate goal is to ensure everyone goes home safely and this new alliance will help the OSH Division and the N.C. Department of Labor achieve that goal.”
Under the alliance, the OSH Division and NCALGESO will work together to achieve certain training and educational goals, outreach and communication goals, and to promote a statewide dialogue on workplace safety and health.