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Employers, trades sign on to safety alliance at Metro North job

Date Posted: May 12 2006

Walbridge Aldinger and Barton Malow Company joined with the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG), the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) to sign a major partnership to ensure the safety and health of workers on a Detroit Metropolitan Airport construction project. Walbridge Aldinger and Barton Malow formed a joint venture, Walbridge Barton Malow LLC, to demolish the existing Davey Terminal/Hotel complex at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and create the new North Terminal. Construction is underway to build the 26-gate, 820,000 gross square foot North Terminal to process domestic and international flights. "Walbridge Aldinger and Barton Malow are two of Michigan's premier contractors and have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to protect their workers," said DLEG Acting Director Robert W. Swanson. "This $418 million project will have a major impact on Michigan's economy - while all partners combine their efforts to protect every worker on the project." MIOSHA has an existing first partnership with Walbridge Aldinger for their City of Dearborn Combined Sewer Overflow Contract # 3 project. All partners have worked diligently to protect the workers on that project for nearly 16 months - and to date, there has not been a lost-time accident. The construction industry is one of the most hazardous industries in Michigan. Only about four percent of Michigan's workforce is employed in construction - however, construction fatalities account for nearly 50 percent of all fatal workplace accidents. "Safety and security are top core values at Detroit Metropolitan Airport," said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Lester Robinson at the May 3 signing.. "I commend the North Terminal contractors and the state of Michigan for developing this innovative and efficient partnership" Signing partners include: Dennis Jones, Safety Supervisor, Walbridge Barton Malow; Charlie Pfeifer, Project Executive, Walbridge Barton Malow; Paul Tantalo, Project Manager, Walbridge Barton Malow; Mark S. Klimbal, Safety Director, Walbridge Barton Malow; Robert W. Swanson, Acting Director, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG); Douglas J. Kalinowski, Director, Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA); Patrick Devlin, CEO, Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council; and Walter R. Mabry, Executive Secretary/Treasurer, Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights. "When the building trades hear about industry owners, contractors and state government taking the initiative to commit to a goal of zero injuries on construction sites, it gets our attention," Devlin said. "This pro-worker initiative has all sorts of benefits, the most important of which is that perhaps it will mean fewer construction workers will end up injured - or worse. As we go forward with the construction of the North Terminal, we are extremely pleased that this initiative has been put into place to help workers." Partnerships are an important emphasis in MIOSHA's Strategic Plan to improve the health and safety of workers through cooperative relationships with groups, including trade associations, labor organizations, and employers. Partnerships move away from traditional enforcement methods and embrace collaborative agreements. "This joint venture between Walbridge Aldinger and Barton Malow brings together two great organizations with the same philosophy - zero tolerance for unsafe acts and conditions. Partnering with MIOSHA allows us to utilize all the team members in the pursuit of that goal," said Mark S. Klimbal, CSP, Corporate Safety Director, Barton Malow Company. "Through this cooperative effort, we can focus even more resources on the requirement to run a project driven by safety, quality, and productivity." "This partnership agreement will help us in our ultimate goal of zero injuries on a very large and complex construction project. The active integration of the Walbridge Barton Malow Safety and Health Program will further the fundamental goal of zero injuries," said Steve Clabaugh, Asst. Vice President - Safety, Walbridge Aldinger. "We share a common vision with our partners, and supporting partners, to be committed to sending each and every trade's person that works at the North Terminal Redevelopment Project home safely." The "North Terminal Redevelopment Project" partnership agreement has been established to raise awareness and promote safety for all personnel employed in the Detroit Metropolitan Airport construction project. Recognizing that engineering techniques alone are not enough to ensure that exposure to hazards are controlled, the program includes coordination, monitoring and educating the personnel involved in the project. These components will be implemented through the same principles of management control applied throughout all phases of the project. Key elements of the plan include:
  • Adherence to all safety policies, procedures, and MIOSHA standards.
  • 100 percent fall protection over 6 feet, including steel erection and roof work.
  • 100 percent eye protection.
  • All crane operators will be Certified Crane Operators (CCO).
  • Substance abuse testing through M.U.S.T. or equivalent program - adherence by all trade contractors.
  • Pre-Task Analysis (PTA's) to be completed and submitted to WBM by contractors prior to beginning critical work.
  • Contractors shall provide a Competent and/or Qualified Person for work operations as identified by MIOSHA standards and/or WBM.
  • Partnering employers will uniformly enforce a disciplinary action plan for employees who fail to work in a safe manner. Automatic dismissal from this project shall result from any willful or deliberate violation of safety rules or safety polices and procedures.