Washington, D.C.—The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) today announced that, for the sixth year in a row, it was awarded a $243,000 Susan Harwood Training Grant by The U.S. Department of Labor to continue successful Construction Focus Four hazard sessions (falls, electrocution, caught-in and struck-by), training to reduce fatalities on construction worksites.
AGC will conduct 26 eight-hour Focus Four construction hazard training sessions at 12 AGC chapters and at national safety committee meetings, reaching approximately 1,200 contractor employees. AGC will also distribute 1,500 educational CD-ROMs in English and in Spanish to complement the training seminars.
“AGC is at the forefront of training programs designed to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for the industry,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of AGC. “We recognize the industry’s need to protect the most valuable resource – our workers."
AGC’s grant affects the Focus Four hazards because they continue to account for the greatest number of preventable fatalities in the construction industry. Over the last five years, on average, 720 workers were killed and many more were injured despite Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and special emphasis enforcement programs. Injuries and fatalities associated with the Focus Four hazards are preventable and occur when workers are unaware and when the guidance for the OSHA standards are not followed.
In just five years, AGC has received more than $1.2 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants that have enabled the association to train nearly 8,000 workers in the OSHA Steel Erection Standard, Fall Protection Training or Focus Four Training. Through the grant money, AGC has distributed 40,500 training CD-ROMs in English and Spanish and 22,500 educational handouts.
AGC provides educational and training opportunities for the construction industry such as: quality technical safety training to thousands of general contractors, specialty contractors and subcontractors on safety and OSHA compliance in all 50 states, including variations for State OSHA regulations.
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is the largest and oldest national construction trade association in the United States. AGC represents nearly 33,000 firms, including 7,000 of America’s leading general contractors and 11,000 specialty-contracting firms. More than 13,000 service providers and suppliers are associated with AGC through a nationwide network of chapters. Visit the AGC Web site at www.agc.org. AGC members are "Building Your Quality of Life.”