The Iron Workers Union And IMPACT Take Bold Steps To Protect Workers And Contractors From Construction Site Hazards
The Iron Workers Union, in conjunction with the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT), is pleased to announce the "Countdown to Zero Fatalities in 2012" campaign throughout the United States and Canada. The program is designed to target serious hazards through awareness training and education utilizing Ironworker intervention techniques, education and training to target incident trends and causation factors that have resulted in fatalities.
Washington, DC (PRWEB) - Historically, many of the fatalities and disabling injuries occurring in the workplace throughout the United States and Canada continue to stem from the same common activities and hazards. The Iron Workers Union, along with the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT), are proud to launch the "Countdown to Zero Fatalities in 2012" campaign, which focuses on "12 deadly dozen" common hazardous activities during the steel erection and reinforcing steel process. Through the program, the Union strives to ensure that each and every Ironworker goes home safely.
To call attention to these "deadly dozen hazards" through the awareness campaign, the Iron Workers Union will distribute hardhat and gangbox stickers and posters for training facilities and local unions.
"It is incredibly important for members to embrace this safety initiative and intervene to prevent unsafe conditions and unsafe acts in the workplace," said Walter Wise, General President of the Iron Workers Union. "This effort is just one component of an integrated marketing campaign designed to keep our Ironworkers safe and our contractors competitive."
Individuals interested in learning more about the "deadly dozen" activities and hazards can learn more on the "Countdown to Zero Fatalities in 2012" web page at http://www.ironworkes.org/zero2012. Additional materials are available on the Ironworkers Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/unionironworkers.
Steve Rank, Executive Director of Safety and Health for the Iron Workers Union, has hailed the "Countdown" as a strategic initiative to improve safety performance and prevent worksite fatalities and injuries. "We will work closely with our local unions, District Councils and IMPACT Regional Advisory Boards throughout the United States and Canada to promote our 'Countdown to Zero Fatalities in 2012'. The safety and productivity of member Ironworkers and partner contractors is and has always been our top priority," he said.
Rank regularly publishes a safety bulletin called "Ironworkers…On the Safe Side," each of which focuses on one of the "deadly dozen" hazards and other regulatory issues that affect our members and contractors. The column is available online at both http://www.ironworkers.org and http://www.impact-net.org. Union officials also distribute the column to all members through the organization's email listserv.
General President Wise commissioned the "Countdown to Zero Fatalities in 2012" campaign and our motto "See Something, Say Something" to challenge all of our members to intervene and prevent unsafe acts in the workplace. "We all win when we all go home safe and sound," Wise said.
About The Iron Workers International: The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IABSO&RIW) was founded in 1896 in Pittsburgh, Penn. They now represent more than 125,000 Ironworkers throughout the United States and Canada. The IABSO&RIW's mission is to improve the working conditions of its members while promoting constructive relationships with their employers to increase work opportunities.
About IMPACT: The Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (http://www.impact-net.org) was formed in 2003 under Section 302(c) 9 of the Labor-Management Relations (Taft-Hartley) Act. IMPACT is a non-profit, tax-exempt labor-management trust under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. The primary mission of IMPACT is to expand job opportunities for union ironworkers and their signatory contractors through progressive and innovative labor-management programs, training and safety. IMPACT is governed by a 26-member Board of Trustees. Each of IMPACT's 13 regions is represented by one labor trustee and one management trustee.
SOURCE: PRWeb
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