U.S. Hispanic Contractors Assoc., Industry Leaders And Elected Officials Kick-Off Safety Fair

Austin, TX - A major partnership between the U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association, private industry leaders and Texas elected officials will report on the safety crisis facing Hispanics in the construction industry, and the measures being taken to address it.

Joining the USHCA at the press conference was Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Ric Williamson, State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos, Texas House Transportation Chairman Mike Krusee, Austin City Council Member Mike Martinez and Austin Energy General Manager, Juan Garza and representatives from OSHA. Also joining the group were industry leaders from the Texas Association of Home Builders, the AGC, the Home Depot, ICI Paints, Milwaukee Tools, Rigid Tools, and Makita Tools.

"We are proud to have so many strong partners and allies in our effort to make this industry safer," said Frank Fuentes, Chairman of the US Hispanic Contractors Association. "With their help I know we can make our environment a lot safer."

The press conference focused on the fact that although Hispanics comprise about 20% of the national construction industry workforce, they are about 80% more likely to die on a construction site. This partnership began work last year to reduce these statistics. Pilot programs such as an effort in Dallas have shown improvement.

"We just had our first fatality in Dallas," said Javier Arias Chairman of the Hispanic Contractors Association de Tejas. "While we regret to lose anyone, this is a dangerous business and we are proud to have such low numbers so far this year."

The Dallas safety program is operated through a combination of OSHA grants and corporate partners like The Home Depot, ICI Paints, Makita Tools and Rigid Tools. Bilingual safety training is conducted along with an effort to translate safety regulations into Spanish.

Today's press conference comes on the heels of Monday morning's tragic death of 29 year old Zeferino Velarde on a roadside construction site off of 290 in the Austin area. Roadside construction deaths are the second most common source of construction fatalities. The most common cause of construction related deaths are falls.

"When a mine shaft collapses, we see congress jump to action, but when over 1200 people die in a year at construction sites there is hardly a blip," said State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos. "I am proud of the industry for addressing this problem on their own."

SOURCE: U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association