Home-builders group partners with OSHA

HBA's education committee was the driving force behind the partnership, according to Addie Walters, director of HBA member services.

OSHA will work with participating companies to assess safety programs and practices.

“Basically (it helps) them to strengthen their job-site safety program,” she said. “Some people around here probably don't even have a safety program put into place, and what OSHA will do is work with them instead of going on their job site and … handing out citations.”

Only HBA member companies may join the OSHA partnership, Walters said, and a separate application process is required.

While partnership-member companies will still be issued citations for safety violations, Walters said fines for those companies will be reduced.

The partnership was unveiled at HBA's Jan. 17 dinner meeting; Walters said that while HBA member feedback was positive, many local builders remain skeptical “just because it is OSHA.”

Mark Banden, district OSHA representative, was on hand at the meeting to discuss the partnership, and members also learned the OSHA district office in Kansas City is planning to visit the Springfield area in the next several months to conduct job-site inspections.

“We thought that this (partnership) would help protect the builders, not just strictly having them to pay fines to OSHA, but having them work with OSHA on safe practices,” Walters said.

Click here for the full story from Jan. 30.