The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers and the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT) are pleased that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) petition to pursue new safety standards for reinforcing steel and post-tensioning activities. The Agency will publish a notice in the Federal Register in the near future announcing this regulatory initiative as a “request for information” and will solicit comments from stakeholders in the reinforcing industry.
The Agency’s action to pursue new safety standards was prompted by a series of meetings with OSHA officials and support from an industry coalition of labor and management stakeholders. Additionally, members of the OSHA Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) voted unanimously for the Agency to pursue new safety standards that address hazards during reinforcing steel and post-tensioning activities.
General President Walter Wise of the Iron Workers International Union commends OSHA’s action to pursue new safety standards and the support from an industry coalition of stakeholders that includes representatives from The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust, National Association of Reinforcing Steel Contractors, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, Post Tensioning Institute, Western Steel Council, Department of Reinforcing Ironworkers Advisory Committee and The Center for Construction Research and Training.
The International Association and IMPACT will work closely with the industry coalition of stakeholders to submit support letters to the Agency and participate in public hearings if they are convened. For more information regarding the OSHA’s notice and intent to pursue rulemaking for new reinforcing steel and post-tensioning standards, please contact Steve Rank, Executive Director of Safety and Health for the Iron Workers International, at (800) 368-0105.
About the Iron Workers International (www.ironworkers.org): 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 (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.
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Contact: Steve Rank, Executive Director of Safety and Health, Iron Workers International; (800) 368-0105