Safety in the workplace is not simply a matter of convenience, it’s a requirement. Each and every day, electricians work in some dangerous situations and job safety is Responsibility #1. The I.B.E.W believes to its very core that every member must show a deep respect for the environment in which they work. Every member must understand it’s more than an economic problem when not exercising worker safety–it’s about their personal health and the health of others. So the I.B.E.W. has an agreement with OSHA and is committed to providing the safest work environment possible for all.
All IBEW 716 Members are drug-free and have OSHA Compliance, which provides for a safer working environment and a 50% reduction in workplace injuries.
OSHA, the Electrical Construction Contractors, the IBEW and the Trade Associations, through a common vision, are committed to providing contractor employees in the electrical transmission and distribution industry (the “Industry”) a safe and healthful work place and to demonstrating leadership, responsibility and accountability in furthering worker health and safety.
The specific impetus behind this OSP is to provide a safer and more healthful work environment for union and non-union contractor workers in the Industry
The universal goal of this OSHA Strategic Partnership (OSP) is to reduce the number of
fatalities, injuries, and illnesses in the Industry. The proposed goals, strategies, and metrics for obtaining this universal goal are set forth in Appendix A. The OSP encourages other non-partnership members in the industry to reduce and eliminate serious injuries and fatalities.
To that end, the Industry Partners shall continue this OSP pursuant to a non-competition, non-admission and non-aggression agreement by which all Industry Partners agree to mutual cooperation and to put aside differences in whatever form they may take (union vs. management; company vs. company; non-union vs. union), in order to focus on the reduction of
injuries and fatalities in the Industry as a whole.
This OSP is consistent with OSHA’s efforts to develop employer /labor/ government partnership approaches to further occupational safety and health. It allows for effective use of OSHA resources, innovation in safety management, and encourages participation in the safety process by industry members, employees, and other interested parties. OSHA will provide resources appropriate to assist the Industry Partners in achieving the goal of reducing the number of fatalities, injuries, and illnesses in the Industry. In executing this agreement, OSHA does not forfeit any of its responsibilities or obligations to administer and enforce the OSH (Occupational Safety and Health) Act.
The OSP shall continue its multi-tiered approach utilizing an Executive Team, a Steering Team, and Task Teams to develop findings and recommendations that will then be reviewed and adopted by consensus.
Working with electricity can be dangerous. Engineers, electricians, and other professionals work with electricity directly, including working on overhead lines, able harnesses, and circuit assemblies. Others, such as office workers and sales people, work with electricity indirectly and may also be exposed to electrical hazards.
Electricity has long been recognized as a serious workplace hazard. OSHA’s electrical standards are designed to protect employees exposed to dangers such as electric shock, electrocution, fires, and explosions. Electrical hazards are addressed in specific standards for the general industry, shipyard employment, and marine terminals.
Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these
States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.
General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
This section highlights OSHA standards, the Regulatory Agenda (a list of actions being taken with regard to OSHA standards), Federal Registers (rules, proposed rules, and notices), directives (instructions for compliance officers), standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards), and national consensus standards related to electrical hazards.
