MEDIA RELEASE

August 5, 2004

MASSACHUSETTS PASSES LAW MANDATING WORKER SAFETY

AND HEALTH TRAINING ON PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Boston - The Massachusetts legislature overrode Governor Romney's veto of

House Bill 2367 - An Act to Ensure Health and Safety on Public Construction

Projects, at the closing of their legislative session on July 31st.

The law requires contractors considered to be the "lowest responsible and

eligible bidder" on public work to certify that all employees to be employed

at the worksite will have successfully completed an OSHA-approved course in

construction safety and health of at least 10 hours in duration. OSHA

maintains both a 30- and 10-hour construction industry outreach course that

would meet this requirement. The law goes into effect in July 2006, to give

contractors time to be in compliance.

Over the years, construction has ranked among the industries with the

highest rates of both fatal and nonfatal occupational injuries. The OSHA

outreach courses are designed to provide workers with an awareness of safety

and health hazards in the construction industry, and how to control or avoid

them. They cover such topics as electrical safety, fall protection,

scaffolds, and cranes.

Joseph Dart, President of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council (MBTC),

one of the lead sponsors of the legislation, stated that "the most effective

way to reduce loss of life and injuries to construction workers is through

education and training. This proactive approach is much more effective than

any system of fines or penalties that come into play only after a worker is

hurt."