ST. LOUIS --- In one of the most dangerous specialties of one the most dangerous professions, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local #1 in St. Louis has achieved a major safety milestone. A 14-month effort has paid off with all 3,400 IBEW Local # 1 construction workforce journey workers and apprentices achieving OSHA 10-Hour Safety Certification. And by a better than three-to-one margin, 70 percent of them attained an even higher standard: OSHA 30-Hour Safety Certification. The certification meets an industry call to ensure the highest possible safety performance on area construction sites and reduce risk management costs for the buyers of construction.

The training, completed at an estimated cost of $1.7 million, took place at the nationally recognized St. Louis Electrical Industry Training Center which is jointly operated by IBEW Local #1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Together, they form the Electrical Connection industry partnership.  The 100 percent OSHA 10 certification includes all commercial and residential wiremen, communication technicians and apprentices.

“We challenged the St. Louis union construction industry in 2006 to become the safest workforce in the country and the Electrical Connection exceeded expectations,” said Jim LaMantia, executive direct of PRIDE of St. Louis, Inc., the region’s iconic labor-management organization.

“The fact that most electricians sought the more intense OSHA 30-Hour certification demonstrates their commitment to the highest standards of safety.  That kind of dedication is a tremendous asset when it comes to selling St. Louis as a great place to build.”  

All future apprentices in every NECA/ IBEW Local # 1 program will be trained at the OSHA 30 level and will receive expedited OSHA 10 certification in the first few weeks of their apprenticeship.

Responding to the Dangers of Construction Work
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, construction fatalities increased 2.8% in 2006 to 1,226 from 1,192 in 2005. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that of the 350 electrical-related fatalities in that period, 143 were construction workers. 

“While we recognize that construction can be a dangerous profession at times, we believe these tragedies are preventable if safety is made a priority,” said Steve Schoemehl, IBEW Local #1 business manager. More than half of the electrocutions suffered by electrical workers involved direct or indirect contact with live electrical equipment, indicating that proper lock-out/tag-out and de-energizing procedures could have saved lives.

Studies conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America show that contractors who train workers in OSHA 10 have experienced reductions of up to 66 percent in lost time injuries.

“We make a significant investment every year in safety training, but the OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 certifications demonstrate an added commitment to make sure all workers go home safely, ” said Douglas R. Martin, executive vice president of the St. Louis Chapter, NECA.  “In addition to ensuring a safer work environment, it helps lower contractor costs for the buyers of construction.”

The Electrical Industry Training Center, located at 2300 Hampton Ave. in south St. Louis, expanded classes to meet demand for OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 studies. The curriculum included electrical safety, fall protection, personal protective and lifesaving equipment, materials handling, hand and power tool safety, scaffolding, heavy equipment operation and excavation.

All IBEW Local #1 supervisory personnel, including foremen, general foremen and project managers, received OSHA 30 Hour training – which requires 30 hours of classroom instruction – as well.

The center trains more than 1,200 members seeking higher skills annually and is the Midwest's largest resource for skilled union electricians and communication technicians.  For more information, visit www.stlejatc.org.

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Editor’s note: The St. Louis Electrical Industry Training Center is located at 2300 Hampton Ave. in south St. Louis, Mo. (63139). Visits and tours can be scheduled for interested members of the media.

Workers with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local # 1 were trained in de-energizing a “power switching system” as part of the successful effort to have all 3,400 members of its construction workforce earn OSHA 10 Certification.