ST. LOUIS - An industry-wide call in St. Louis to ensure the highest safety performance on area construction sites has union electricians exceeding expectations. More than 1,200 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local #1 journey workers are seeking OSHA 10-Hour Safety Certification this fall at the St. Louis Electrical Industry Training Center. IBEW Local #1 is targeting mid-2007 to achieve 100% OSHA 10 certification for its craft workers. By a three-to-one margin, most union electricians are opting for an even higher standard: OSHA 30-Hour Certification. The training center is jointly operated by the IBEW Local #1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), which form the Electrical Connection industry partnership.

The region's venerable labor-management organization, PRIDE of St. Louis, Inc., has urged all construction unions in St. Louis to achieve OSHA 10 certification for 100 percent of their members. "It's a phenomenal response by IBEW Local #1 electricians," said Jim LaMantia, PRIDE executive director. "The fact that most electricians are completing the more intense OSHA 30-Hour program demonstrates their commitment to the highest standards of safety. That helps PRIDE meet the demands of construction buyers for safety on their projects."

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the private construction industry accounted for 1,186 fatal work injuries in 2005, more than any industry sector and comprising about one of every five fatal work injuries recorded last year. Studies conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America show that contractors who train workers in OSHA 10 have seen reductions of up to 66 percent in lost time injuries.

"Our primary goal is to improve the safety of our workers," said Dennis Gralike, director of the Electrical Industry Training Center. "But OSHA 10 certification is also being requested by a number of construction buyers and employers such as Ameren UE, which also requires OSHA 30 training for supervisors and foremen. OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 training will set union electricians apart and create another selling point for the region's union construction industry."

The training center is providing all training at 2300 Hampton Ave. in south St. Louis, offering classes Monday through Thursday and on Saturday. Instruction focuses on safety and health standards and is tailored to electricians' work. The curriculum includes electrical safety, fall protection, personal protective and lifesaving equipment, materials handling, hand and power tool safety, scaffolding, heavy equipment operation and excavation.

"We've had an aggressive safety program for decades," said Douglas R. Martin, executive vice president of the St. Louis Chapter, NECA. "We also listen to owners who clearly want the standards of OSHA 10 certification built into their projects. Ultimately, this commitment helps us ensure a safer work environment while lowering contractor costs to buyers of construction."

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

"Accomplishing our safety training goals requires an unprecedented level of commitment from union electrical and communication contractors and from the entire IBEW Local #1 workforce," said Steve Schoemehl, IBEW Local #1 business manager. "We're really pleased with the way workers and contractors have embraced this initiative."

The Electrical Industry Training Center is the Midwest's largest resource for training skilled union electricians and communication technicians. It trains more than 1,200 IBEW apprentices and journeyman electricians and communication technicians annually. The school is jointly operated by IBEW Local #1 and St. Louis Chapter, NECA.

For more information, visit www.stlejatc.org.

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.