Safety And Health To Be Factors In MontCo Construction Contracts

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Worker health and safety will now be a factor in awarding County construction contracts, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett announced yesterday. The move was welcomed by the Metro Washington Council and other union allies, including CASA de Maryland, which were involved in the multi-year effort. “Every job in our community ought to be a safe job,” said Leggett. “Despite our budget challenges, there are ways we can use existing resources to help reduce workplace injuries and illnesses in the County. We can’t do MOSH’s job for it, but we can be an extra pair of eyes and ears. We can require companies bidding for County contracts to factor in their workplace safety record and workplace safety programs. We can educate people about their rights to a safe workplace.” Under revised procedures, contractors seeking to be qualified to construct County facilities will lose “points” for inadequate safety and health results or for the lack of strong health and safety prevention programs. Previously, contractors seeking business with the County only had to certify that they were abiding by existing laws. In addition, Leggett rolled out a new County website designed to give those working in the County information about workplace safety and health, as well as information and forms necessary to lodge complaints with the Maryland Office on Safety and Health (MOSH), which has jurisdiction over workplace safety in all Maryland workplaces. Leggett also appointed an ongoing “Commission on Workers Safety and Health” to advise him on further policy changes as part of the County’s Workers Health and Safety Initiative. Appointees are Washington Building & Construction Trades Council Secretary- Treasurer Vance Ayres, Newspaper Guild Treasurer Jim Grossfeld, Scott Schneider, director of Occupational Safety and Health for the Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund, Amy Millar of the Montgomery County Government Employees Organization/UFCW 1994, and Chris Trahan from Silver Spring-based CPWR—The Center for Construction Research and Training.