OSHA Recognizes Bristol Design Build Services

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has recognized the employees and management of Bristol Design Build Services LLC for excellence in the contractor’s employee safety and health program during the construction of a heavy duty vehicle maintenance facility at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. The work site has been designated as a “star,” the highest honor in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs.

At the time of the evaluation, Bristol Design Build Services employed about 10 construction and office workers as well as 20 subcontractors. The facility is owned by the U.S. Department of Defense.

In September 2010, Bristol Design Build Services was awarded VPP merit status as general contractor during the construction of a single-story steel building at another location on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

“The employees and management of Bristol Design Services understand the importance of working together to identify and eliminate hazards in the workplace,” says Dean Ikeda, OSHA’s regional administrator in Seattle. “This mutual commitment pays dividends in the form of fewer injuries and illnesses.”

The Voluntary Protection Programs recognize private and federal work sites with effective safety and health management systems that have maintained injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages. Management, labor and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively to prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses through a system focused on hazard prevention and control, work site analysis and training. Union support is required for applicant work sites where employees are represented by a bargaining unit. Participating work sites are exempt from OSHA programmed inspections while they maintain their VPP status. For more information, contact OSHA’s regional office in Seattle at 206-553-7620, or visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html.