AGC Hosts OSHA Signing Event

The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of St. Louis hosted an agreement signing ceremony with the OSHA St. Louis Area Office at the AGC's Construction Training School. Contractors who are participants in this agreement have a cooperative relationship with OSHA where, among other benefits, they are exempt from routine OSHA inspections.

Years ago, OSHA realized that their resources could be better utilized by not wasting efforts visiting workplaces that are already being closely monitored for safety, and that have a superior safety culture in place. Only contractors meeting a strict set of safety criteria are allowed to participate in the Partnership agreement, thus freeing up OSHA to inspect more suspect workplaces.

Primary parties signatory to the partnership agreement are Scott Wilson, chairman of the board, AGC of St. Louis; and, Bill McDonald, area director, OSHA-St. Louis Area Office (seated).  Standing, representing support and agreement by their organization (L to R):  Vic Sunshine, AGC of St. Louis; Leonard Toenjes, CAE, AGC of St. Louis; Al Bond, Carpenters’ District Council of Greater St. Louis & Vicinity; Mike Minicky, CSP, OSHA-St. Louis Area Office; Gerald Feldhaus, Building and Construction Trades Council; Jim LaMantia, PRIDE of St. Louis, Inc.; Gary Elliott, Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council; Dennis Lavallee, St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers, Tom Rehkemper (retired), AGC of St. Louis.

"This is an important and valuable agreement, not only for the benefits of working cooperatively with OSHA, but also for the greater accountability of the participants with the establishment of a company-wide safety culture that sets the standard for the St. Louis Construction industry at large," notes Scott Wilson, chairman of the AGC of St. Louis and president of S. M. Wilson & Company. "This agreement is about accountability and results - not promises. To be a participant in the partnership is to be counted among the elite in safety."

Stakeholders signing the agreement were: Bill, McDonald, area director, OSHA-St. Louis Area Office; Scott Wilson, chairman, AGC of St. Louis; Terry Nelson, executive secretary-treasurer, Carpenters' District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity; Gary Elliott, business manager, Eastern Missouri Laborers' District Council; Jerry Feldhaus, executive secretary-treasurer, St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council; Jim LaMantia, executive director, PRIDE of St. Louis, Inc.; Dennis Lavallee, president, St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers. Barbara Theriot, area director for the OSHA Kansas City Area Office will sign the agreement at a later date.

Thirteen members of the AGC of St. Louis are currently part of the St. Louis OSHA - AGC Partnership: Brinkmann Constructors, BSI Constructors, Inc., Clayco, Kozeny-Wagner, Inc., L. Keeley Construction Company, McCarthy Building Companies, McGrath & Associates, Inc., Murray Company, Pangea Group, Paric Corporation, Tarlton Corporation, S. M. Wilson & Company, and Vee-Jay Cement Contracting Co., Inc.
The Associated General Contractors of St. Louis is the united voice of the area construction industry, representing over 450 area construction firms. Last year alone, AGC of St. Louis member firms built projects worth more than $3 billion throughout the St. Louis region. Celebrating its 60th year, the AGC of St. Louis builds valuable partnerships between its members and strategic government and private sector groups.

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