ET&D Partnership Renewed for 5-year Term
On December 19, 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) renewed the the Electrical Transmission & Distribution Partnership, a formal collaboration of industry stakeholders working together to improve safety for workers in the electric line construction industry.
This national strategic agreement works to reduce injuries, illnesses and deaths among power and distribution line workers. The partnership is a total of ten of the nation's largest electrical transmission and distribution contractors, and organizational members including International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Edison Electric Institute (EEI), and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). This represents about 80 percent of the industry. Since its establishment in 2004, there has been a noticeable reduction in the injury, illness and fatality rates among the partners' workers, which include close to 26,000 workers. Fatalities among these workers have dropped from 11 in 2004 to 1 in 2013.
The partnership developed and implemented best practices that directly correspond to key hazards and operations associated with injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the industry. Practices include: fall protection, the use of specific insulating protective equipment and the implementation of safety checks. The partnership has also trained more than 33,000 workers and supervisors through industry-specific courses developed by the partners. OSHA and industry partners are in the process of expanding these courses to provide industry-wide training.
Secretary the Department of Labor, Thomas Perez and Assistant Secretary, Dr. David Michaels addressed the members of the ETD Partnership Executive Committee and Steering Committee during the agreement resigning ceremony. The secretary commented about how important and successful the work of this partnership has been and how it is an objective to use this model as an example for other strategic partnerships. The Agency is pleased to be signing the agreement for a five-year term rather than the previous two-year agreements.
Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Labor***
ET&D Partnership Steering CommitteeDec. 19, 2013
T&D Partnership Signing Dec. 19, 2013
ET&D Partnership Executive Committee Dec. 19, 2013
About the Partnership
The Electrical Transmission & Distribution Partnership is a formal collaboration of industry stakeholders, working together to improve safety for workers in the electric line construction industry. It is one of only a few national partnerships between employers and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Members of the partnership include Asplundh Tree Expert Co., Davis H. Elliot Co.Inc.,Henkels & McCoy Inc., MasTec Inc., MDU Construction Services Group Inc., Michels corp., MYR Group Inc., PLH Group, Pike Electric LLC, Quanta Services Inc., EEI, IBEW, and NECA. For more information, see OSHA's Web page on the partnership.
View OSHA Partnership Page >
History of the Partnership
The Electrical Transmission & Distribution Partnership began in August 2004 with six members. Additional line constructors joined over time, and the partnership was renewed and expanded in 2006, and again in 2008. In 2011 the Partnership grew by including two new members increasing the total partners to twelve. Today, the Electrical Transmission & Distribution Partnership covers an estimated 80 percent of total workers in the line construction industry.
***Official Department of Labor Photograph*** This official Department of Labor photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, and/or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement of the Secretary, or the U.S. Department of Labor.