OSHA Partnership Announced for Illinois Project
The reconstruction of I-74 and I-55 in Tazewell County by Fred Weber Inc. includes demolishing six bridges and two tunnels, replacing several miles of pavement, and rebuilding ramps.
OSHA announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with construction firm Fred Weber Inc., a company based in Maryland Heights, Mo., during the current project to reconstruct the intersection of Interstate 74 and Interstate 55 in Tazewell County, Ill., which is adjacent to Peoria and near Bloomington, Ill. The work has begun and is scheduled to be completed in August 2015.
The Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program is a partner in the project.
"This voluntary strategic partnership is focused on creating a working relationship to control or eliminate serious workplace construction hazards and establish a foundation for the development of an effective safety and health program," Tom Bielema, OSHA's area director in Peoria, said in a news release on the agency’s website. "It aims to meet these goals through increased training, implementation of best work practices and compliance with applicable OSHA standards and regulations."
It's an extensive project, involving the demolition of six bridges and two tunnels, replacing several miles of pavement, rebuilding ramps and structures, and installing lighting. The existing roadway was installed 50 years ago and has reached the end of its useful life, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
The partnership is focused on preventing the four primary construction hazards: falls, struck-by incidents, caught in incidents, and electrical hazards. Fred Weber Inc. and its subcontractors will emphasize training, awareness, and safety procedures involving backing up hazards with heavy equipment, according to the release.
For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/partnerships/index.html or contact the agency's Peoria Area Office at 309-589-7033.