Aerial view of the A.Y. McDonald Brass Foundry, a large gray industrial building with tall exhaust stacks, surrounded by parking lots and farm fields in Dickeyville, Wisconsin. Photo Credit: Russell Construction Inc. via OSHA.

OSHA Consultation Helped Contractor Spot Hazards Early on Foundry Build

Kept separate from enforcement, the program helped Russell Construction run regular audits and keep accountability clear as crews and tasks changed.

General contractor Russell Construction Inc. and its subcontractors put advice from Wisconsin's On-Site Consultation Program (WisCon) to daily use while building the $150 million A.Y. McDonald Brass Foundry in Dickeyville, Wisconsin, according to an OSHA success story.

Russell, an Iowa-based firm that had worked with Iowa's On-Site Consultation services, brought in WisCon as the foundry project moved ahead.

The project team looked for hazards in advance and audited the site on a set schedule. OSHA credited the partnership with keeping accountability clear as crews, activities and site conditions shifted, and said WisCon brought an outsider's view along with its advice.

Small and medium-sized businesses can get no-cost, confidential safety and health help through OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program, which gives priority to high-hazard worksites. The program is separate from OSHA enforcement and is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories.

Employers can find the nearest program by visiting the On-Site Consultation website.

About the Author

Danielle Naidu is assistant editor for Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.

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