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Idaho Transportation
Department
Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
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ITD, OSHA form safety training alliance

A formal alliance created by the Idaho Transportation Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is designed to improve conditions in the workplace and reduce the number of construction-related accidents.

ITD is the first Idaho agency and one of just several state transportation departments nationwide to enter into an educational and training alliance with OSHA. The alliance was signed July 7 at ITD Headquarters in Boise by Jerrold R. Hockett, area director for the Boise OSHA office and ITD Director Dave Ekern.

“When OSHA was created 35 years ago, the emphasis was on enforcement of workplace regulations,” Hockett explained. “Several years ago we realized the need to create partnerships and begin cooperative efforts to improve workplace health and safety through training.

“Most notable about this agreement is its focus on partnership and collaboration. The relationship it fosters will lead to improved safety for ITD employees and construction workers,” Ekern said. “Joining this partnership sends an important message that we don’t treat ourselves differently – that we don’t operate by different standards than the contractors and construction industry we work with.”

Creation of the alliance is intended to:

  1. Coordinate or provide expertise to develop training and education programs for ITD construction inspectors regarding construction and work zone safety, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry, and
  2. Coordinate the delivery of the OSHA 10-hour Roadway Construction Safety Course
Training will provide ITD employees with “information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to construction and environmental hazards and addressing work zone hazards.

By legislative mandate, ITD and other state agencies are not covered by federal OSHA regulations. Instead, they are governed by standards of the Division of Building and Industrial Safety, which is under the auspices of the Industrial Commission.

However, it is important that ITD employees be aware of the OSHA regulations anytime they are in a construction zone or on a worksite, explains employee safety manager Cheryl Rost.

“Anytime a state employee is on a project, he or she also must comply with OSHA regulations. Although the state would not be cited if an employee fails to comply with OSHA regulations, the contractor could be cited.

“The alliance fosters trusting relationships and promotes education related to worker safety and health regulations.”

According to the three-year agreement, ITD and OSHA will work collaboratively to:

  • Develop information about the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards and ways of communicating such information
  • Speak, exhibit or appear at OSHA or ITD conferences, local meetings or other partnering events
  • Share information regarding construction best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by ITD and through OSHA- or ITD-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars and lectures
  • Promote and encourage construction companies and contractors to use the free services of the Idaho Occupational Safety and Health consultation program at Boise State University
  • Work with other stakeholders on specific issues and projects on construction health and safety that are addressed and developed through the alliance
  • Encourage ITD districts and contractors to build relationships with the Boise area office and the Idaho Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program at Boise State University to address health and safety issues, including fall protection, excavations, silica and protecting workers from public and private sector vehicles and equipment in work zones.

ITD and OSHA will create an implementation team to develop an action plan, determine working procedures and identify the roles and responsibilities of participants. The team will meet at least three times annually to track and share information on activities and results.

Photo caption: ITD Director Dave Ekern, left, and Jerrold R. Hockett, director of OSHA's Boise area office, sign a three-year alliance to improve construction and workplace safety through training and education.