Building and Construction Trades occupational safety and health policy impact

Background and objective

The session will focus on occupational safety and health positions and policies of the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO (BCTD). The BCTD consists of 13 International Unions representing 2.5 million construction workers, and coordinates safety and health activities of those unions on a national level. The objective of the session is to provide an overview of a variety of positions taken by the BCTD and allow attendees to identify and explain the top priority OSH issues of the American construction workforce.

Methods

The speaker will identify and describe the major policy issues tackled by the BCTD, including positions and actions taken regarding the following OSH challenges:

• Nanomaterials in construction, • OSHA regulatory actions related to Silica, I2P2, noise, MSDs, and confined spaces, • Multi-agency initiatives underway to improve working conditions of construction workers, • Positions and actions related the health and safety in green construction, • Legislative initiatives aimed at improving construction worker safety and health, and • The future of occupational safety and health in the construction industry.

Results

The speaker will describe the perceived federal level impact of BCTD action, while highlighting both the positive outcomes and the major challenges anticipated as a result of the political climate in Washington, DC.

Conclusion

Participants in the workshop will be equipped to identify next steps to collectively work with the organized construction industry in affecting positive change to improve the working conditions of American construction workers.