The Midwest Region Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund was established in 1999, recognizing that labor and management share many mutually beneficial goals. Through the Fund’s diverse activities, labor and management can work together to promote a healthier and more productive workforce, making union contractors more competitive. Together we can provide safer work sites, decreased compensation insurance costs and increased work opportunities for union contractors.

The following offers a brief description of Fund programs and materials that address the specific needs of union contractors:

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAMS DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

• Worksite visits from Fund staff experts who will assist in identifying and resolving present and potential work hazards;

• A Comprehensive Model Safety and Health Program, available on disk that can be tailored to each contractor’s needs;

• A Model Silica Protection Program for contractors to comply with OSHA’s Silica Emphasis Program;

• A Guide to OSHA’s new respirator standard, including a Model Respiratory Protection Program;

• Access to credentialed safety and health experts for contractors requiring immediate technical assistance with existing or potential workplace safety or health problems;

• Research and information to update contractors on how to comply with state and federal regulations;

• Drug-Free Workplace Act compliance assistance, including sample policy statements;

• Critical Incident Stress management to help workers and contractors overcome the effects of workplace tragedies; and

• Legislative and regulatory activities to stay abreast of emerging developments in the safety and health area at the federal and state level.

TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNICATIONS

• Safety training courses for foremen and other frontline supervisors offered through Laborers'-AGC training centers. These programs are designed to focus on injury and accident prevention which will result in lower workers’ compensation insurance costs;

• Substance abuse training and educational materials. These can be used to help contractors comply with the Drug-Free Workplace Act or to implement their own programs. The program and materials are designed to instruct contractor supervisory personnel; and

• Communications materials geared specifically for construction workers to inform them of safety hazards, to advise them on better health care habits and how to be better health care consumers.

HEALTH PROMOTION AND MEDICAL PROGRAMS

• Recommendations for a general physical examination applicable to construction workers;

• Assistance in identifying and negotiating with medical providers to conduct mandated physical examinations, as well as asbestos screening;

• Access to an Occupational Health Specialist who can offer advice regarding physical examinations and medical procedures for construction laborers; and

• Assistance in implementing a jointly sponsored Membership Assistance Program (MAP). A MAP is similar to an EAP, providing assessment and referral services to workers and their families to address their personal problems. The endorsements and involvement of the union contributes much to the success of such programs.

OTHER ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST TO CONTRACTORS

• Work with trustees and administrators of health and welfare funds to improve the design of their benefit plans as a means of managing health care spending. Controlling health care costs can help hold down contractors’ contributions into the funds.

• The Fund will assist contractors in the legislative arena when areas of mutual interest are identified. Fund staff can assist with the analysis of proposed legislation, regulation and the drafting of state and federal testimony for contractors or deliver testimony in a collaborative effort.

• The Fund can partner with contractors to apply for state and federal grants, which often require labor-management cooperation as a condition of funding.

• Fund staff is available to provide oversight and review of non-union contractor safety-related activities to ensure a level playing field in construction’s highly competitive arena.