CHASE — AGC’s Partnering Door to OSHA

AGC members place a high premium on jobsite safety. Individually and collectively, their lost workday incidence rates are some of the lowest in the nation. Both the New Mexico Building Branch, AGC, and AGC of America have some of the best resources for safety information and training in the industry today.

One of resources offered by the New Mexico Building Branch is the opportunity to partner with NM OSHA through CHASE. The partnership offers incentives to those AGC members who qualify in exchange for following prescribed standards in their safety programs and maintaining low incidence rates.

The continuing goal of CHASE is to encourage outstanding safety performance by employers and employees alike. The result will be reduction in injuries and fatalities in the construction industry.

How CHASE Came About

In 2001, the New Mexico Building Branch, AGC, signed a three-year Construction Health and Safety Excellence (CHASE) Partnership with the Occupational Health and Safety Bureau, New Mexico Environment Department (State OSHA). NM OSHA was impressed with the safety performance of AGC member companies and their low lost workday incidence rates. The Bureau suggested that the Partnership be formed.

The New Mexico CHASE agreement was the first CHASE Partnership in the country and the first AGC partnership with an OSHA state plan.

In 2004, the agreement was renewed for another three-year period.

Since both parties share the goal of providing a safe workplace for construction workers, AGC and NM OSHA developed a working relationship that creates mutual trust and respect for each organization in their work in reducing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the construction industry. The program is reciprocal with Region VI of Federal OSHA.

How to Open the Door

There are three levels of participation—Red, White, and Blue. The level with the strictest requirements and most incentives is Blue.

Click here to download a Microsoft Word document which can be printed and FAXed back to AGC, 505-842-1980, or filled out electronically and e-mailed to dennisr@agc-nm.org

In May 2007, AGC and NM OSHA signed a new three-year CHASE agreement. Read the details here.

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What others say about CHASE

“Participation by our company in CHASE has raised the standard for jobsite safety. The employees have stepped up. Their increased awareness of safety hazards has caused a positive change in their activity, involvement, and perspective.” ... David Edwards, Safety Consultant and Trainer

“CHASE is a wonderful program designed to help keep us and others on our toes when it comes to achieving safety excellence. Each company is responsible for developing, maintaining, implementing, then follow its own safety program. The CHASE program ensures a company does what it says by adding additional benefits. It doesn’t get any better than that.”…Marcus Perea, Safety Officer, Noel Company   

Some Interesting Statistical Facts about CHASE

In October, 2004, AGC of America provided Federal OSHA provided Federal OSHA with CHASE information from participating chapters. The original CHASE template was developed by AGC of America and Federal OSHA.

From 2001 to 2004, there were four AGC Chapters which had CHASE Partnerships with either their Area Offices of Federal OSHA or their state plan offices. They were the Austin Chapter, Southern Illinois Builders’ Association, Kentucky Construction Association, and New Mexico Building Branch.

AGC of America and Federal OSHA required baseline reporting from each chapter from 2002 and comparative data in 2003 from those chapters. The comparisons showed that the CHASE program has been successful in reducing injuries. Total Case Incidence Rates (TCIR) and Days Away with Restricted and/or Transfer (DART) went down in the one-year reporting period.

Here are the figures:

Number of participating contractors increased from 42 to 58;
Number of employees covered increased from 3,377 to 6,223;
Number of work hours increased from 6.6 million to 12 million;
TCIR rates dropped from 3.79 to 3.49;
DART rates dropped from 1.11 to 0.92 (17 per cent decrease);
Severity rates decreased from 38.24 to 33.56 (12.2 per cent decrease)

The TCIR and DART Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) figures for construction in 2002 were 7.1 and 3.8 respectfully.

Conclusion: The CHASE goal of reductions of injuries and illnesses was met

AGC CHASE Participants---2007

Blue Level—highest in terms of requirements and benefits
American National Insulation & Sealants
AUI Inc.
Beaty Construction Co.
Big J Enterprises LLC
DKD Electric LLC
J.B. Henderson Construction Co. Inc.
Jaynes Corporation
Jaynes Structures, Inc.
Gerald Martin General Contractor
Lockwood Construction Co.
Noel Company
Precision Masonry, Inc.
Territorial Scaffold, Inc.
Western States Fire Protection
Yearout Mechanical and Engineering

White Level
B&D Electric Co., Inc.
Crane Service, Inc.
Four Suns Builders, Inc.
Miller Bonded Inc.
Richardson and Richardson, Inc.
Star Construction, Inc.

Red Level
Bradbury Stamm Construction
Ferreri Concrete Structures, Inc.
Formwork Specialists, Inc.
Franken Construction Co., Inc.

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