CHASE Minnesota partnerships

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) implemented a major safety-initiative in 2003 that is designed to reduce the number of injuries, illnesses and fatalities at participant construction industry employers. The initiative -- Construction Health and Safety Excellence (CHASE) Minnesota -- was jointly agreed to in February 2003 by Associated General Contractors of Minnesota and Minnesota OSHA. The participating Minnesota employers are listed below.

• CHASE Minnesota partnership agreement document

The specific goals of CHASE Minnesota are to:

emphasize reduction of injuries and fatalities from the four hazards that are the leading causes of death on construction sites:  falls, being struck-by, caught in or between, and electrocution;

increase the number of general and specialty contractors that implement effective safety and health programs and effective training for management, supervisors and employees;

publicly recognize contractors with exemplary safety and health programs and site-specific plans;

promote open lines of communication between Minnesota OSHA and the construction industry in pursuit of safety.

The partnership charter acknowledges the importance of providing a safe, healthful work environment in construction and seeks a working relationship that creates mutual trust and respect among all parties, including project owners and construction workers, involved in the construction process.

The three award levels of CHASE Minnesota participation are:

• red -- the basic level, for applicants wanting to meet the basic minimum requirements of a safety and health program;
• white -- the intermediate level, for applicants desiring a more comprehensive safety and health program;
• blue -- the peak level, for applicants striving to be an industry leader with a very comprehensive safety and health program.

Participants reaching the white level:  will not receive citations for other-than-serious violations, provided the hazards are abated within the Minnesota OSHA prescribed abatement period; will be given the maximum good-faith penalty-reductions currently available under Minnesota OSHA policy; and will be given written recognition from Minnesota OSHA and Associated General Contractors of Minnesota.