OSHA Partners with Manhattan Torcon JV to Protect Workers Constructing New Medical Facility

FREDERICK, Md. — Workers constructing the new medical research facility at Fort Detrick will be safer due to a new partnership formed between the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Manhattan/Torcon Joint Venture.

The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases located at Fort Detrick, in Frederick will be the premier bio-defense laboratory for the U.S. Department of Defense. The facility of about 865,000 square feet will include bio-safety research labs, administrative and support areas. The project began July 2009 and is expected to be completed by May 2014. At peak construction, it will involve approximately 800 workers.

“Our partnership will help facilitate a safe and healthy jobsite for all of the workers involved in this vital project,” said Michael Walterschied, director of OSHA’s office in Baltimore, Md.

OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program helps encourage, assist and recognize the efforts of partners to eliminate serious workplace hazards and achieve a high level of worker safety and health. Most strategic partnerships seek to have a broad impact by building cooperative relationships with groups of employers and workers. These partnerships are voluntary relationships among OSHA, employers, worker representatives and others (for example, trade unions, trade and professional associations, universities and other government agencies).

For more information, contact OSHA’s Baltimore-Washington Area Office at 410-865-2055.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to assure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.