Department of Labour and Social Welfare Department of Labour and Social Welfare

UNDERSECRETARIAT OF SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH


SEMINAR ON BEST PRACTICES
IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

(PROPOSAL)



MEXICO CITY
AUGUST 2003


Translation of Spanish Version Distributed on August 8th, 2003




CONTENTS
  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. OBJECTIVE
  3. DRAFT WORK PROGRAM
  4. ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD
  5. DESIRED RESULTS
  6. PARTICIPANTS
1. INTRODUCTION

In the context of the National Safety Council Congress, government experts from Mexico, the United States and Canada participated in the Second Working Meeting, held in San Diego, California, from October 8-11, 2002. The objective was to implement agreements for forming working subgroups consisting of representatives of the three countries' governments to discuss issues related to training in occupational safety and health.

As a result of that meeting, a series of agreements was reached on sharing information on the education and training of government employees tasked with projects in the areas of occupational safety and health.

The subgroup on training decided that one of its activities would be to conduct a SEMINAR ON BEST PRACTICES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY in the participating countries.

2. OBJECTIVE

The tree countries that form the Occupational Safety and Health Working Group will share experiences regarding best practices in the construction industry in an effort to gain an understanding of the training methods and procedures that have been effective in lowering the number of work-related accidents and diseases in companies.

3. DRAFT WORK PROGRAM

Meeting Place: Mexico City, Federal District.

Potential Dates: August 26-29, 2003

Length: 3 days.

Working Methodology:
  • Panels of experts (Employers, Employees, and Government Representatives).
  • Discussion forums.
  • Workshops for information sharing.
Training issues to be discussed:
  • Occupational safety and health management systems used in the construction industry.
  • Experiences with training in best practices in the construction industry.
  • Best practices in propped and unpropped concrete floor construction.
  • Safety instructions for using personal protective equipment.
  • Best practices in excavation work.
  • Best practices in welding.
  • Best practices in working in high places.
  • Safety when working in confined spaces.
  • Best practices in filling and compacting.
  • Safety on jobs involving electrical hazards.
4. DESIRED RESULTS

The countries will share experiences to gain an understanding of training mechanisms that enable the construction industry to lower the number of work-related accidents and diseases.

5. PARTICIPANTS
  • Federal government representatives from Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
  • Private sector representatives from the three countries' construction industries.
  • State government representatives.
  • Labour organization representatives.
AGENDA
DAY/TIME ACTIVITIES Presenters
Day one Tuesday, August 26
08:30 to 09:00 PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION
09:00 to 9:30 Opening Session
       Words of welcome		 Mexico
       Introductory remarks Mexico
U.S. - A/S Henshaw
Canada
09:30 - 10:00 Overview of the Construction Industry    Mexico
US - J. Hermansen
Canada
10:00 to 10:30 Presentation
       The Mexican Construction Industry Association and its institutions
Objective: To inform about the structure, make-up and operations of the Mexican Construction Industry Association for introducing and strengthening training mechanisms for best practices in the industry, depending on the construction sector.		 Mexico Alfonso Rojas Lorer, Mexican Construction Industry Association
10:30 to 11:00 Presentations
       Experiences with training in best practices in the construction
       industry
Objective: For the representatives from each country to report on success stories in training construction workers and on successful strategies and mechanisms to ensure that good labour practices are followed at work sites during construction.		 US - Presenter   (Jane Williams & Del Tally)
11:00 to 11:30 Canada
Private sector
11:30 to 12:30 Mexico
Private sector
12:30 to 13:00       Question and answer session U.S., Canada and Mexico
13:00 to 14:30        Lunch
14:30 to 15:30 Panel of experts
       Occupational safety and health management systems applied to
       the construction industry.
Objective: To report to the representatives of the three countries on the results of applying occupation safety and health management systems and on the strategies used to encourage companies to joint voluntary programs in the three countries.		 Delegates from the three countries.

US:  Jane Williams
US:  Cathy Oliver
15:30 to 16:00 Question and answer session with the panel
TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS
16:00 to 17:00 Working Groups:
       (1): Best practices in excavation
Objective: To make presentations on the training mechanisms used in each country to ensure safety and health in construction excavation, for discussion by the members of the working group.		 Delegates from the three countries.
Private/Public sector

US:
(1) Greg Strudwick

(2)  Frank Perrino
US - Scribe (Jane)

(3)  Delmar Tally
US - Scribe (Todd)
       (2):Best practices in handling electricity
Objective: To share information and discuss training in the safe handling of electricity at construction sites, to protect the lives and safety of workers.
       (3): Safety guides for the use of personal protection equipment Objective: To inform about mechanisms for information and training for works supervisors and labourers in the suitable use and handling of protective equipment and its proper care.
17:00 to 18:00 Presentation of the conclusions of each working group Facilitator -Mexico US - Scribe (Ziggy)
Day two Wed., Aug. 27
09:00 to 10:00 Working Groups:

       (1): Best practices in welding
Objective: To inform the group about mechanisms and training process in the three countries in welding, to safeguard the health and safety of personnel on the work site.		 Delegates from the three countries.
Private sector

US:
(1) Ande Abbott

(2)  Frank Perrino
US - Coordinator: Tom Kavicky

(3)  George Kennedy
US - Scribe: Greg Strudwick
       (2): Best practices in propped and unpropped concrete floor
       construction
Objective: To describe occupational safety and health training offered to floor construction workers to safeguard their safety on the work site.

       (3): Safety in confined spaces
Objective: To inform the group about the training provided to workers for working safely in small spaces, to prevent accidents and death.
10:00 to 11:00 Presentation of the conclusions of each working group Facilitator- Canada
Scribe - Mexico
11:00 to 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 to 12:30 Working Groups:
     (1): Safety in working with heavy machinery
Objective: To inform the group about training provided in best practices for workers in using heavy machinery safely.		 Delegates from the three countries.
Private sector and/or labour

US - Presenter: Bill Nelson
US - Coordinator: Ziggy
US - Greg Studwick
     (2): Best practices in filling and compacting
Objective: To describe training in occupational safety and health for workers in filling and compacting for their protection at the work site.
       (3) Safety in working in high places
Objective: To inform the group about training established in good labour practices for working safely in high places.		 US - Tom Kavicky
US - Scribe: Del Tally
12:30 to 13:30 Presentation of the conclusions of each working group US - Facilitator: Jane Williams
Scribe - Canada
13:30 to 15:00  Lunch
15:00 to 16:00 Presentation:
     Studies on labour risks in the construction industry for preparing a
     draft Compulsory Mexican Standard
Objective: To inform the group about studies, work and results obtained regarding labour risks in the construction industry in Mexico for the purpose of preparing a draft Compulsory Mexican Standard to reduce accidents and diseases in this branch of industry.		 Mexico Jose Antonio Aguirre Balcel, Mexican Construction Industry Association
1660-1700 Panel of Experts

"Labor Vision of the Importance of Safety and Health in the Construction Industry"

(New Session)		 US - Presenter: Tom Kavicky
17:00 to 17:30 Comments and feedback on the day's activities US - Scribe: Jane
Facilitator- Canada
Day three Thurs., Aug. 28
09:00 to 10:30 Panel of experts

     Education and training for construction industry workers as a means
     of preventing occupational accidents and diseases
Objective: To inform the group about successful plans, strategies and mechanisms for the education and training of construction industry workers to improve safety and health in the industry		 Representatives and delegates from the three countries.
Private sector
Public sector
Labour sector

US - Bill Nelson
10:30 to 11:00 Question and answer session US - Scribe: Greg
Mexico - Facilitator
11:00 to 11:30 Break
11:30 to 12:30 Workshop:
     Development of proposals for future construction sector
    undertakings
Objective: To present the plans and projects of each country for training in occupational safety and health in the construction industry, to enable the three countries to evaluate and identify mechanisms for cooperation and exchanges of information.		 Public sector

US - Todd Jordan and US delegates
12:30 to 13:00 Presentation of findings
Objective: To present the results of the working meeting to the group and identify areas and actions that might be of interest to the countries for continuing to cooperate and share information.		 Facilitator-Todd Jordan
13:00 to 14:00 Conclusions and Close of the Seminar Delegates from the three countries.
US - Todd/Jackie
US - Scribe: Ziggy 
14:00 Lunch