HOLLAND - Barton Malow Construction Services, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) on Aug. 20 signed a formal partnership with the goal of zero worker injuries, accidents and near misses during the construction of a gas turbine electric power generation facility in Holland.

The facility is a two-on-one combined cycle power plant producing electricity from two combustion turbines and one steam turbine, which are connected to individual generators. It will harness the exhaust gasses produced from the combustion turbines in the heat recovery steam generators to power the steam turbine, creating additional electricity and making the facility more economical.

Partnerships, MIOSHA says, "are an important emphasis in the MIOSHA Strategic Plan to improve the health and safety of workers through cooperative relationships."

The plant will generate approximately 125 megawatts of electricity – enough to power approximately 125,000 homes. The plant’s design also allows the hot water byproduct to be used in the pre-existing snowmelt infrastructure in downtown Holland.

The facility resembles more than the average power plant. With a heavy emphasis on the architectural design and positive community influence, when complete, the plant has been named the Holland Energy Park.

"The West Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council is a proud signatory of the MIOSHA safety partnership," said council President Mark Mangione, who is also business manager of Plumbers, Pipe Fitters and Service Trades Local 174. "Safety is the most important aspect of the job for the members of the building trades. Our members are out in the field every day, in a dangerous environment where their exceptional training and awareness keeps them out of harm's way. Our commitment to safety, quality and productivity are the reasons we are the best in our industry. We are looking forward to a great project."

Construction officially began in February of 2015 and is expected to be completed in early 2017.

“MIOSHA congratulates Barton Malow for its elevated standards of safety and health,” said MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder. “The agency is proud to partner with a company so dedicated to providing the highest level of worker protection on the construction of this new facility.”

Signing partners included Yoder and Barton Malow Vice President Joe Benvenuto, Mangione of the West Michigan Building Trades, and representatives from M.J. Electric and Progressive Mechanical, Inc.

“Partnership lies deep in our core values at Barton Malow,” said Benvenuto. “The Holland Power Plant Project is a model example of what can be accomplished through true partnership and collaboration. To date, we have had great success with partnering with our owner, the local community, our local union trades, and our suppliers and subcontractors. This MIOSHA partnership provides the most important piece of collaboration, which is to keep our people safe. Barton Malow looks forward to a successful project and partnership.”

All partners agree to commit their leadership, time and resources to achieve safety goals. Partnering employers include: Progressive Mechanical, M.J. Electric, Motor City Electric and Ideal Contracting. Supporting partners also include the Holland Board of Public Works, Zachry Engineering, and Progressive AE.

Key elements of the site-specific safety and health program for reconstruction include:
• *100 percent personal protective equipment.
• *Mandatory attendance to a project safety orientation.
• *All crane operators will be certified.
• *Mandatory pre-work substance abuse testing.
• *Mandatory post-accident substance abuse testing.
• *Pre-task plans are to be completed prior to shift and used to document any changing conditions.
• *Contractors shall provide a competent and/or qualified person for work operations as identified by a MIOSHA standards and/or Barton Malow.
• *Barton Malow and the partnering employers on this project will uniformly enforce a disciplinary action plan for employees who fail to work in a safe manner. Automatic dismissal from this project shall result from any willful or deliberate violation of safety rules or safety policies and procedures.

“The MIOSHA program is dedicated to partnering with employers to persistently advance Michigan’s workplace safety and health,” said Martha Yoder. “These partnerships offer employers a voluntary, cooperative relationship with the agency to help eliminate serious hazards and achieve significant safety and health management goals.”

The partnership does not preclude MIOSHA from enforcing its mission of addressing complaints, fatalities, or serious accidents, nor does it infringe on the rights of employees to report workplace hazards.

THE SAFETY PARTNERSHIP announcement at the Holland Energy Park site.

Among the signers of the safety agreement are (l-r) Barton Malow Vice President Joe Benvenuto, West Michigan Building Trades President Mark Mangione, MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder, Progressive Mechanical Inc. President Randy Hosler, and M.J. Electric Executive Vice President Tony Broccolo.