Free Fall Protection Courses Offered in Portland and Bangor

Augusta, Maine, May 22, 2014 – The Associated General Contractors of Maine received national recognition this week when they received a national safety award. AGC of America analyzes membership data provided for the National AGC Safety Awards, and this year, the overall incident rate for AGC Maine members earned the chapter the award for first place nationwide.

It’s great to know that Maine contractors are setting the standard for safety. It’s an honor to earn national recognition for those efforts,” remarked Charlie Cianchette, AGC Maine Board President.

AGC Maine provides safety training around the state and focuses specifically on areas where construction activity nationally has proven to be more hazardous. This year, the Chapter is offering free fall protection training to contractors in Portland on May 30th and in Bangor on May 29th. This free training is being run in conjunction with AGC of America and is supported by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Susan Harwood Grant.

“Falls are the leading cause of the death in the construction industry. In fact, in 2012 they accounted for 269 of the 775 construction fatalities, and fall protection violations were among the most frequently cited OSHA violations. The free training in Bangor and Portland is a chance for Maine contractors to learn the skills necessary to prevent falls from happening,” said AGC Maine CEO Matthew Marks.

The AGC Chapter safety awards are based on a weighted average of participation and the overall incident rate of the Chapter’s general contractor members. All chapters are divided into 4 divisions: less than 50 general contractor members, 50-100 general contractor members, 100-200 general contractor members and over 200 general contractor members. AGC Maine was awarded first place in the 50-100 general contractor division.

“This is a perfect time to celebrate the safety achievements of last year and provide more training as the season moves into full swing. Our goal is simple – getting everyone safely home to their families each night,” Charlie Cianchette remarked.

Chartered in 1951, the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Maine is the state’s largest construction industry trade association. The Association maintains an office in Augusta and has more than 185 members statewide. Member companies include general contractors, sub-contractors, and service and supply providers. For more information visit www.agcmaine.org.