Speeches by Secretary Elaine L. Chao

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Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Drug-Free Workplace Alliance Expansion Signing Event
U.S. Census Bureau
Suitland, Maryland
Monday, July 10, 2006

Thank you, Lurita [Doan], for that introduction. I want to thank you all for joining us today on the site of this new building to celebrate a milestone in making the workplace safer. Isn't this an amazing building?!

Director John Walters from the White House Office of Drug Control Policy was scheduled to be with us today, but was called away on last-minute travel. He has a representative here today and commends all of the participants today for their commitment to a drug- and alcohol-free workplace.

I want to thank leaders from organized labor and the contracting community for joining us here today. And of course, I want to thank the workers who are here today.

For six decades, the old Census Bureau Headquarters building has done its job. But time has taken its toll and the presence of lead pipes and asbestos are creating health concerns. Today, the building is a perfect candidate for replacement under the General Services Administration's Design Excellence Program. This nine-year project replaces older government buildings with new structures that are safer and more efficient.

There are two phases to the construction process. The first phase, consisting of one office building and one garage, was scheduled to be completed in late 2006, probably around October. The second phase will not be complete until March 2007.

This is a big project, but its safety record is great. That is due to the commitment of its workers and contractors to make safety number one on the worksite. And I'm proud that the Department of Labor played a role in supporting their efforts.

In 2004, the Department of Labor signed an agreement between the Carpenters, Operating Engineers, Ironworkers and Boilermakers to be Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace. Three of these unions are involved in this project. After working together to prevent drug or alcohol use at this jobsite, I am pleased to report that there have been no fatalities on this job, and OSHA has found no violations during this project.

Safe workers are building safer workplaces for other workers.

Nationwide, efforts to reduce drugs and alcohol at the workplace are an important part of a comprehensive effort to improve workplace safety. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the construction fatality rate has decreased by 7.7 percent.

The rate of reported construction injuries and illness has also decreased by 24 percent. Alcohol- and drug-free workplaces have contributed to this improvement.

Just as employer-worker cooperation led to construction of this building, employer-worker cooperation is leading to improved worker safety. Both are making safety a core value at this worksite.

The Department of Labor is doing all it can to ensure this Alliance is a success. It is working closely with members to educate their workers about the importance of being drug-free to improve workplace safety. It provides sources of help for workers who may have problems with alcohol or other drugs. Our Working Partners Web site, located at www.dol.gov/workingpartners, helps employers and employees work together to understand the issue. Together, we have also developed training materials, delivered workshops at industry events and published articles in trade publications. And things are just getting started. This fall, the Alliance will conduct the first-ever "Drug-Free Work Week" campaign to further heighten awareness of the benefits of drug-free workplace programs.

And today, I'm also delighted to announce that four more unions are joining this Alliance for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace:

• The Laborers' International Union of North America;
• The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades;
• The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada; and
• The International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers.

And the Operating Engineers are signing the Alliance for a second time. The president of the Operating Engineers retired. And the new president — Vincent Giblin — wants to demonstrate today that while leadership may have changed, the union's commitment to a drug-free workplace is stronger than ever. So, congratulations, President Giblin.

In addition, several contractor associations are joining the Alliance. These include:

• The American Road and Transportation Builders Association;
• The National Asphalt Pavement Association;
• NEA-the Association of Union Constructors; and
• The Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association.

The Associated General Contractors of America were also expected to sign the agreement today. There are several representatives from AGC in the audience today to convey their organization's support for this Alliance, and their leadership is going to sign on very soon.

This expands the number of workers and jobsites benefiting from safer workplaces due to efforts to prevent workplace alcohol and drug use. With the original four participants, nearly 1.2 million workers were covered. The new members of the Alliance will more than double the number of workers covered by the Alliance to over 2.4 million workers. And for the first time, employers are being added to the Alliance. The contractor associations, who represent over 45,200 employers, have joined us today to commit to the goal of drug-free workplaces.

Thank you all for joining this Alliance. And let me, again, thank the workers and project managers here at the U.S. Census Bureau for demonstrating that workers are better protected when labor and management work together.

Thank you.