December 31, 2001—The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) entered into a partnership December 14, 2001, with an engineering and construction firm, an integrated oil refinery, and a local union of the United Steel Workers of America to ensure safety and health of workers during a major construction project in the US Virgin Islands. The Delayed Coker Plant Project, which will employ at its peak approximately 2,000 employees, includes the construction of a petroleum coke storage facility and a dock, as well as certain modifications. The objective of the agreement is to reduce the rate for injuries and illnesses by 20 percent and prevent serious accidents during construction by focusing on eliminating hazards associated with falls and electrical dangers.
