NECA - Ohio/Michigan Chapter
727 Lime City Rd., Suite 100
Rossford Ohio 43460
1-866-ASK-NECA
1-866-275-6322
The Union Difference is
Productivity and Quality
Union-signatory electrical contractors can provide the GREATEST PRODUCTIVITY because they employ skilled union electricians …
Construction workers belonging to I.B.E.W. unions and working
for union-signatory electrical contractors are more productive
than their non-union counterparts. Electrical unions insist that
their members receive thousands of hours of training – extensive
training that ensures jobs are done right the first time because
signatory contractors have access to a strong pool of skilled
workers.
More skilled workers translate to proper work site performance; unskilled workers cannot be expected to perform skilled tasks when they have not received adequate training.
Union productivity is superior based on several factors:
- Better apprenticeship programs that create better journeymen.
- Better journeyman training that keeps union electricians at the forefront.
- Better foremen training that creates better on-site supervision.
- Better safety training that provides less liability and greater project continuity.
- More diverse technical specialty training facilitates meeting high-tech project needs.
- Immediate access to skilled, quality workers.
- Apprentice programs in many disciplines.
Safety
The union construction industry’s goals for safety are clear. To achieve these safety measures, the industry:
- Strives to have every foreman complete 30-hour OSHA training;
- Continually provides classes for journeymen in first-aid, C.P.R., blood-borne pathogens and operating Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs);
- Distributes an industry-wide safety manual; all safety training is based on the manual thereby providing continuity between contractors;
- Provides 12 hours of 70E Arch Flash training for all journeymen and apprentices;
- Has a full-time safety specialist available for all contractors to utilize for job-site audits and to address specific job-site safety concerns.
Safety Awareness Training Courses
The union
construction industry further strives to have every journeyman
go through 16 hours of safety awareness training that includes
the following topics:
- Fall Protection
- Electrical Principles & Hazards
- Lockout/Tagout
- First Aid/Emergency Procedures
- Elevated Lifts & Scaffolds
- Ladder Safety
- Walking Working Surfaces
- Rigging & Material Handling
- General Safety
- Confined Space
- Housekeeping/Fire Prevention Hand & Power Tools
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Shoring & Trenching
- Hazardous Communications – Material Safety Data Sheets
- Welding & Cutting
Quality of Work
Using union construction ensures a skilled and productive work force – which means projects are completed right the first time, on time and within budget. Union construction helps project owners realize cost savings on their bottom line and on maintenance after projects are completed. In short, UNION CONSTRUCTION PROVIDES QUALITY FINISHED PRODUCTS THAT SAVE TIME AND MONEY!
Using union-signatory electrical contractors who employ skilled, union electrical workers helps ensure:
- Fewer hours to perform work on a project;
- Safe construction sites and projects;
- The highest quality foremen supervising work;
- Jobs are done right, reducing future maintenance costs associated with the life of the project;
- Costs are budgeted up front.
Meanwhile, using unskilled, non-union contractors on a building or construction project leads to:
- More man-hours to get a job done, resulting in added time and money;
- Unsafe construction-site work practices;
- Missed deadlines;
- Higher probability of increased change orders;
- Less-skilled supervisors;
- Wasted resources;
- Greater need for repairs and higher repair costs.
Drug-Free Workforce
Our electrical contractors only employ manpower that has been tested for drug use and has demonstrated that they are drug-free. Industry-wide, both labor and management are required to annually administer drug testing, and in addition, the union electrical industry randomly tests 25% of its workforce annually.
The union electrical industry also tests to the highest standards – meeting the needs of our most stringent customers, such as British Petroleum (B.P.) and Sunoco for work at their petrochemical refineries.
More skilled workers translate to proper work site performance.