Compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act is a must for all employers. Thus, the KVBA was instrumental in developing the LEAD (Labor Education and Development) Hazard Recognition Safety Training Program in 1991 which was implemented in the Charleston Area Multi-Craft Agreement. Since that time, virtually all of the local unions have incorporated the LEAD program into their individual collective bargaining agreements.

LEAD offers OSHA-authorized instructors to conduct a hands on Hazard Recognition course. The training classes are designed to encourage the participation of a tripartite group of contractors, building trade crafts and owner representatives pacing them into a classroom as safety students and not adversaries. The Hazard Recognition course is strictly voluntary and is held on a Saturday or three successive evenings. Safety and health topics can also be custom-designed to meet the needs of Craft Unions and Union Contractors serving our local industry.

Under the LEAD Program, annual drug testing is performed on a voluntary basis unless the owner requires mandatory and/or random testing in which case specific arrangements to accommodate the owner are made. A dated drug-free photo certification card is issued to all participants testing negative. Record of such tests are maintained by an Independent Test Laboratory on a confidential basis. All costs, such as for collection, analysis, reporting, maintenance of records, issuing cards and notification are borne by LEAD for all participants covered by the appropriate collective bargaining agreement. Securing the drug screen test is the applicant’s responsibility and is performed on his own time.

For more information on LEAD, please visit the LEAD web site.