Local 22, Omaha, Nebraska, members, from left, Angela McCarty, Dave Preble, Bill King, Kevin Wetuski, Nick Jankowski, Leo Jankowski, Rod Moore, Ron Glissman, Joe Bremken, Greg Garner, Ed Kroupa and Mike Collins worked on the 40-story First National Tower Banking facility "Star" worksite.

Members of IBEW Local 22 working on the 40-story First National Bank Building job in Omaha, Nebraska, helped win the highest award for job safety given by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The "Star" award was made in September by Assistant Secretary of Labor John Henshaw after OSHA inspection team members called the job the best commercial construction site they had ever seen. The job has had 61 percent fewer injuries than the national average for commercial construction.

The "Star" recognition is given for participation in the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program and has been achieved by fewer than 20 construction sites nationwide. The OSHA Voluntary Protection Team conducted extensive inspections as well as craft and management interviews during the month of August at the facility being built by Kiewit Construction. Sixty electricians have worked on the job.

The inspection team reported that the Safety Program and Job Site Inspection received an "excellent" rating. And Employee Interviews also received a rating of "excellent." All interviewed workers responded that they felt responsible for their own safety.