The St. Louis construction industry put an exclamation point on its commitment to safety with the formation of the PRIDE/OSHA Partnership. The landmark partnership is the nation's first public-private joint venture to improve safety in an entire local construction industry. It allows the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to more efficiently monitor health and safety at construction sites while controlling industry costs associated with OSHA inspections. The PRIDE/OSHA Partnership rewards participating contractors who voluntarily improve their safety and health performance under strict guidelines set by PRIDE. Contractors who have demonstrated exemplary safety programs to PRIDE and OSHA will face fewer work slowdowns stemming from routine or repeated OSHA inspections. OSHA will be able to devote more time to construction sites that pose serious threats to health and safety. Contractors can apply to join the partnership by calling PRIDE at 314/863-5788