Latest news with #ConstructionSafetyWeek
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Safety belongs to everyone': What construction leaders value most
This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter. Construction Safety Week provides the opportunity for reflection on best practices and a renewed commitment to training and compliance. But it is also a chance to explore new approaches and techniques that can help continue to improve jobsite safety. Construction Dive asked several environmental, health and safety leaders working for major players in the industry for the areas firms could pay more attention to in order to improve safety. Their responses run the gamut, from physical and mental health to executing on a well-thought-out plan. The following responses have been edited for brevity and clarity. Jeff Palombo, Robins & Morton vice president of safety: A couple of areas that contractors and safety experts should pay more attention to in order to continue improving jobsite safety are the integration of human performance methodologies and data-driven decision-making. First, by focusing on identifying and eliminating error precursors and latent organizational weaknesses that contribute to human error, contractors can better understand the operating system factors that drive human behavior. Contractors use this understanding to reduce the likelihood and severity of workplace incidents with the integration of consequence-control strategies, building resilience to failure. Second, by collecting and analyzing observational data, contractors can create a more accurate picture of error-likely conditions and how to improve safety on their projects. Hannah Waters, Jacobs vice president of global health, safety and environment: In addition to focusing on high-risk activities and onsite safety, our industry could pay more attention to mental health and well-being. While physical safety is paramount, it's important to address the psychological aspects of worker health. Providing support resources, promoting open communication and fostering a supportive work environment can help mitigate stress, improve overall job satisfaction and ultimately influence safe and secure decision-making. In collaboration with global mental health professionals, Jacobs developed One Million Lives — a free mental health check-in tool and resources enabling users to check their mental health and access proactive strategies for personal mental health development. Todd Friis, Clayco senior vice president of risk management: Planning. It sounds basic, but planning is where safety starts and often where it fails. You obviously need to be in the field auditing and observing, but we see a lot of value in laying out good plans before the work even starts. Too many incidents are the result of rushed schedules or incomplete pre-task planning. We set up site-specific safety plans for the project that take into account the requirements of our program, plus state and client requirements, before the project even starts. Similarly, before any of our subcontractors start on the job, they have to create their own site-specific safety plan for how their scope of work will be done safely, as well. We hold daily coordination meetings and weekly look-ahead meetings. We also have each crew complete a daily pre-task safety analysis, an exercise that incorporates all other considerations as they map out how to safely approach their specific tasks for the day. We find time and time again that the projects and contractors that place a lot of emphasis on making solid plans consistently result in having some of the highest safety performance. Shaun Carvalho, Shawmut Design and Construction chief safety officer: Ensuring trade partners have a good, safe experience that is built on respect — both physical and psychological — is vital to the industry's future. Tradespeople work on multiple sites and for multiple contractors yearly. As construction managers, we must align on providing the best physical and mental health resources and support, creating inclusive environments where everyone can perform their best. Steve Spaulding, Turner Construction chief environmental, health, and safety officer: First, we need to move beyond the idea that safety is solely the responsibility of the 'safety expert.' Safety belongs to everyone. Every person on the jobsite must feel empowered to speak up — to protect themselves and one another. That's what All In Together (this week's theme) means to me: a culture of shared responsibility and collective care. Proactive planning for high-risk activities must be a top priority in every conversation, because that's where the greatest potential for serious injury or fatality lies. We've made real progress in raising the standards of care and building environments where people feel safe and supported. Equally important is continuing to talk openly about mental well-being. The growing attention to psychological safety is a positive shift, and we will keep expanding awareness, resources and support. Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen a culture where the worker is more important than the work — here safety isn't a checklist, but a mindset and a mission. It's about daily acts of care that reflect who we are and what we value. Tricia Thibodeaux, Fluor vice president health, safety and environmental: Contractors and safety experts should focus on cultivating a strong safety culture through demonstrated care and management engagement. When workers feel genuinely valued, they are more likely to adopt safe practices, report hazards, collaborate in safety planning and become safety leaders themselves. Culture can be elevated through regular safety meetings, open communication channels and visible leadership involvement in safety initiatives. By focusing on these areas, companies can improve jobsite safety and create a safer, more productive working environment for all employees. Lonnie Schock, DPR environmental health and safety and leadership team member: We believe that ongoing improvements require a focus beyond the typical 'physical safety' environment to include holistic/whole-health approaches, including the expansion of the industry's focus on mental health. Recent studies show that construction workers are at a heightened risk of mental health issues, with a suicide rate that is 3.5 times higher than the national average. Having a better understanding of personal wellness, nutrition and mental health will help engage teams and lead to safer projects and a safer industry overall. We are working together with our industry partners and peers to raise more awareness on these issues, including recognizing when help is needed, removing the stigma around having these types of important conversations and 'working left of the line' to ensure people are healthy in all ways. Recommended Reading Safety leaders tout innovative data, planning practices Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Hamilton Spectator
08-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Gillam celebrates Construction Safety Week at new Golf Canada Headquarters
Nothing you do today is as important as going home to your family and loved ones, reads the Gillam sign as you pull into the new Golf Canada Headquarters job site. From May 5 to 9, Gillam and League of Champions hosted a Road Show to showcase Construction Safety Week at Gillam job sites in the Greater Toronto Area, Waterloo, and Barrie, including the new Golf Canada Headquarters site located at 19499 Main Street, Caledon. League of Champions (LOC) is a not-for-profit volunteer organization founded in 2016 that advocates for safety by inspiring leaders to commit, collaborate, and take action to improve health and safety culture through education, promotion, and recognition, which leads to safer construction workplaces in Ontario. Craig Lesurf, president of Gillam Group and founder of League of Champions, says people should recognize Safety Day daily. 'Every week is safety week, however sometimes you've got to talk about something that you normally take for granted,' said Lesurf. In one month this year, there were 28 critical injuries, and one fatality in all of Ontario, explained Lesurf. His goal is to lower that number. Lesurf explained that many of these injuries were from complacency and things that were easily preventable if people began paying attention. Gillam and the League of Champions are trying to change that. 'It's about setting expectations and safety culture. I care about everybody, and I think they know it,' said Lesurf. 'At the end of the day, I never want to have a conversation with anybody about an injury, or a fatality. I've never in 38 years, and I certainly don't want to do it ever in my lifetime, that's why I do this.' Everybody signs the LOC's Jersey of Courage at the event with their family name to simulate a contract. As Lesurf explained, 'Because it's on a contract, you're going to make the commitment to work safe ever yday.' This year's theme for the Road Show was Plan, Own, Commit. 'You want to plan your work, own your actions, and commit to doing it right,' explained Lesurf. Brad Humenjuk, Corporate Health and Safety Manager for Gillam, says that through this week, they're trying to bring safety to the forefront of the workplace. 'It's mostly the trades that put the stuff together for us and we have to thank them,' said Humenjuk. 'We have to be appreciative to them, we put on a luncheon, we do speeches, we advocate for safety, we just want to make sure that everyone's looking after each other.' He says that Gillam tries to instill the message at the front of its construction sites into every team member to try to combat the problems that arise with routine activity and complacency at job sites. 'Gillam has the biggest culture I've ever experienced in my life,' said Humenjuk. 'If we ever do have a situation, everyone's all-hands-on-deck, everyone seems to always want to help each other, everyone is all engaged, everyone seems to be interconnected, and there's almost like a family integration within this company.' Events varied from site to site and included food and/or refreshments, stretch and flex exercises, toolbox talks, presentations, demonstrations, contests, competitions and guest speakers. 2026 is set as the completion year for the new Golf Canada Headquarters.
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure Celebrates Construction Safety Week in Recognition of its Corporate Commitment to Ensuring Workforce Safety
SAYF methodology supports the protection of people, operational continuity and regulatory compliance DENVER, CO / ACCESS Newswire / May 8, 2025 / EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure, a wholesale data center developer, owner and operator, this week recognized the priority it places on ensuring safety in the workplace by hosting daily events to celebrate Construction Safety Week at sites across its portfolio. In partnership with Holder Construction, EdgeCore organized onsite educational sessions, vendor presentations, guest speakers and fun perks for the thousands of tradespeople working to construct data centers at its campuses in Phoenix, Silicon Valley, Ashburn and Reno. Session topics included some of the critical aspects of data center safety, including fall protection, scissor lift safety, rigging safety and more. "At EdgeCore, our motto is 'Safety is No Secret'. This isn't just a motto we say, it's a verbal affirmation of our unwavering commitment to ensure the safety of everyone that works at or visits our job sites, operational data centers and offices," said Lee Kestler, CEO, EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure. "This week's celebration of Construction Safety Week provides us an opportunity to reinforce our focus on safety across the EdgeCore portfolio and tie our efforts to an industry-wide initiative." EdgeCore's safety team has established a foundational framework regarding safety called SAYF, which is woven into the fabric of day-to-day operations. The acronym stands for Seek Hazards, Assess Risk, Get Controls to Yes, and Follow Up, which means: Step 1: Seek Hazards | First, it's important to actively identify potential hazards within our facilities. By taking a proactive approach, we can anticipate - and work to eliminate - risk, before problems 2: Assess Risk | Once there's a clear understanding of the risks at stake, weassess the level of risk associated with each. Labeling every risk makes it easier to understand which hazards require immediate attention and what safety measures are needed to get ahead of 3: Get Controls to Yes | Once risks are assessed, we implement controls that are designed to address the identified hazards effectively and efficiently. In this step, we build critical processes, adopt required equipment and roll out needed 4: Follow- Up | Safety is an around-the-clock job. We continuously monitor and refine our practices and processes, ensuring our controls remain effective via feedback and data. By following up on and regularly improving our safety measures, wecreate a culture of continuous improvement and alignment. About EdgeCore Digital InfrastructureEdgeCore Digital Infrastructure serves the world's largest cloud and internet companies with both ready-for-occupancy and build-to-suit data center campuses that are designed for density. Privately held and backed by committed equity, EdgeCore enables hyperscale customer requirements by proactively investing in regions that provide the land and power necessary to support and scale AI and cloud technology. While working thoughtfully with the communities in which we do business, our data center campuses are built at scale to meet key performance specifications, safety metrics and sustainability objectives. EdgeCore has data center campuses in five North American markets with plans to continue regional expansion in 2025 and beyond. For more information, please visit Media ContactCourtney GaudetEdgeCore Digital SOURCE: EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ready to stand down? Construction Safety Week kicks off.
This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter. Construction Safety Week begins Monday by calling on contractors to recommit to worker health and well-being, according to a new release from the event's organizers. The construction industry's annual week-long, safety-focused event is partnering with OSHA and its National Safety Stand-Down initiative to help prevent falls in construction, a leading cause of jobsite injury. This joint effort encourages companies to pause work sites throughout the U.S. and Canada on Wednesday, May 7, or whenever possible during the week to create the largest industry-wide safety stand-down ever held. The 2025 Construction Safety Week theme, All in Together, is designed to connect and strengthen the message throughout the industry. The initiative includes related content for companies to plan activities, conversations and demonstrations with their teams. "This year, our theme, All in Together, demonstrates that safety on a jobsite is more than an individual responsibility; it's a collective effort," said Mike Choutka, Hensel Phelps CEO and 2025 Safety Week Chair, in the release. "We encourage everyone to carry the spirit of Construction Safety Week forward by upholding the highest safety standards year-round." Safety Week was founded in 2014 by members of the Construction Industry Safety Initiative and the Incident & Injury Free Executive Forum and includes 70 of the top contractors in the industry, representing thousands of workers. Free resources are available on the Construction Safety Week website and include promotional materials, discussion topics, event ideas, videos and materials translated into Spanish and French.
Miami Herald
05-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Top 20 toughest jobs in America
Construction workers, firefighters, military personnel and doctors - these are the "toughest jobs in America," according to a new survey. The poll included 2,000 Americans (1,000 of whom are trade workers), asking respondents what they believe the "toughest" jobs are and what comes to mind when they think of "tough jobs." Police officers ranked No. 5, followed by EMTs and astronauts. While some listed unique professions, others shared descriptors of what makes a job challenging, like "solving other people's problems all day with little to no help," "constantly making quick decisions and being stuck in stressful situations daily" or "something that pushes my physical and mental limits." Commissioned by Bosch Power Tools and conducted by Talker Research, the survey revealed that, whether or not they fit into those specific categories, 40% of employed Americans believe their job is hard. Trade workers were more than twice as likely to grade their job as difficult (50% vs. 21%). One in five employed respondents - both within and outside of the trades - emphasized the grit that goes into their daily responsibilities, believing that you need to be "extremely tough" to do their job. A majority of respondents admit that trade workers are, on average, tougher than non-trade workers (72%), and 81% of all surveyed don't think trade workers get enough credit for the work that they do. Despite not getting enough credit, those who are not actively in the trades would still consider pursuing them. Nearly half (49%) of the non-trade respondents said that they would be open to doing trade work as a career and 68% of respondents who didn't have access to trade skills courses (wood shop, mechanics, etc.) in high school said they would have enrolled if given the option. Additionally, the results found that 43% of those who are not currently in trade work have done it in the past and would do it again (70%). As trade work continues to grow in popularity, nine in 10 respondents would encourage younger Americans to consider a trade job for a career opportunity (88%). "Pursuing a career in the trades offers a variety of benefits with hands-on experiences that cultivate practical skills and provide a lifelong sense of purpose," said Robert Hesse, regional president of Bosch Power Tools in North America. "Just like any job, being a trade worker has its challenges, but in a world of shifting industries, the skilled trades remain a reliable and rewarding path for more and more Americans." Trade workers shared some words that they want the public to know about them or their work - such as "without trade workers, non-trade jobs wouldn't be available," "you can earn a decent living working in the trades without having to spend a bunch of money on a college degree" and "it takes more than physical strength. You have to be smart and problem solving." From their time on the job, trade workers agree that jobsite safety is of the utmost importance. Ahead of Construction Safety Week, trade workers want to see more support from their employers to improve jobsite safety, including making sure everyone knows how to use equipment (32%), receives safety training (28%) and emergency training for when the unexpected happens onsite (27%). In fact, over half of trade workers have had up to four "close calls" while on the job in the past year (57%). Of those who have experienced a close call in the past year, 31% of trade workers have prioritized their wellbeing and left a job or worksite because it felt unsafe. As a result, risk assessment (27%) and promoting a culture of safety (26%) are also areas that trade workers would want to see improvement from their employers. "In the trades, every task carries weight - and so does every safety step," said Hesse. "Wearing your safety gear, using tools and equipment correctly, following protocols and staying alert isn't just about rules; it's about making sure you get home safe and healthy. Safety is the foundation of every successful trade. By committing to safety, you honor the craft, protect your future and set the standard for excellence in one of the most essential - and tough - professions." THE TOUGHEST JOBS IN AMERICA Firefighter - 48%Construction worker - 44%Military - 38%Doctor - 38%Police officer - 37%EMT or paramedic - 35%Astronaut - 32%Farmer - 29%Air traffic controller - 29%Oil worker - 25%Nurse - 18%Roofer - 16%Electrician - 16% [TIED]Home builder - 16% [TIED]Engineer - 15%Pilot - 14% [TIED]Teacher - 14% [TIED]Lawyer - 13%Carpenter, woodworker or cabinet maker - 12%Drywall/plaster installer - 12% WHAT DO TRADE WORKERS WANT OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT THEM/THEIR WORK? "We work hard so people can enjoy their land, homes.""We represent the ideal that your skills and ability represent who you are and what you can do, not some piece of paper.""Without trade workers, nontrade jobs wouldn't be available.""Trade workers should be respected because they do work behind the scenes that none of us want to do.""That you can earn a decent living working in the trades without having to spend a bunch of money on a college degree.""They deserve just as much respect as any other job.""They maintain the things you love and use every day. They build the things that bring you daily comfort no matter the conditions.""That a tradesman may not have a degree, but it makes him no less valuable than the next guy because his trade takes years to learn and is worth just as much as the doctor if having something fixed or built is what makes you feel better.""It takes more than physical strength. You have to be smart and problem solving.""It's an alternative choice for those who feel they are not college bound or do not want to go to college. They can still have a fairly good life and career. There are many different areas of the skilled trades to choose from." Survey methodology: Talker Research surveyed 1,000 general population Americans and 1,000 American trade workers; the survey was commissioned by Bosch Power Tools and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 8 and April 17, 2025. We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are: Traditional online access panels - where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentiveProgrammatic - where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan. Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value. Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample. Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes: Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speedersOpen ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant textBots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify botsDuplicates: Survey software has "deduping" based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access. The post Top 20 toughest jobs in America appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
