Chairman’s message: Promoting our employees’ physical safety and mental well-being - by Luiza Mills

Safety is at the forefront of everything we do, and ensuring our employees go back home to their families at the end of each day continues to be our top priority. September is the time when we highlight our efforts to keep workers physically and mentally safe.

We have some exciting things going on this month to support this ongoing priority. The Gould Construction Institute (GCI) will hold its annual “STEP into Safety” event on Thursday, September 25^th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at its Billerica training center. In addition to STEP (ABC’s safety management self-assessment tool) Award presentations and networking, this year’s event will feature an Innovations in Fall Protection Demonstration, a Human and Organizational Performance Presentation geared toward rethinking your company’s safety strategy, and finally, tours of our GCI training facility. You can RSVP for the event on the ABC website.

On September 17^th, our chapter hosted “Is Your Construction Safety Policy & Strategy Up to Date?” from 7:30 to 8:30 am at ABC MA’s Woburn headquarters. This workshop, facilitated by safety expert Milt Jacobs, who has conducted prior safety events for the chapter, provided tools for making sure your safety and health policies align with current best practices. 

Physical safety isn’t our only focus; mental wellbeing is also vital. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. CDC studies continue to rank construction as the number one industry for deaths by suicide. The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s website provides multiple toolbox talks and more for your use throughout the month. In addition, we ask that you follow ABC on social media and sign up for a VitalCog training session. 

In closing, September is a good time to pause and further educate our employees in their safety and wellbeing. We encourage you to take full advantage of all the tools and resources available to you to support your people. There is never enough that can be done in these areas to continue to sustain the finest safety and metal health programs in the construction industry. 

Luiza Mills is the chairman of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc.-Mass. Chapter and is a senior vice president at Interstate Electrical Services Corp.