Backend Category: Safety Excellence Initiative

Resource Highlight: Heat Stress

Each year, thousands of workers suffer from heat illness while working in high temperatures, direct sun, and humid conditions; dozens even die. Many mechanical contractors spend part of their working day in hot environments, both indoors and outdoors. Workers performing physical labor are often exposed to hazardous heat conditions that can have severe safety and health outcomes. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

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Explore the full range MCAA resources in the Resource Center, where you can use the blue Find A Resource bar to pinpoint exactly what you need.

MCAA Partners with SMACNA & TAUC for the Biggest Construction Safety Event of the Year

The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), and The Association of Union Contractors (TAUC) are thrilled to announce the inaugural Safety & Health Conference scheduled for January 13-16, 2025, at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach in Fort Lauderdale, FL., poised to be the biggest construction safety event of the year.

Sponsored by MILWAUKEE TOOL, the 2025 Safety & Health Conference will bring together safety professionals from across the construction industry to collaborate and explore the challenges and opportunities within our field. It is imperative that contractors are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to create safe workplaces where the risk of injury and illness is minimized.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a range of educational programs designed to enhance their professional skills. Subject Matter Experts will cover various aspects of jobsite safety, including discussions on emerging technologies and evolving best practices that can be implemented in their operations. Hands-on workshops will also be available, allowing experts to delve into new safety & health concepts in detail and provide practical guidance to help attendees better understand these innovative ideas.

For the first time ever, two new summits will also be offered, a pre-conference Construction Mental Health Summit and a post-conference Construction Risk Management Summit.

Registration for the conference will open in September 2024. Mark your calendars to ensure you don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the safety industry!

For those interested in exhibiting at the 2025 Safety & Health Conference, please reach out to Alex Kopp.

MCAA and Partners Team Up with Virginia Tech to Improve Head Protection

Thirteen years after releasing the first independent safety ratings for varsity football helmets, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab is expanding into the construction industry. This summer, researchers will begin an 18-month study to develop the first ratings system for safety helmets, commonly referred to as hard hats or construction helmets, using their five-star scale. This project is being funded and guided by the John R. Gentille Foundation, ELECTRI International, the American Society of Concrete Contractors, and The Association of Union Constructors in an effort to reduce the number of head injuries in our industry.

The lab has previously conducted injury biomechanics research outside sports, including toy product safety and drone impact testing. However, this is the first time they will develop a ratings system for a non-sports helmet.

“Construction has the most workplace fatalities,” said Steve Rowson, Helmet Lab Director. “Better head protection could be life-saving in many accidents.”

Between 2000 and 2008, the construction industry had more traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) than any other industry, according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The project’s objectives are:

Analyze head impacts in construction through accident reports and surveillance video.
Translate real-world conditions to controlled laboratory tests.
Test and publicly release data on available safety helmets on the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings website.

The lab will use its Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk (STAR) model to compute overall performance scores for helmets, assigning a rating from one to five stars based on a series of impact tests tailored to construction helmet conditions.

“We are honored to support research that will improve the safety of the men and women building our nation by focusing on the industry-specific factors that contribute to head injuries,” said Raffi Elchemmas of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America. “We are all committed to finding solutions to the challenges that the construction industry faces every day and confident this project will lead to improved head protection and reduce injuries.”

The project is scheduled for completion by August 2025.

“We hope this work reduces disabling or fatal head injuries by providing stakeholders with data to make informed decisions on the most effective personal protective equipment,” Rowson said.

Learn more about the lab’s methodology, history, and upcoming project by watching the video on Virginia Tech’s website.

MCAA Safety & Health Data Raises The Bar

The 2024 MCAA Safety Statistics & Awards program highlights a consistent and stable cohort of safety performance across MCAA contractor membership. This year the MCAA Safety Excellence Initiative is proud to recognize 62 MCAA member companies. All applicants receive a valuable benchmarking report that will allow them to compare their own 2023 incidence rates with the aggregate rates of the other participating MCAA companies overall, those in the same size category, and with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics incidence rates.

This year’s cohort achieved best in industry rates across the construction sector. On average participating MCAA contractors had a recordable rate of 1.1, lower than years past and significantly lower than our industry in general with a 3.1. As far as lost workday cases go, MCAA members once again performed exceptionally with a .28 rate compared to the industry rate of 1.8.

Those who qualified will also receive a certificate of recognition.

The program provides six awards categories including awards for zero recordable cases, zero lost workday cases, recordable cases incidence rates that are 25% or more below the industry average, lost workday cases incidence rates that are 25% or more below the industry average, and two that are a mix of these items.

MCAA is pleased to give the following contractors special recognition for their safety performance.

Zero Recordable Cases

James T. Kay Co., Inc.
Bayes, Inc.
Benkari LLC
ACSI Mechanical Group
Stirrett Johnsen, Inc.
Sun Mechanical Systems, Inc.
Denali Construction Services, LLC
Neptune Plumbing & Heating Co.
King Industries Inc.
A J Allen Mechanical Contractors Inc.
W.J. O’Neil Company
BAKER GROUP

Zero Lost Workday Cases

DebonAir Mechanical
SEXSON MECHANICAL COMPANY
Indoor Environmental Services
Muir-Chase Plumbing Co., Inc.
Hurckman Mechanical
North Mechanical Service
Auburn Mechanical
Wm.T. Spaeder Co., Inc
RW LaPIne Inc.
UMC, inc.
Warwick Mechanical Group
icon Mechanical
Control Air Enterprises LLC
Therma LLC
Nooter Construction Company
Murray Company

Congratulations to all award winners and thank you to everyone who submitted. MCAA members’ focus on safety and health is objectively above average and your support of this program highlights your company’s commitment to safety.

BMWC Constructors, Inc. Earns Top MCAA/CNA Safety Award in Category 5

BMWC Constructors, Inc. was selected as the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards winner for 2023 in Size Category 5, 1M+ Work Hours. BMWC Constructors, Inc. earned this prestigious designation because their relentless commitment to “Zero Injuries” through culture, programs and performance makes safety and health a priority.

The innovative Safety for Life program connects all aspects of safety, from work to home to community. The program has become the centerpiece of the company’s core values.

The MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards began in the 1990s when MCAA partnered with CNA Insurance. It is a fiercely competitive program in which only the best of the best compete for the awards.

This is one of the most competitive safety awards programs in the country and winners are highly regarded among their peers.

The award focuses on safety and health programs, safety innovations and achievements in safety to reach a high degree of safety and health excellence. Companies are divided into five categories by number of hours worked and winners are selected by a committee of their peers.

Participants are required to describe their safety programs in detail, including how they achieved safety excellence and why they believe they deserve the award. The Safety Awards Selection Taskforce, which is led by MCAA’s Safety & Health Committee, carefully evaluates each submission looking for safety leadership, an advanced safety culture, effective leading indicators of safety performance, and innovative safety initiatives that helped the company achieve an exceptionally high degree of safety excellence.

MCAA and CNA congratulate BMWC Constructors, Inc. for achieving such a high degree of safety excellence in 2023.

MCAA Mental Health Video Honored with Prestigious Telly Award

MCAA’s 2023 film on Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention has been selected as a winner of a highly prestigious Telly Award.

The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens. Founded in 1979 to honor local, regional and cable television commercials, with non-broadcast video and television programming added soon after, the award has evolved with the rise of digital video to include branded content, documentary, social media, immersive and more. The Telly Awards today celebrate the best work in the video medium in an exciting new era of the moving image on and offline.

The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screens. Receiving over 12,000 entries globally from 6 continents and all 50 states, Telly Award winners represent work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies and publishers from around the world. The Telly Awards recognizes work that has been created on behalf of a client, for a specific brand and/or company (including your own) or self-directed as a creative endeavor.

MCAA launched this video to members in September 2023, and during the course of the next three months had thousands of views. Over that time, many MCAA members suggested releasing the video to the general public, which MCAA did in January 2024. Since then, it has been viewed thousands of times outside construction, being picked up by several media outlets and now recognized by The Telly Awards.

“Our goal to help our industry break the stigma is working. Being selected as a Telly Award winner is not only a great honor, but also helps spread the message to even more workers around the country. MCAA thanks the Telly Awards Judging Council and encourages people in and out of construction to watch this video,” said MCAA President Rick Gopffarth.

The public video can be found at YouTube.com/@MCAAmerica or directly here in English or Spanish.

If you have questions, please contact Raffi Elchemmas, MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety, Health and Risk Management.

ServiceTitan Highlights Mental Health in Construction with the UA and MCAA

Mental health awareness and suicide prevention are a priority across the construction and service industries. MCAA member ServiceTitan recently amplified the conversation with a special episode of its ‘Toolbox for the Trades’ podcast. The hour-long podcast, hosted by Jackie Aubel, features a dialogue between the United Association’s (UA) Jennifer Massey and MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.

There are a troubling 5,000 deaths by suicide each year in the United States construction industry.

Workplace challenges include doing a job that’s physically demanding and therefore brings a high probability of injury. Plus, there are the long hours and travel requirements.

Conditions have improved when it comes to deaths on the job caused by unsafe working environments. However, experts say, more needs to be done to address mental health in the construction ranks.

Jennifer Massey is the safety, health and environmental administrator for the United Association. The group represents approximately 375,000 home services industry workers in the United States and Canada.

“People should be able to go home in the same condition they came to work,” she says. “They should not be adversely affected while trying to have a livelihood to provide for their families and themselves.”

Both Massey and Raffi Elchemmas, executive director for safety, health and risk management at the Mechanical Contractors Association of America, are concerned about the mental health issues that led to those 5,000 suicides last year.

Elchemmas says workers deserve better than the status quo.

“We wrote the playbook with physical safety, how to prevent falls, how to keep people safe and PPE,” he says. “We can do it again in mental health, and that’s what we plan to do.”

It’s achievable, Elchemmas says.

“Compassion, empathy – those are the things we’re trying to do,” he adds. “We’re trying to break the stigma, ask the question that you would feel comfortable asking your sibling, asking your best friend, but on a job site.”

Jennifer Massey and Raffi Elchemmas recently joined ServiceTitan’s Jackie Aubel on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included their thoughts on:

[10:54]: The importance of mental health in the construction industry
[16:42]: Clearly defining mental health issues and terms
[35:01]: Warning signs that someone may be having mental health challenges
[37:30]: Dealing with working in a toxic environment
[49:01]: Available resources and support for those struggling with mental health

To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, or anywhere you get podcasts.

If you have questions, please contact Raffi Elchemmas, MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety, Health and Risk Management.

UMC, Inc. Earns Top MCAA/CNA Safety Award in Category 4

UMC, Inc. was selected as the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards winner for 2023 in Size Category 4, 450,001-1,000,000 Work Hours. UMC, Inc.’s exceptional worker safety and health program has won this prestigious award two years in a row, and four of the last seven years.

With over 5 million workhours in the past six years, they have recorded exceptionally low injury and illness rates, and are the platinum standard that GCs look to partner with to develop jobsite policies for safety and health.

The MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards began in the 1990s when MCAA partnered with CNA Insurance. It is a fiercely competitive program in which only the best of the best compete for the awards.

This is one of the most competitive safety awards programs in the country and winners are highly regarded among their peers.

MCAA and CNA congratulate UMC, Inc. for achieving such a high degree of safety excellence in 2023.

Donnelly Mechanical Corp. Earns Top MCAA/CNA Safety Award in Category 3

Donnelly Mechanical Corp. was selected as the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards winner for 2023 in Category 3, 250,001-450,000 Work Hours. Donnelly Mechanical Corp. boats an incredible Experience Modification Rate (EMR) that reflects their commitment to safety and health. They are one of New York City’s safest contractors.

Donnelly Mechanical Corp.’s leadership is committed to safety and health. They made their primary goal and objective, Safety Always. This is shown in their programs, policies, and innovations in creating safer jobsites.

The MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards began in the 1990s when MCAA partnered with CNA Insurance. It is a fiercely competitive program in which only the best of the best compete for the awards.

This is one of the most competitive safety awards programs in the country and winners are highly regarded among their peers.

MCAA and CNA congratulate Donnelly Mechanical Corp. for achieving such a high degree of safety excellence in 2023.

MCAA & BuildOps Announce Partnership to Elevate Safety in Mechanical Contracting

MCAA has joined forces with BuildOps, an MCAA member and a provider of all-in-one field service and construction management software tailored for the modern mechanical contractor. This pivotal partnership will integrate MCAA’s extensive safety training resources directly into the BuildOps platform, granting all MCAA member companies using BuildOps unprecedented access.

Revolutionizing Safety Training Through Technology Integration

This collaboration introduces a powerful, new dimension to safety training for BuildOps.

BuildOps will host an array of safety-focused educational materials and resources from MCAA, ensuring that MCAA members have instant access to critical safety training necessary to maintain the highest standards of workplace safety and compliance.

“The integration of MCAA’s trusted safety content into our platform marks a significant step forward in our mission to provide the most comprehensive, user-friendly, and efficient tools for the industry,” said Glen West, BuildOps Head of Growth and Partnerships. “This partnership is more than just a merging of resources—it’s about making it easier than ever for MCAA member contractors to keep their teams safe, knowledgeable, and compliant on the job.”

Empowering Contractors with Essential Tools for Success

Through BuildOps’ innovative digital platform, MCAA members will have direct access to a curated selection of crucial safety courses and materials, specifically designed to:

Enhance industry knowledge and facilitate compliance with safety and health standards.
Promote a sustainable culture of safety across all levels of operations.
Provide engaging, easily accessible educational resources right at their fingertips.

“This partnership leverages BuildOps’ technological strength and adds to an impressive list of partners to deliver safety training to our members,” said Timothy J. Brink, MCAA CEO. “We are committed to ensuring that every MCAA member contractor and their team can access top-tier safety training seamlessly.”

Expanding Contractor Safety and Efficiency

This partnership is set against a backdrop of BuildOps’ continued growth and innovation in the field service management space. Recent product releases such as their Forecasting and Credit Hold features exemplify their commitment to empowering contractors.

By integrating MCAA’s safety materials, BuildOps is once again demonstrating its dedication to reshaping the landscape of commercial contracting.

Integrating MCAA Member Resources Into the Software You Use Every Day

MCAA members now have four companies that are committed to delivering important safety and health resources through their platforms. As always, MCAA members can visit mcaa.org to access the same resources there.

BuildOps

BuildOps is a fast-paced, high-growth technology company dedicated to the heroes of the trades. We transition commercial specialty contractors from traditional methods to our state-of-the-art, cloud-based, data-driven platform, setting new standards for operational excellence. Our end-to-end solution empowers owners to build enduring businesses equipped to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. For more information, visit BuildOps.com.

BuildOps is actively working to provide access to the MCAA materials from within their platform.

MCAI Training Vault

Training Vault is an easy to use, convenient system that helps track all types of training — seminars, conferences, certifications, licenses, and more. The system is provided through the Mechanical Contractors Association of Iowa.

MCAA members with existing MCAI Training Vault accounts should be able to access the MCAA materials via their accounts. If you do not see the materials, reach out to your company representative.

Tyfoom

Tyfoom is the #1 engagement platform for employee communication and training. We provide a simple and easy way to connect all employees with leaders every day to improve culture, productivity and employee engagement. Tyfoom employs non-disruptive, science-based techniques and gamification to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and increase accountability.

MCAA members with existing Tyfoom accounts should be able to access the MCAA materials via their accounts. If you do not see the materials, reach out to your company representative.

ServiceTitan

ServiceTitan is the operating system that powers the trades. Trusted by over 12,000 contracting businesses, the end-to-end platform powers profitable growth for commercial and specialty contractors by connecting their service and construction operations in one place to help them optimize cash flow, increase workforce productivity, and improve their bottom line. By bringing an integrated SaaS platform to an industry historically underserved by technology, ServiceTitan equips tradespeople with the technology they need to keep the world running.

ServiceTitan is actively working to provide access to the MCAA materials from within their platform.

MCAA thanks all of our partners for facilitating easy access to MCAA safety resources for MCAA members using their platforms.

Limbach, Inc- New England Earns Top MCAA/CNA Safety Award in Category 2

Limbach, Inc- New England was selected as the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards winner for 2023 in Size Category 2, 100,001- 250,000 Work Hours. Limbach, Inc- New England’s approach to “beyond zero thinking” has changed how they view safety and transformed the company culture. Their submission notes that, “Safety culture is a journey, not a goal.”

From changing their safety software programs to their Safety Policy Statement, the leadership of Limbach are committed to a culture of safety.

The MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards began in the 1990s when MCAA partnered with CNA Insurance. It is a fiercely competitive program in which only the best of the best compete for the awards.

This is one of the most competitive safety awards programs in the country and winners are highly regarded among their peers.

MCAA and CNA congratulate Limbach, Inc- New England for achieving such a high degree of safety excellence in 2023.

Goshen Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Earns Top MCAA/CNA Safety Award in Category 1

Goshen Mechanical Contractors, Inc. was selected as the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards winner for 2023 in Size Category 1, Zero – 100,000 Work Hours. Goshen Mechanical Contractors, Inc.’s commitment to incorporating safety into their day-to-day activities and family-run business approach set the company’s safety culture apart.

Goshen Mechanical Contractors, Inc.’s 20-year track record of exceptional safety performance includes hosting a safety committee, and safety meetings, which have made their teams respect the importance of safety on the job.

The MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards began in the 1990s when MCAA partnered with CNA Insurance. It is a fiercely competitive program in which only the best of the best compete for the awards.

This is one of the most competitive safety awards programs in the country and winners are highly regarded among their peers.

MCAA and CNA congratulate Goshen Mechanical Contractors, Inc. for achieving such a high degree of safety excellence in 2023.

Resource Highlight: MSCA’s Safety Resources for Mechanical Service

Mechanical service contractors face unique challenges when it comes to the safety of their workers. MSCA’s Safety Resources for Mechanical Service address these challenges through a combination of worker training and guides, manuals, and model safety programs that support your safety program. These are just a few of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

Worker Safety Training Videos & Accompanying Resources

Electrical Safety in the Workplace for Service (NFPA-70E) Safety Training

Additional electrical safety resources and tools are available thanks to MCAA’s partnership with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). These tools can help you mitigate risks related to electrical safety, including physical, compliance and financial risks. Learn More

Mechanical Service Safety

Refrigerant Safety for Mechanical Service Technicians

Safety Guides

Safety Manuals

Safety Manual for Mechanical Service Technicians

Model Safety Programs

Tailgate Safety Talks

Explore the the full range of resources for mechanical service contractors, including resources that are also of interest to mechanical construction and plumbing contractors, using the blue Find A Resource bar on our website or browse our collection of 700+ safety and health resources.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

For safety questions, contact MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.

Service-related questions go to MCAA’s Teresa Pezzi.

Congratulations to the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards Winners

MCAA and CNA, our long-time partner in safety, congratulate the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards winners for 2023. These five companies exhibited exceptional safety leadership and safety culture throughout the year. Company representatives joined MCAA President Robert Beck on stage during MCAA24 in Orlando to accept their awards.

Companies were divided into five categories by number of hours worked and winners were chosen by a committee of their peers.

The 2023 MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Award Winners Are:

Goshen Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (Category 1 | 0 – 100,000 work hours)
Limbach, Inc-New England (Category 2 | 100,001 – 250,000 work hours)
Donnelly Mechanical Corp (Category 3 | 250,001 – 450,000 work hours)
UMC Inc. (Category 4 | 450,001 – 1,000,000)
BMWC Constructors, Inc. (Category 5 | More than 1,000,000 work hours)

“On behalf of CNA, I want to recognize the very competitive group of applicants this year, and thank them for participating. All winners have several achievements and excellent programs to be proud of.”
Shawn Egan, Risk Control Consultant, CNA

Watch for highlights of each winner’s outstanding safety performance in the coming weeks.

While not everyone could win, all applicants exhibited a tremendous focus on the safety and health of their workers and that’s something to be proud of.

Safety Week 2024 Comes to a Close – Look Back On the Week

The National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction and Construction Safety Week may have ended, but our members’ commitment to safety on the jobsite has not. You can view the video clips we shared throughout the week for tips to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of our workers. The other resources released throughout the week are also compiled below.

May 6, 2024:
We kicked off the week with a message from Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Executive Director of Safety, Health & Risk Management Raffi Elchemmas highlighting the resources available to help members plan their participation in the event.

May 7, 2024:
On Tuesday, The Association of Union Constructors Safety Director Alex Kopp addressed falls, which remain a leading cause of injury or incident in our industry. He presented a multi-layered approach that will allow Safety Alliance members to not only meet OSHA guidelines, but to exceed them.

May 8, 2024:
On Wednesday, we heard from SMACNA Director of Safety Justin Crandol, CSP, ARM, CRIS with tips to help contractors combat the opioid crisis with knowledge and action.

May 9, 2024:
National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Executive Director, Outside Line Safety Mike Starner, CUSP, CHST talked about the shared responsibility for safety on Thursday.

May 10, 2024:
To close out the week, Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Executive Director of Safety, Health & Risk Management Raffi Elchemmas encouraged contractors to spend time on workplace violence training.

Throughout the week, MCAA also highlighted the following resources:

An extensive list of resources from OSHA-NIOSH-CPWR, including webinars, videos, Toolbox Talks, and trainings.
The OSHA-NIOSH-CPWR fall rescue webinar on May 7, 2024 | 02:00 PM ET RECORDING
More than seven trainings from MILWAUKEE TOOL that were available to members throughout the week
New fall protection and dropped object devices from DEWALT Industrial Tool Company
A ServiceTitan podcast with MCAA and UA representatives on the topic of Normalizing Mental Health in the Construction Industry RECORDING

All MCAA members that participated in the week can download a Certificate of Participation from OSHA when they complete a form with brief highlights of their participation.

In addition to the resources mentioned above, MCAA offers a wide range of training to help keep workers safe when using aerial lifts, fall prevention and protection devices, ladders, and scaffolds. LEARN MORE

These resources are just a few of MCAA’s 700+ safety and health resources, all free to members as a benefit of membership.

If you have questions, please contact Raffi Elchemmas, MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety, Health, and Risk Management.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s 700+ Safety & Health Resources

Savvy contractors know that safe workers are productive workers who bring jobs in on time and on budget. MCAA’s 700+ Safety & Health Resources offer a robust library to support your safety program, from training to model programs and resources that keep you up to date with regulations and ahead of the curve with safety and health. These are just a few of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

Take a look:

Explore the full range of 700+ safety and health resources available from MCAA here.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.

Join MCAA & Our Partners to Prevent Falls in Construction

Join MCAA and our partners at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training for the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. The partnership gives MCAA members access to a variety of resources, which MCAA will augment with a little help from our friends in the Safety Alliance and MCAA members DEWALT, MILWAUKEE TOOL, and ServiceTitan. Working together, we can help prevent falls and improve safety in our industry.

Both the stand-down and Construction Safety Week will take place May 6-10, 2024.

Throughout the week, MCAA will highlight the following resources:

An extensive list of resources from OSHA-NIOSH-CPWR, including webinars, videos, Toolbox Talks, and trainings.
The OSHA-NIOSH-CPWR fall rescue webinar on May 7, 2024 | 02:00 PM ET REGISTER
More than seven trainings from MILWAUKEE TOOL
Video messages from Safety Alliance leaders on our social media channels
New fall protection and dropped object devices from DEWALT Industrial Tool Company
A ServiceTitan podcast with MCAA and UA representatives

New this year, MCAA will showcase one stand-down event daily on our social media channels to share our members’ good work. Be sure to tag us when posting about your and use #StandDown4Safety:

All MCAA members participating in the week will receive a Certificate of Participation from OSHA when they complete the form at the end of the week.

These resources are just a few of MCAA’s 700+ safety and health resources, all free to members as a benefit of membership.

If you have questions, please contact Raffi Elchemmas, MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety, Health, and Risk Management.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Fall Prevention & Protection Resources

Falls are the leading cause of workplace fatalities and fall protection is the most cited OSHA violation. MCAA’s Fall Prevention & Protection Resources provide training to keep workers safe when using aerial lifts, fall prevention and protection devices, ladders, and scaffolds to support contractor training efforts during the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction and every day. They’re just a few of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

Available worker safety training videos & accompanying resources include:

Aerial Lift Safety

Fall Prevention and Protection

Ladder Safety

Scaffold Safety

You may also be interested in these related model safety programs:

Explore the full range of 700+ safety and health resources available from MCAA here.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.

MCAA Partners with OSHA, NIOSH, and CPWR to Prevent Falls in Construction

MCAA is honored to join the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training as a Premier Partner for the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. The partnership gives MCAA members access to a variety of resources, which MCAA will augment with a little help from our friends in the Safety Alliance and MCAA members DEWALT, MILWAUKEE TOOL, and ServiceTitan. Working together, we can help prevent falls and improve safety in our industry.

Both the stand-down and Construction Safety Week will take place May 6-10, 2024.

Throughout the week, MCAA will highlight the following resources:

An extensive list of resources from OSHA-NIOSH-CPWR, including webinars, videos, Toolbox Talks, and trainings.
The OSHA-NIOSH-CPWR fall rescue webinar on May 7, 2024 | 02:00 PM ET REGISTER
More than seven trainings from MILWAUKEE TOOL LEARN MORE & REGISTER
Video messages from Safety Alliance leaders on our social media channels
New fall protection and dropped object devices from DEWALT Industrial Tool Company
A ServiceTitan podcast with MCAA and UA representatives

New this year, MCAA will showcase one stand-down event daily on our social media channels to share our members’ good work. Be sure to tag us when posting about your and use #StandDown4Safety:

All MCAA members participating in the week will receive a Certificate of Participation from OSHA when they complete the form at the end of the week.

If you have questions, please contact Raffi Elchemmas, MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety, Health, and Risk Management.

Five Ways To Create A Safer Workplace for Women in Construction

Over 390,000 women work in the construction industry, up significantly over the past decade. Despite this tremendous growth, many women still face challenges, including safety and health. All workers deserve a safe workplace and to return home at the end of the day in the same shape as when they got there. MCAA’s Safety Excellence and Women in the Mechanical Industry initiatives are pleased to bring you these tips for creating safer workplaces for women.

The following tips are adapted from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) blog:

Provide Properly Fitting Personal Protective Equipment

Women’s safety on the job is undermined when safety measures, such as providing personal protective equipment (PPE) for diverse bodies, are not implemented in favor of a one-size-fits-all approach. A recent survey of tradeswomen and non-binary tradespeople found that nearly three in ten report never or rarely being provided gloves or safety equipment in sizes that fit them. According to another survey, 89% of tradeswomen said they had difficulty accessing PPE that fits and 77% reported they were exposed to unnecessary hazards because of ill-fitting PPE. In response, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to ensure that all employees have PPE that fits properly.

Guarantee Safe and Sanitary Bathrooms

OSHA’s sanitation standards require employers to provide accessible sanitary facilities for ALL personnel and to ensure that these facilities are maintained appropriately. Despite this, many tradeswomen we’ve talked to say they still lack access to clean toilets on sites, and too many encounter hostility and harassment from male colleagues when bathrooms are designated for women only. Inadequate and unsafe facilities lead to many women reporting that they avoid using toilets or drink less water. The result can be a higher incidence of bladder and kidney infections and an increased risk of heat stress and other health problems.

Ensure Protections for Pregnant and Postpartum Workers

Pregnant and postpartum workers often have unique health and safety needs. The new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires covered employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” to workers’ known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions unless the accommodation will cause the employer an undue hardship. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), as recently extended by the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act), covered employers are required to provide nursing employees with reasonable break time and a private space, other than a bathroom, to express breast milk at work for up to one year after the child’s birth. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees of covered employers to unpaid, job protected leave for the birth of and bonding with a child, for prenatal care and incapacity related to pregnancy, for the worker’s own serious health condition including following the birth of a child, and to care for a child with a serious health condition. Employers should ensure they are adhering to these laws and any other relevant state laws, and may choose to go beyond them by, for example, providing job-protected paid family and medical leave, paid sick leave and child care for workers with children. Supporting employees throughout all phases of their lives, including pregnancy and parenting, ensures that employers can attract and retain a pool of diverse, skilled workers.

Prevent Gender-Based Violence and Harassment

Lack of respect, discrimination and gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) undermine worker health and safety and drive women out of male-dominated jobs. In fact, lack of respect or discrimination is the most commonly cited reason tradeswomen consider leaving the construction industry. Employers should assess their worksites and institute policies and programs to change workplace culture and prevent and address GBVH, such as those detailed in the Women’s Bureau’s Tools for Building an Equitable Infrastructure Workforce. Addressing GBVH is not just necessary for inclusivity; it plays a role in creating safe workplaces.

Promote Mental Health

Stress from GBVH, lack of inclusion, and demanding worksites can be harmful to worker health and increase mental health challenges, which can include mental illness and substance use disorders as well as emotions like grief, sadness, and anxiety. Research shows that workers who have not been integrated into a workplace culture are more likely to have accidents on the job due to the increased psychological and emotional stress of being excluded. These challenges can also lead to low job satisfaction for women, which results in their exit from construction occupations. OSHA’s webpage on Workplace Stress includes resources to both help understand the issue and provide guidance for employers to help address the issue.

MCAA applauds the DOL’s focus on women’s safety and health. Our Safety Excellence and Women in the Mechanical Industry initiatives are working together to bring you additional information on the topic in the future.

In the meantime, you can learn more about MCAA’s Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI) Initiative here. Questions can be addressed to Jocelyn Jackson, MCAA’s Director, WiMI and Dues Management.

Information on MCAA’s Safety Excellence Initiative is available here. Please contact Raffi Elchemmas, MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety, Health, and Risk Management with any questions.