SAFETY & HEALTH IN CONSTRUCTION The Safety & Health / Construction


Workforce Development Link AGC Member Rosendin Electric Taps Technology to Train & Inform Workers, Improve Safety Industrywide


By Carol Eaton


few issues are as closely linked to that mission as the need to develop and train a skilled workforce. In California and across the nation, the shortage of skilled workers is a key issue facing contractors who struggle to keep pace with demand in a booming economy. According to a national commercial


W


construction outlook released on September 6, 2018 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and USG Corporation, contractors see a direct correlation between workforce shortages and the impact to worker


hen it comes to promoting health and safety in the construction industry,


and jobsite safety. In fact, the lack of skilled workers was the number one factor cited by 58 percent of those contractors as impacting jobsite safety risks. (Q3 2018 USG Corporation + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index.)


Managing Risk Te gap between a growing


construction market and a shortage of skilled workers means that today’s contractors are forced to do more with less. And along with that reality comes greater risk. To manage that risk, many successful contractors have focused on improving their safety culture. Tey are implementing strong jobsite safety programs and providing ongoing worker training and education, both internally and through the resources of AGC of California and other industry groups. Recently as part of AGC of


Rosendin workers view a tool demonstration video.


14 November/December 2018


California’s strategic realignment, the Safety & Health Council was brought under the purview of the Construction Education Foundation (CEF). Founded in 2000, CEF was created to develop and strengthen the profession- alism and effectiveness of individuals in the construction industry. Trough CEF, the Safety & Health Council continues to focus on improving the


health and safety of the construction industry by providing an array of educational services and programs and keeping members up to date on the latest regulations and trend impacting their companies.


An Innovative Approach to Safety


One AGC of California member


Marty Rouse, VP of Safety, Rosendin Electric


specialty contractor that is active in the Safety & Health Council and has been recognized for its innovative approach to safety is San Jose-based Rosendin Electric. Tis year, AGC of America awarded Rosendin Electric its Grand Award for the “Specialty Division, Over 3 Million Work Hours” category in the 2018 Construction Safety Excel- lence Awards competition. Rosendin Vice President of Safety


Marty Rouse manages the company's corporate safety program and has helped develop a number of innovative programs and approaches designed to improve their jobsite safety efforts and overall corporate safety culture. Te company has achieved bottom line results that include an incident rate well below the native average for an approximately 5,000 employee company. Looking at the biggest trends in


health and safety today, Rouse singled out the labor shortage as “what I see having the biggest impact right now” on the industry as a whole. “A lot of the baby boomers are


retiring, and folks are coming into the industry who may not have as much experience,” he said. “Our challenge is,


California Constructor


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