MENTAL HE ALTH


Q&A with ISEC’s Mario Noriega, AGC-CA Safety Professional of the Year


De-Stigmatizing Mental Health to Improve Jobsite Safety


BY CAROL EATON N


ot too long ago, mental health was a topic that was rarely dis- cussed on construction job-


sites. The stigma associated with mental health-related struggles didn’t square with the traditional view of an industry that has long valued physical strength, toughness, and stoicism in its workforce. But not talking about or addressing


such struggles contributed to an un- enviable metric for the construction industry over the years. It became an occupational leader in the percentage of workers suffering from substance use disorders, drug overdoses and suicide rates—statistics that vastly outpaced the general population, according to studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and others. Many in construction are now waking up to a stark reality: mental health is a


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CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR MAY/JUNE 2025


fundamental safety issue that must be addressed on jobsites, just as clearly as fall hazards, struck by, electrocutions, or caught-in or caught-between—the “fatal four” leading causes of construction accidents and deaths according to the Occupational Safety and Health Admin- istration (OSHA). A growing number of companies are working to raise awareness on the issue, partnering with professional groups and trade associations like AGC of California, AGC of America and the National Safety Council, among others, to turn the tide. On March 27, 2025, AGC of Califor- nia-member firm ISEC Inc. elevated the topic of mental health front and center by holding its first in-person Mental Health Stand-down at its Los Angeles Interna- tional Airport (LAX) jobsite. An estimated 50 field workers and others attended the event, which included a hosted lunch.


Initiated by ISEC Senior Vice President


Keith Mohr and other company leaders and supported by LAWA (the governing body of LAX) and general contractor W.E. O’Neill, the stand-down featured informative presentations by keynote speakers from the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) as well as from AGC of California’s Brian Mello, vice president, member services, and Tresten Keys, safety & regulatory manager. Tere was also time allotted for discussion and sharing among attendees. Mario Noriega, ISEC Safety Manager


and the recipient of AGC of California’s 2025 Harry Epstein Safety Professional of the Year award, collaborated with ISEC Director of Safety Glenn Davis and others to put together the agenda for the stand- down event to ensure it was a success. For Noriega, the industry’s growing focus on addressing mental health as


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