• Safety Session
• Environmental Session
• General Session
Monday, July 24, 2023
1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Risk Management 201 for Construction Safety Professionals
Add-on Course (see Special Events tab)
An increasing number of construction safety and health professionals are tasked with risk management within their organizations. As this trend continues, so does the need for these professionals to better understand a broader scope of risk exposures and their potential impact on construction firms.
This course builds on the Risk Management 101 for Construction Safety Professionals and covers more advanced topics, such as lines of insurance coverage for contractors, subcontractor prequalification, and the project review process. You will learn about what actions contractors can take that will influence your insurance rates. The course will have three table-top exercises to allow participants to roll their sleeves up to get a full understanding of claims, who are all the parties involved in a claim, and what is your role when it comes to claims reviews.
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Registration Open
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast
Sponsored by:
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
First-Time Attendee Orientation
First-time attendees – welcome! Grab your badge, breakfast, and join us to learn more about AGC of America and the Construction Safety, Health & Environmental Conference, including the history and structure of the conference, how to make the most of it, and how to access resources.
8:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Emerging Landscape of Substance Misuse in the Workplace: Are you Prepared?
Richard Jones, Chief Clinical Officer, Youturn Health
This presentation will explore substance use and misuse trends affecting the workplace and look closely at the entire spectrum of substance use and recovery. Recovery is an evolving experience that is unique to each individual, and the recovery journey is a process of continuous adjustment. Understanding the journey can improve outcomes and provide better support for employees.
Education is key. Intervening upstream, early, and expanding prevention efforts must be part of the solution to help address the devastating impact that substance use problems have on employees, their family members, and the employers themselves.
State of Play: Regulatory Environment Related to Climate Change
Alex Gorelik, Associate Attorney, Smith Currie & Hancock LLP
Contractor Representative (Invited)
President Biden’s all of government approach to climate change has resulted in sustainability requirements and proposed environmental regulations from some unexpected places. The speakers will lay a foundation for the day’s discussions with an update on what’s going on (and where). With a special focus on how this could impact contractors so your company can plan ahead.
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
Networking Break & Visit with Exhibitors
Sponsored by:
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM
State of Play: Federal OSHA Update
James Sullivan, Co-Chair, OSHA Workplace Safety Practice, Cozen O’Connor
What does your future to-do list look like? This far-ranging session will provide you with a picture of the regulatory landscape. Find out recent developments you may have missed as well as what is ahead at the federal level.
Climate Reporting Means and Methods for Contractors
Members of the AGC Task Force on Decarbonization and Climate Reporting
Join us for a discussion with the AGC member task force looking at construction-related carbon emissions and reporting. Learn about common elements to consider when reporting and information you should start collecting now. Hear case studies on how other construction firms are approaching their emissions and data.
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Networking Break
Sponsored by:
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Understanding Key Performance Indicators to Improve Your Safety Program
Frank Baxter, Director of Loss Prevention Construction Risk Partners
Tom Madden, Sr. Loss Prevention Manager, Construction Risk Partners
Many companies collect and track safety related data and metrics, such as observations from jobsite inspections or injury statistics associated with projects. But are you are collecting the right information? Do you have the means to easily gather this information? Are your efforts in tracking this information ultimately helping to drive change or motivate better performance in your organization? Are you able to present this data in a way that Senior Leadership will take notice and use it in their planning or budgeting?
In this session, we will discuss concepts associated to your organization’s Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) related specifically to safety and risk. Overall, we should be able to establish effective measures that cut the complexity associated with performance tracking and focus on the ‘key’ indicators that will help to improve your performance.
The Voice of Safety
Stuart Farquharson, Co-Founder – Managing Director, RiskTalk
Shawn Werner, CHST, Health, Safety, and Environment Concrete Group Manager, Sundt Construction
The use of voice technology in safety started approximately 8 years ago when workers on the ground pleaded to talk through their risk management process instead of having to write them out. I am not talking simply about voice to text – which is commonly thought of when people mention voice technology – however, I am talking about true voice capture and analytics.
This allows workers to have their heads up, use Shisa Kanko (Japanese philosophy of point and call) and have a genuine conversation about how they will complete their work in a safe manner. It also enables our workers to use one of the oldest forms of risk management which is story telling.
In Australia we have local Aboriginal companies that use voice technology to manage risks through their desired platform of storytelling. Sundt in the US are enjoying the use of voice technology app, RiskTalk, by allowing multiple languages to be spoken for their huddles and live oversight and analysis from anywhere in the country.
When we communicate verbally with others, we are constantly encoding new information in our memories. For example, when we hear or are part of a conversation, we are processing and storing the information presented. The act of speaking also helps to encode information, as the process of organizing and verbalizing. Voice technology enables our workers to verbalize their experiences of the past and transfer information onto inexperienced personnel.
What we do know is that workers much prefer talking than writing or typing, they love to be heard by all levels of management and they make far better, actionable decisions when risk managing with voice technology.
Making the Business Case for Decarbonization
Joe Rozza, Chief Sustainability Officer, Ryan Companies
Myrrh Caplan, National Head of Sustainable Building, Skanska USA Building
Are you asking the following questions: What direction are others in the industry taking sustainability in general? When a client says they want lower carbon materials or a low/zero carbon jobsite, how do we define it and take action? How can reducing carbon emissions be a net-positive for our company and brand? Building on the previous session’s discussion about construction-related carbon emissions, this session will talk about practical operational and project changes that can lead to economic as well as environmental benefits, while meeting and exceeding the changing aspirations of clients.
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Lunch & Learn: AGC Regulatory and Legislative Update
12:30 PM – 1:10 PM
Jim Young, Senior Director, Congressional Relations for Labor, HR, and Safety, AGC of America
Alex Etchen, Senior Director, Congressional Relations, Infrastructure, AGC of America
The ever-changing political landscape has implications on environment, labor and employment matters. Learn more about how it will impact the construction industry and what other challenges we can anticipate going forward. Grab your lunch and listen to how AGC of America is positioning the industry for opportunities to thrive and how it’s defending the industry from onerous regulatory and legislative threats.
Sponsored by:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Leading Health & Safety in the Digital Era
Karl Simons OBE, Chief Futurist & Advisor to the Prime Ministers Cabinet Office, UK Government
The fast evolving digital landscape means smart organizations are looking to evolve their working practices to reflect the changes within society.
There are a number of reasons for understanding the need to switch to a digital twin of the working environment for example environmental preservation, productivity gains, improved quality control, etc.
An easy tangible example is the use of digital tools at the disposal of the public. The real time capturing by members of the public means they have the power to share poor standards or issues immediately through placing them into the public domain creating an ever increasing threat to the sustainability and reputation of organizations. Companies that employ large bodies of fieldworkers need to be increasingly alive to this change as the need for high levels of compliance in operational environments on public view requires the creation of cultures that embrace expected standards and adopt usable systems that impact behavior whilst providing effective management oversight and governance.
Karl Simons OBE is a Chartered Health & Safety Practitioner and Advisor to the British Government and will speak on how progressive organizations are embedding leading initiatives that are centered around a series of specific digital areas:
- Artificial Intelligence Systems using NLP, Imagery Analysis, and reasoning engines presently being utilized in Health & Safety field force operations
- Psychologically affecting workforce behavior through real time risk visualization that enables targeted risk interventions
- Predictive Analytics in Health & Safety systems that are integrated into the operating models of business solutions
The Building Blocks of EPDs
Heather Dylla, VP Sustainability and Innovation, Construction Partners
Ilima Alexander, Sustainability Engineer, The Lane Construction Corporation
Public and private owners are increasingly requiring contractors to gather and compare Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for key construction materials used on the project. It’s not just a green buildings concern; horizontal projects are starting to see requirements, too. What are EPDs? Where can you find them? What steps do you need to take to develop one for your batch plants or other materials-based operations at your company?
2:15 PM – 2:45 PM
Networking Break & Visit With Exhibitors
Sponsored by:
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Evidence in Safety-Related Legal Proceedings
Travis Livermore, J.D., CSP, Attorney, Sheehy, Ware, Pappas, & Grubbs P.C.
This presentation will explore how documents and other evidence may be used in legal proceedings following safety-related incidents, along with why evidence may or may not be admissible. It will help safety and other company professionals understand how documents their company maintains can impact the company’s liability. It will explore how safety or other company professionals may be used as fact or expert witnesses in legal proceedings and what they can expect depending on the context.
Tools & Tech Highlights: Improve Sustainability Metrics – Part 1
Steven Burke, Director of Sustainability, Consigli Construction
Katie Poss, Program Manager of Procurement and Policy, Building Transparency
Explore two tools that can help contractors improve their performance related to sustainability and carbon reductions on jobsites. Contractor’s Commitment to Sustainable Building Practices identifies several areas where contractors could modify their practices to obtain results in several metrics such as energy and water use. The Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) provides a tool for contractors and others to find and compare lower embodied carbon materials.
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Networking Break
Sponsored by:
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Department of Defense (DoD) Subcommittee Meeting
The Department of Defense (DoD) Subcommittee maintains a working relationship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) and U.S. Air Force (USAF) as it pertains to Construction Occupational Safety and Health issues. The DoD Subcommittee provides DoD entities with a partnership that can be used as a sounding board and one that represents the AGC DoD Contractor members. Services include, but are not limited to, reviewing safety and health proposed regulations, forms, policies and programs that affect the AGC Membership. The DoD Subcommittee also provides subcommittee members with continuing education related to construction occupational safety and health on DoD construction projects. Interpretations, variances, and accident trends are all considered topics of discussion.
Chair: Kevin Moorhead, Safety Director, The Korte Company
Vice Chair: T.J. Emma, Director of Operations, Frost & Keeling
Vice Chair: Tim Stout, Corporate Safety Director, Caddell Construction
Utility Infrastructure and Highway & Transportation Joint Subcommittee Meeting
Utility Infrastructure Subcommittee
The Utility Infrastructure Subcommittee actively monitors industry trends and promotes safety and support to contractors engaged in utility construction, including water and wastewater facilities and pipelines, energy generation and transmission, and telecommunications infrastructure. The subcommittee also focuses on safety issues in other underground utility work as well as specialty work such as excavation, tunneling, boring and site preparation.
Chair: Kathy Freeman, Executive Vice President, Safety, MCG Civil
Vice Chair: Kevin Turner, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives, Inc. (IEA)
Highway & Transportation Subcommittee
The Highway and Transportation Subcommittee actively monitors and promotes work zone safety and safety concerns for contractors involved in building, maintaining, and improving transportation infrastructure.
Chair: Doug Donegan, Group Safety Director, Granite
Vice Chair: Jaime Castillo, Corporate Safety Director at Mountain States Constructors Inc
Open Forum: Peer Review & Discussion
The Open Forum sessions provide an opportunity for open discussion on current issues, trends and practices.
Chair: Tim Kuykendall, Corporate Safety Director, The Beck Group
Tools & Tech Highlights: Improve Sustainability Metrics – Part 2 (and Discussion)
Tommy Linstroth, CEO, Green Badger
Continue to hear about new tools for improving sustainability. Hear about Green Badger’s construction ESG (environment, social, and governance) software that helps benchmark, track and report sustainability metrics. Part 2 includes a special time set aside for open discussion about tools your peers are using. Participants at prior open discussion sessions have walked away with loads of peer-to-peer recommendations for new technologies to try.
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Welcome Reception
Sponsored by:
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Registration Open
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast
Sponsored by:
8:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Deposition Do’s and Don’ts
Scott Sears, Director of Safety and Loss Control, Walker Engineering
Steve Hawkins, Chief Operating Officer, FDRsafety, LLC
Howard A. Mavity, Attorney at Law, Fisher & Phillips LLP
After a serious incident on a construction jobsite there will most likely be a lawsuit. In an attempt to settle the lawsuit there will be a deposition. A deposition is the pre-trial taking of sworn testimony outside of the courtroom about the facts related to a case. This is an opportunity for both parties to meet and ask questions of the opposing side, obtaining answers and statements relevant to the case.
If you have ever been deposed and even if you haven’t, this is a very stressful situation for all involved. This session will re-enact what it is like to be a Defendant in a deposition. We will discuss preparation, proceedings, and the Do’s and Don’ts during a deposition.
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
Networking Break & Visit With Exhibitors
Sponsored by:
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
In-House Environmental Managers Meeting
Add-on Course (see Special Events tab)
AGC is pleased to offer a series of roundtable discussions exclusively for in-house environmental managers at general construction firms.
The discussions are highly interactive and intended for environmental managers at general construction firms, though, participants’ job titles could be project managers, sustainability managers or risk managers. This meeting is not open to outside industry consultants, though they are welcome and encouraged to register for the FULL Construction Safety, Health & Environmental Conference or the Climate & Sustainability Track ONLY.
AGC will poll participants in advance of the meeting to identify the topics and discussion leaders. Although highly educational, there are no formal presentations. The meeting is meant to foster peer-to-peer learning and discussion of the unique opportunities, situations and challenges for environmental professionals working “in-house” at a construction firm.
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM
Brain Health in Corporate America
Dr. Sara Whedon, Brain Health Expert, Axiom Wellness
One aspect on the topic of mental, emotional, and physical health within corporate America not being addressed is brain health, specifically how being aware of how to nurture it in employee’s work and personal lives gives them access to be the best version of themselves. Successful implementation of brain health practices leads to happier employees who in turn are more productive at work and experience higher levels of life satisfaction overall. Dr. Whedon will cover the Triple A Wellness Diagnostic Model, underutilized progressive health modalities related to stress, and how to recognize and respond to the “Conveyor-Belt Mentality.”
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Networking Break
Sponsored by:
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Safety and Productivity Through Effective Training Practices
Michael Lee Evans, Talent Training, Milwaukee Tool
Safety is our top priority. Focused and effective training reduces lost days on the job while increasing productivity. Jobs get done faster and better when the right tools are used correctly. Cost is reduced as tools last longer through proper use.
In this session, you will take actionable steps to make our jobsites safer and more productive, reducing cost and increasing profit.
How to Significantly Reduce the Risk of Catastrophic Claims using Remote Video Coaching
Adam Aronson, CEO, Arrowsight, Inc.
Seth Randall, CSP, CHST, Regional Safety Director, Infrastructure Group, Clark Construction Group
This session will include two case studies of how Arrowsight’s Remote Video Coaching used by great construction teams in both civil and vertical construction has resulted in a ~50% reduction in overall claims and even larger percentage reductions in catastrophic claims. In addition to demonstrating actual coaching videos from various Arrowsight clients around the country, Clark Construction will present a case study on the early successes they have had using Remote Video Coaching on a large building site in Virginia.
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Lunch & Learn: AGC Construction Economic Update
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Macrina Wilkins, Senior Data Analyst, AGC of America
What should you expect in the next several months? AGC’s Macrina Wilkins will present the latest evidence, along with her own predictions.
Sponsored by:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Transforming Pre-Task Planning: Introducing the First AI-Powered Assistant for Daily Planners
Barry Nelson, CEO and President, FactorLab
Jamie Dabbs, Vice President, Safety, Health & Environmental, TDIndustries
The daily pre-task plan, JHA or toolbox talk is the cornerstone of effective communication within construction teams. The purpose of this critical activity is to ensure clear understanding of work steps, hazards, and controls before starting each work day. Despite their importance, a recent audit of over 500,000 written daily plans revealed that many of these documents were incomplete, pencil-whipped, copied, or unrelated to the work being performed.
Join this interactive session to hear how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way we approach daily planning. In this session, Barry Nelson at FactorLab will introduce the first AI-powered assistant for daily planners. Our discussion will delve into the ways this innovative tool can equip foremen in drafting comprehensive and accurate pre-task plans, and offer a seamless and efficient solution that can significantly enhance construction site safety. We will demonstrate the capabilities of our AI assistant and discuss how it can benefit contractors, especially those with limited safety budgets and resources.
2:15 PM – 2:45 PM
Networking Break & Visit With Exhibitors
Sponsored by:
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Crisis Communications – Planning, Preparing, and Responding
Chris Martin, President, Atlas Marketing
Communicating during a crisis offers opportunities for safety professionals to strengthen corporate reputation and media relationships. During this session, audience members will learn from Chris Martin, president of Atlas Marketing, the process needed in crisis communications development, how to assign team responsibility in advance of a crisis, and what to expect during a crisis from a media and company perspective. This guidance is applicable to a variety of communications situations ranging from office, interpersonal communications, and the job site.
Participants will have the opportunity to hear and discuss case studies related to fatalities, cybersecurity breaches, active shooter/hostage situations, and more.
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Networking Break
Sponsored by:
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Government Subcommittee Meeting
The Government Subcommittee reviews and keeps abreast of the latest regulatory and legislative activity on both the national and local levels. Although there is a specific emphasis on national/federal activities, through member and chapter safety professionals’ involvement, state/local issues will also be discussed. The Government Subcommittee also encompasses the Silica and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Task Forces which meet to discuss issues respective to each area/topic.
Chair: Jim Goss, Safety Consultant, HCSS
Vice Chair: John Isham, Senior Director, Safety and Health, UECI
Vice Chair: Adam Stone, Director of HS&E, IEA Constructors
Session Title: OSHA Directorate of Construction Update
Description: This session will review 2021 enforcement trends and statistics for construction, discuss the latest developments at OSHA and how those developments impact the construction industry, and discuss what to expect at OSHA over the next several months.
Speaker: Scott Ketcham, CSP, Director, Directorate of Construction, OSHA, U.S. DOL
Emerging Safety Professionals Subcommittee Meeting
The Emerging Safety Professionals Subcommittee promotes professional development with the primary focus on developing and implementing a mentoring program for new safety and health professionals.
Chair: Matt Clarke, Safety Manager, TDIndustries
Session Title: How to Communicate: Taking a Genuine Safety Culture Approach
Description: As Safety Professionals preparing to enter an industry, it is vital that your communication is paramount. Learning to communicate and how to manage the conversation(s), is key to becoming successful in a craft-based industry. We will discuss challenges, failures, successes and recommendations for how you can walk into this industry, and be as successful as possible, from day one.
Speaker: Sean M. Blakemore, CSP, CHST, Regional Safety Manager, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.
Open Forum: Peer Review & Discussion
The Open Forum sessions provide an opportunity for open discussion on current issues, trends and practices.
Chair: Tim Kuykendall, Corporate Safety Director, The Beck Group
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Attendee Debrief
AGC of America takes the personal and professional development of our attendees seriously. Whether you are a first-time or a regular attendee, we want to hear about your experiences over the last two days – what worked for you and what didn’t? Please join us for this informal gathering moderated by members of the safety and health steering committees, the group that curates the lineup of educational and networking opportunities available to you at the conference.
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Beer & Wine Social
Sponsored by:
Thursday, July 27, 2023
7:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Registration Open
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast
Sponsored by:
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Environmental Committee Meeting
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Balancing Safety and Outsourcing: Pros and Cons of Third-Party Contractor Prequalification
John Marsicano, Senior Director of SDI Claims and Financial Advisory Services, WTW
In today’s construction industry, ensuring a safe working environment is paramount to the success and well-being of all stakeholders involved. This session will provide valuable insights and practical guidance for construction industry professionals, safety managers, project managers, and anyone involved in the contractor prequalification process. It will delve into contractor prequalification with a specific focus on safety. We will explore the best practices and strategies to effectively prequalify contractors, emphasizing the importance of rigorous safety standards. We will examine the challenges and potential pitfalls of contractor prequalification processes related to safety, along with practical solutions to overcome them. By strengthening safety through effective prequalification, we can create safer work environments and mitigate risks in construction projects.
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Networking Break & Visit with Exhibitors
Sponsored by:
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
The Shift to Helmets from Hardhats
Justin Azbill, Director – National EHS, Milwaukee Tool
Devan Corum, Regional Sales Manager, KASK America
Dr. Michael Bottlang, Director, R&D, WaveCel, LLC
Rob McKinney, Director of Safety Services, AGC Georgia
Based on research findings, it has been established that the incidence of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) is highest among construction workers compared to other occupational groups. The study revealed that between 2003 and 2010, over 2,200 construction workers lost their lives due to TBIs, with most of these fatalities resulting from falls. These significant findings, combined with personal experiences, have led to an increasing number of construction companies reevaluating their current policies regarding personal protective equipment (PPE). As a result, there is a growing trend among these firms to mandate the use of helmets for all workers on construction sites. This session will unpack the science behind TBIs, the differences between Type I & Type II hardhats versus helmets, and the pros/cons in new helmet designs.
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Networking Break
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Prepare the Perfect Rollout for EHS Construction Solutions
Chelsea Lindberg, Safety Operations Manager, Shawmut Design and Construction
Alissa Lackey, Safety Technology Lead, DPR Construction
James Alexander, CHST, CSP, Head of Safety Technology, HammerTech
Dylan Hipple, CHST, CSP, Customer Success Manager and Safety Professional, HammerTech
Join industry experts from Shawmut Design and Construction, CRB and RQ Construction who will give you the inside scoop on preparing implementation plans, getting buy-in for change, and running successful implementation for EHS Technology. With the right plan and stakeholders, EHS experts across construction are reducing documentation delays and saving teams time for everyone including subcontractors while ultimately making jobsite safer. Better yet, they see return on the time and resource invested in change - sooner.
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Open Forum Discussion & Meeting Wrap-Up
IACET CEUs The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has been accredited as an Accredited Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). In obtaining this accreditation, AGC has demonstrated that it complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard which is recognized internationally as a standard of good practice. As a result of their Accredited Provider status, AGC is authorized to offer IACET CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard.
All individuals who register for or attend this event, by virtue of their registration or attendance, agree to the Code of Conduct, Image Release, and Event Cancellation policies posted here. If you have questions, please contact meetings@agc.org.