Last week, DCA held its 22^nd Annual Governor’s Safety Awards Dinner. The work of the construction industry can often place our employees in physically risky situations. It is just the nature of the work we do but that risk can be mitigated through education and safety training. It is chief among DCA’s mission to ensure our members have the best support to guarantee their workforce is highly trained in all aspects of workplace safety whether it be on a job site, in the shop or in an office.

Not all applicants receive the Governor’s Safety Award. We owe a special thanks to Brian Phillips of Willis, Towers Watson and Jim Ruggiero of EDIS for critically examining the applicants. It is in recognition of the importance of safety that DCA takes an evening each year to celebrate those members who have demonstrated an exemplary safety record. This year we recognized 19 of our contractor members who have been successful in executing best practices.

RECIPIENTS OF THE 2022 GOVERNOR’S

SAFETY AWARDS

GENERAL BUILDING

BPGS Construction, LLC

EDiS Company

Gbuild Construction Managers

IMC Construction

The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

Wohlsen Construction Company

HEAVY/HIGHWAY

Eastern Highway Specialists

George & Lynch, Inc.

Greggo & Ferrara, Inc.

Richard E. Pierson Construction Co., Inc.

SPECIALTY/SUBCONTRACTOR

Active Crane Rentals, Inc.

Peter D. Furness Electric Co., Inc.

GFP Cement Contractors LLC

I.D. Griffith, Inc.

Hatzel and Buehler, Inc.

ModernControls, Inc.

Patriot Insulation Contractors

J.F. Sobieski Mechanical Contractors, Inc.

Wayman Fire Protection, Inc.

Hopefully, you know from other articles in the Punchlist and several Ask the Experts, DCA focuses on all aspects of the construction workforce’s health and safety. We continue to be a leader in the fight against opioid addiction in the industry. Another aspect of our workforce’s health and safety, and in ways one related to opioid use, is the high rate of suicide in the industry. Past President, Brian DiSabatino, EDIS, dedicates a tremendous amount of energy to raising awareness regarding resources to reduce the likelihood of a person attempting suicide in the general population. He is, however, particularly focused on the suicide risks associated with our veterans and construction workers. Brian took advantage of May as Mental Health Awareness month to keep the issue of construction’s high rate of suicide, compared to other industries, in front of us. If you haven’t already read Brian’s article Suicide in the Construction Industry: It’s Time to Break the Stigma, I highly recommend you give it a read.

Celebrating the success of our members safety records is part us remaining ever vigilant to the risks of the construction industry and the role we play in keeping our workforce safe. Congratulations to this year’s winners and thank you for demonstrating the health, welfare and safety of your workers is your priority.