June Safety Stand Down a Resounding Success

On June 3, 2015 more than 3,000 construction workers across 100 jobsites around Chicago took a break from the hammering and drilling to Stand Down as a toolbox talk was hammered home.  The third annual construction industry Safety Stand Down coordinated and sponsored by the Builders Association proved to be another tremendous success. From Wrigley Field to Northwestern University, from Northwest Indiana to Lake Forest (along with several other Midwest region cities) the importance of not just acting safely on the job but PLANNING BEFOREHAND for safety was the topic of the day.

It is critical for all jobsite team members to "think about planning to be safe," and there is much more to that concept than meets the eye.  Dozens of safety directors and superintendents had their own way of delivering this message to their firms’ employees.  Builders Association Stand Downs reiterate the overall goal of having all workers return home to their families safely day in and day out.

The Builders Association provided Stand Down participants with curriculum materials and hard hat stickers, along with a memento hard hat for every company to display.  "Our Stand Downs’ successes are the result of our very dedicated Safety & Health Committee," said Dan McLaughlin, Executive Director.  "The safety professionals who sit on this committee coordinate our safety awards program, forums and training opportunities, and the Stand Down.  They are committed to safe practices throughout the industry for all companies."

We especially thank Dan Ruane of W.E. O’Neil Construction for his leadership and direction as Chairman of the Safety & Health Committee.  We also recognize committee members Nancy Bero, Oakwood Contractors; Shane Deaton, Henry Bros. Co.; Paul Flentge, Pepper Construction Co.; Bradley Hartmann, Red Angle; Bob Johnson, Bulley & Andrews; Luke Lukowicz, W.B. Olson, Inc.; Matt McKeon, The Hill Group; Mike Polacheck, The George Sollitt Construction Co.; Dennis Rumshas, McShane Construction; and Austin Stanton, Valenti Builders.

See which companies have participated to date.