A Word From AGCVA Chair, Don Sproul

Summer – it tends to bring to mind a slower pace, relaxation, and a change in routine. For that reason, the observance of National Safety Month in June is a great reminder that no matter the season or what is going on around us, safety is the top priority.

As AGCVA members, you have many resources available to you because of your membership. How many of the resources below are you utilizing? How many are the members of your team utilizing? I would challenge you to start a conversation within your organization, build awareness of what AGCVA offers to keep you and your team safe, and engage with these resources at every opportunity. 

ADVOCATE
AGCVA’s advocacy work is done not only at the General Assembly and with legislators but extends to the regulatory arena as well. Kelly Bundy (Hirschler) represents you on the state Safety & Health Codes Board, which is run through the Department of Labor & Industry. This board serves to protect the occupational safety and health of employees in Virginia, and Kelly advocates on behalf of the construction industry in her role on the board.

GROW
The Virginia BEST Program, which stands for Building Excellence in Safety, Health, and Training, recognizes companies with exemplary best practices, compliance efforts, and accident prevention on construction worksites. This program is a strategic partnership between AGCVA and the Department of Labor and Industry’s Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) program – and, is therefore, only available to AGCVA members. To achieve Virginia BEST recognition, a company commits to an extensive process of safety work, including mentorship. AGCVA is honored to be part of this program, and we are so proud of the 10 companies who have achieved recognition. If you are not familiar with this program, or if you are interested in learning more about how to get started, I encourage you to visit www.agcva.org/virginiabest.

Additionally, if you’re looking to improve your team’s safety knowledge, AGCVA can help. Did you know that through AGCVA’s partnership with ClickSafety, you have access online safety training?  Because you are a member, you and your team can learn and earn CEUs in a way that is convenient and accessible – all at a 10% discount. Get started on AGCVA’s website today.

An often-missed aspect of safety is actually a critical element. Your company culture is foundational to building a safe workplace and jobsite. Culture of Care offers a wealth of resources, no matter where you are in the process of building your company culture. I encourage you to explore this website and take advantage of all it has to offer.

CONNECT
AGCVA’s Safety Roundtable is a community of safety professionals who connect virtually each quarter, learning about the latest in safety resources and best practices, and sharing information with one another. Since there are no trade secrets when it comes to safety, this group willingly shares in order to benefit our member community as a whole. The group most recently participated in a discussion about Technology in Construction, led by Tommy Gay of Southern Air. You can view this conversation and those before it here – just log in to the website to view them. If you’re interested in taking part in this group, contact Courtney Baker, AGCVA’s Director of Workforce & Training.

Safety is everyone’s job, and AGCVA is committed to providing you with the resources you need to help your team return safely to their family every day. The need for safety never ends, and we can always improve. I encourage you to leverage all that our association has to offer as we work together to keep one another safe and build a reputation of safety and excellence for our industry as a whole.