Tentative Agenda is in Pacific Standard Time (PST)

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Registration

1:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Risk Management 101 for Construction Safety Professionals

Add-on Course (see Risk Management 101 tab)

The risk management and safety and health professions share the same goal of identifying potential risks and the appropriate measures to reduce loss. The need to effectively manage risks will continue to grow and become increasingly critical to an organization’s success. This course serves as an introduction for entry-level and experienced safety professionals interested in expanding their knowledge in risk management.

The course will cover construction insurance, workers’ compensation and claims management.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

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 and/or breakfast, and join us to learn more about AGC of America and the Construction Safety & Health Conference, including the history and structure of the conference, how to maximize your experience, and how to access resources.

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM

The Future of Safety & Health: Three Trends Shaping the Future of the Profession

Jason Kunz, CIH, CSP | Global Safety and Health Team + Culture Activation Lead | 3M

Unlock a journey into the future of safety and health as we unveil insights drawn from over 200 in-depth interviews and a decade of qualitative research. In this engaging and informative session, we will explore the dynamic landscape of the safety and health profession and reveal three transformative trends that are reshaping its trajectory. Join us as we move beyond the horizon of traditional practices and delve into the forces that will define the next era of safety, health, and well-being. With a unique vantage point, we’ll examine how emerging technologies, evolving work environments, and shifting societal paradigms are converging to create new opportunities and unique challenges. This session is your exclusive invitation to be at the forefront of change, armed with actionable insights, foresight, and specific knowledge that will equip you to shape the future of safety and health for your organization, while understanding what’s needed from you, now and moving forward to do just that.

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 J. Sullivan, Jr., Co-Chair, OSHA-Workplace Safety Practice, Cozen O’ Connor
John S. Ho, 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.

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM

Networking Break

Sponsored By:

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Mastering Deposition Strategies: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid

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 examine 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.

Elevating Jobsite Safety through AI-Powered Monitoring

John Marsha | Director, Security & Risk Management | EarthCam
Mike Fredebeil, CSP, Senior VP, Construction Safety and Risk Control Leader, WTW
Chad Hart, Corporate Safety Director, Choate Construction Company

EarthCam’s AI-powered cameras actively monitor construction sites, identify equipment, and advise on safety-related behavior. By providing real-time information, the service contributes to fostering a culture of safety and compliance on every project. This technology can also assist project team management with a wider view of risk, security, productivity, and potential property damage.

12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Networking Luncheon & CSPY Award Ceremony

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Networking Luncheon
12:30 PM – 12:50 PM CSPY Award Presentation
12:50 PM – 1:15 PM Networking Luncheon (continued)

Join us to celebrate the recipient of AGC’s and Milwaukee Tool’s 2024 Construction Safety Professional of the Year (CSPY) award. This award is presented to a safety and health professional who has led their company to achieving an exceptionally high degree of safety excellence. This individual has demonstrated technical expertise in the field of safety and health, contributed to the advancement of safety and health with innovative ideas, and shown leadership in establishing, maintaining, and implementing programs at the jobsite and among their direct reports.

Sponsored By:

1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Pillars of Safety Excellence

Jerry N. Shupe, CSP | Corporate Director of Safety and Health | Hensel Phelps

Hensel Phelps will share three pillars of safety excellence that have transformed their safety culture. This session will include a discussion of each pillar, supporting programs, and lessons learned.

2:15 PM – 2:45 PM

Networking Break & Visit with Exhibitors

Sponsored By:

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

Prevention through Design (PtD) in Practice – A Case Study

Dave Stanton, Construction Safety Manager, Port of Portland

The Port of Portland – the port authority responsible for overseeing the Portland International Airport and operating other transportation infrastructure in Portland, OR – was recognized in 2023 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) for their PtD efforts and successes during a $325 million project for five facilities at the Portland International Airport (PDX). This session will review the Port of Portland’s vision and execution of their PtD program for the project and how it led to both a safer project during construction and a safer facility to maintain and operate.

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Networking Break & Visit with Exhibitors

Sponsored By:

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Open Forum: Peer Review & Discussion

The Open Forum sessions provide an opportunity for open discussion on current issues, trends and best practices.

Chair: Tim Kuykendall, CHST, SVP & Senior Engagement Lead, Construction Loss Control, Marsh

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Utility Infrastructure and Highway & Transportation Joint Subcommittee Meeting

Click HERE to view the agenda.

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

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

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Department of Defense (DoD) Subcommittee Meeting

Click HERE to view the agenda.

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: Frank Wampol, Corporate VP Safety, B.L.Harbert International, LLC
Vice Chair: Tim Stout, Corporate Safety Director, Caddell Construction Co.

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Networking Reception

Sponsored By:

Thursday, January 11, 2024

7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Registration Open

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Breakfast

Sponsored By:

7:15 AM – 8:00 AM

Cal/OSHA Update

Steven P. Alvarado, Partner, Fisher Phillips

Join Steven for an informative session on the latest developments in California’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) regulations. He will provide an overview of current Cal/OSHA happenings and dive into a few key topic areas, including workplace violence and drug testing.

8:00 AM – 8:10 AM

Break

8:10 AM – 9:15 AM

Precision and Collaboration: A Result of Speak Up Culture

Dr. Rajni Walia, Vice President, DEKRA North America

When individuals collaborate, a natural interplay of team dynamics takes shape, influencing how they collectively achieve their goals. Some teams establish strong connections that effectively safeguard against significant errors, ensuring safety, quality, and timely performance. However, not all teams exhibit such cohesion. This session delves into the contrasting attributes of high-performing teams, both in project and office settings. It also delves into strategies to encourage open communication, guide us toward success, and steer clear of potential pitfalls. Drawing insights from current motivational science, psychology, and neuroscience, this session equips skilled crews and their leaders with tools to maintain precision and prevent critical errors. Throughout, practical examples from the construction industry will be shared to facilitate enriching discussions.

9:15 AM – 9:45 AM

Networking Break & Visit with Exhibitors

Sponsored By:

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Navigating the High Times

William J. Judge, JD, LL.M., Drug Screening Compliance Institute
Nick Hartman, Managing Partner, Consultant, Drug Screening Compliance Institute (DSCI)
Sammie Dabbs, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), Hound Labs, Inc.
Katie Mueller, Senior Program Manager III, Mobility Safety, Roadway, National Safety Council

The legalization of marijuana has wide-reaching implications on workplace safety. Historically, policies addressing marijuana use among employees were straightforward. Employers’ policies geared towards maintaining a drug-free workplace did not run afoul of state or federal laws. However, the potential passage of the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, at the federal level, as well as the existing recreational and medical marijuana laws at the state level has made enforcing such policies more challenging. Some states protect an employer’s right to maintain a marijuana-free workplace while others make it difficult to regulate employees’ marijuana use. Furthermore, while recreational marijuana is often compared to alcohol, assessing marijuana impairment is much more complicated because current testing only proves past use.

During this session, our dynamic panel of industry experts will address the confusion surrounding the legalization of marijuana, including testing for reasonable suspicion. This session will cover the following topics:

  • The current legal landscape of medical and recreational marijuana laws at the state and federal level
  • The reasonable suspicion “test” and how employers should approach employees suspected of being impaired
  • The future of drug testing for marijuana in the workplace
  • How employers are enforcing policies regarding marijuana use among their workforce and those of contractors

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM

Networking Break

Sponsored By:

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Transforming Safety in the Subcontractor Environment

Shelley Scalzo Brown | Corporate Safety Director | Bergelectric

The subcontractor environment is particularly challenging for making meaningful and sustainable improvements in safety, health and environment. This session will examine the forces working for and against subcontractors from workforce demographics and shortages, to managing relationships in integrated project/program management teams. The session will look at tools available to leaders to build safety organizations that can meet these challenges, identify the key activities subcontractors need to incentivize and measure, and processes that help progress safety results and culture.

Insights from a Safety Scientist

Reese Fortin | District HS&E Manager | Sundt

Discover the latest breakthroughs and invaluable insights shared by a master builder in the United States! This session will equip you with information on key safety innovations, lessons learned, and guidance on harnessing the power of data analytics.

12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Lunch & Learn: AGC Regulatory, Legislative, & Economic Update

Jim Young, Senior Director, Congressional Relations for Labor, HR, and Safety, AGC of America
Macrina Wilkins, Senior Data Analyst, AGC of America

Grab your lunch and join AGC’s Jim Young and Macrina Wilkins as they discuss the latest legislative and regulatory issues facing the construction industry, how they impact safety and health on construction sites, and review current economic conditions and related expectations for construction in 2024.

This session will begin promptly at 12:20 PM

Sponsored By:

1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Fit Clinic: Strategies for Assessing Personal Protective Equipment in Construction

Shari Franklin Smith | Lead Application Engineering Specialist – Construction | 3M

In July of 2023, OSHA provided a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the Construction personal protective equipment standard to specifically require that the equipment must fit properly. While the rule may be several months to years in the making, what can construction firms do now to help ensure that their workers have a properly fitting PPE? This interactive session on the Science of Fit, will help inform employers of the key considerations when choosing PPE for the diversity of people in today’s construction workforce and other industries. In this session, we will share recent innovations in PPE to help increase the range of comfort and options for fitting a variety of body shapes, strategies to help in PPE selection such as fit testing techniques for respirators, hearing protection and eye wear will be explored. Best practices techniques will be shared for proper selection, sizing and donning of fall protection systems.

2:15 PM – 2:45 PM

Networking Break & Visit with Exhibitors

Sponsored By:

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

Strategies for Managing Fleet Risk & Safety

Carl W. Heinlein, ARM, CSP, CRIS | Sr. Safety Consultant | American Contractors Insurance Group
Lindsay Hale, CRIS, Senior Underwriter | Casualty | Construction, Zurich
Mike Hill, SMS, CHST, Director, Corporate Safety, Performance Contracting, Inc. (PCI)

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most expensive causes of construction injuries. Incidents can happen at job sites, in transit to/from job sites, and can involve automobiles, trucks, and heavy equipment. Building upon the foundational understanding of risks and claims, this session will explore the elements that constitute an effective fleet risk management program. From driver training initiatives to the integration of cutting-edge technologies, discover how successful construction companies are leveraging proactive policies to enhance safety, reduce incidents, and improve overall fleet performance.

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Networking Break

Sponsored By:

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Government Subcommittee Meeting

Click HERE to view the agenda.

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

Emerging Safety Professionals Subcommittee Meeting

The Emerging Safety Professionals Subcommittee provides educational and networking opportunities for professionals new to the field or with a few years of experience. 

Chair: Matt Clarke, Safety Manager, TDIndustries

Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Forum

Click HERE to view the agenda.

The Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Forum provides a safe space where construction industry stakeholders can gather to share success stories, challenges, and seek/share resources and best practices.

Co-Chair: Mandi Kime, Safety Director, AGC of Washington
Co-Chair: Brandon Anderson, VP of Safety, AGC of Missouri

Open Forum: Peer Review & Discussion

The Open Forum sessions provide an opportunity for open discussion on current issues, trends and best practices.

Chair: Tim Kuykendall, CHST, SVP & Senior Engagement Lead, Construction Loss Control, Marsh

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 & Health Committee, 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:

Friday, January 12, 2024

7:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Registration Open

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Breakfast

Sponsored By:

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Five Components of Extraordinary Teams

Lee Rubin | Peak Performance and Teambuilding Expert

Machines are evaluated based on the output of the entire unit, not the impressiveness of their individual parts. Extraordinary teams, like great machines, require certain components that hold their pieces together. While most organizations focus exclusively on building the skills of their individual members, elite organizations invest in the “stuff” that transforms a collection of talented individuals into extraordinary, machine-like teams.

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM

Networking Break & Visit with Exhibitors

Sponsored By:

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Culture of Care: Safety’s Influence on Total Worker Health, DEI, and Psychological Safety

Tricia Kagerer CSP, CPCU, CRIS, Executive Vice President, Risk Management, Jordan Foster Construction

Chantel Gorton, PT, DPT, SCS, Physical Therapist, Work Right NW

Tricia and Chantel will collaborate and blend their expertise in construction safety and physical therapy/ergonomics to discuss how organizations can break down traditional silos and explore the intersection of DEI, Total Worker Health, and Culture of Care Initiatives. They will highlight how these elements are essential for creating a more innovative and inclusive approach to safety.

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM

Networking Break

Sponsored By:

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM

Impact of Management on Safety Outcomes in the Construction Industry

TJ Singh, CSP, ARM | Director, Safety & Risk Control | KHS&S Contractors

In the dynamic landscape of the construction industry, the interplay between effective management practices and safety outcomes is paramount. This session aims to dissect the multifaceted relationship between management decisions, organizational culture, and safety performance. Attendees will gain insights into the latest research, best practices, and case studies that illuminate the direct correlation between management choices and safety outcomes.

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Open Forum Discussion & Meeting Wrap-Up

1.7 IACET CEUs | The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.