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
7:30 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.
Jason Kunz, CIH, CSP
With over a decade of experience with the 3M company in a variety of technical and leadership roles, Jason Kunz demonstrates his passion for the safety and health profession across multiple platforms. A forward-thinker, with the objective to elevate the safety, health and well-being of all workers, Jason uses his voice to amplify the profession and the professional. His life journey, blessings, and struggles have inspired a commitment to building professional communities that ensure an empowerment of their people. Jason is a husband, co-founder, speaker, and community advocate. He’s a CIH and CSP, but mostly grateful to have a J-O-B and work with some of the most passionate and compassionate people on the planet. Married since 2019, Jason and his wife Malia recently welcomed their first child (Revel Malosi) and call Minneapolis-Saint Paul home.
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.
James J. Sullivan, Jr
Prior to re-joining Cozen O’ Connor in 2021, Jim served as the chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Jim was first appointed by President Trump to fill the remaining portion of a vacancy on the commission in May 2017 and was later appointed by the president as chairman of the agency and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July 2019. As chairman, Jim was in charge of an independent, quasi-judicial federal agency that is not part of OSHA or the U.S. Department of Labor and conducts trials and appeals over litigation brought by the U.S. Department of Labor against employers. During Jim’s tenure on the commission, he participated in several landmark decisions including cases involving OSHA’s Process Safety Management Standard and OSHA’s use of the statute’s “General Duty Clause” in prosecuting cases against employers involving workplace violence, heat stress, and other workplace hazards.
Prior to his service with the commission, Jim had a distinguished career in private practice for nearly four decades in labor and employment and workplace safety and health law working with clients in a wide range of industries. From 2000 to 2003, Jim served as vice-president of labor and employment law and deputy general counsel for Comcast. During that time he also served as the corporation’s chief spokesperson at collective bargaining negotiations with the Teamsters, Electrical Workers, and Communication Workers’ unions.
Jim advises clients on high stakes matters before all three branches of government, including regulatory and enforcement matters and litigation involving several administrative agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and various state OSHA offices in cases involving significant citations and litigation as well as the National Labor Relations Board and numerous state and federal courts. He has extensive experience representing employers in union-related matters, including unfair labor practice proceedings, collective bargaining negotiations, grievance/arbitration hearings, and union representation matters.
Jim has significant experience in construction labor matters and has represented members of both Associated General Contractors and Associated Builders and Contractors in unfair labor practice litigation, as well as matters involving multi-employer pension and health and welfare funds and before state regulatory agencies. He has served as national labor and employment counsel for wide range of clients in the transportation/warehousing, steel manufacturing, and health care industries and is recognized as one of the leading authorities in occupational safety and health matters. He is the former management chair of the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Committee of the Labor and Employment Law Section.
Jim is a frequent speaker on workplace safety and health matters, and he has spoken before such organizations as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, Associated General Contractors, Inc., and various other employer trade associations.
John S. Ho
John exclusively represents employers in all labor and employment matters and regularly handles wage and hour matters involving federal and state laws, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, the New York Labor Law, New York’s Miscellaneous Industries Wage Order, and New York’s Hospitality Wage Order, which includes numerous cases involving New York’s Wage Theft Prevention Act, tip credits and pooling, deduction from wages, and regular rate issues. John also routinely works with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, in addition to handling Title VII discrimination and retaliation claims, ADA public accommodation and website accommodation cases, drafting employee handbook policies and executive employment contracts, non-competes, and conducting workplace harassment and discrimination investigations.
John has defended a wide range of employers against hybrid class and collective actions under the FLSA and the New York Labor Law with exemption misclassification and off-the-clock claims. He also frequently assists companies with internal wage and hour audits, as well as Department of Labor audits, including those generated by the misclassification of independent contractors. John also has extensive experience with assisting businesses with internal safety and health audits, responding to OSHA and state-sponsored OSHA complaints of workplace safety and health and retaliation, hazard alert letters, and resolving and contesting OSHA citations, including but not limited to fatality investigations as well as defending against claims of retaliation under various OSHA statutes and New York’s Workers’ Compensation Law. John also routinely appears before the EEOC, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the New York City Commission on Human Rights, and the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. In addition, John regularly assists businesses with audits New York State Unemployment Insurance audits.
As a former trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor, John prosecuted numerous FLSA and OSHA cases and was part of a litigation team that recovered approximately $4 million under the FLSA on behalf of New York State Environmental Conservation Officers. While at the Department of Labor, he also received a commendation from OSHA’s regional administrator for his prosecution of a discrimination complaint under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act.
John serves as the co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s OSHA-Workplace Safety Practice and is also the author of its safety and health blog, the OSHA Chronicle.
John is a founding member of the Wage and Hour Defense Institute, and he frequently lectures on FLSA, OSHA, and Labor Department audits. He has also taught business and employment law at the Pratt Institute and the New School.
John writes extensively on labor and employment law. He served as the co-editor of the American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section (Section) electronic newsletter from 2015-2019 and is the former vice-chair of the Member Engagement Committee of the section. He was a contributing editor to The Fair Labor Standards Act, 2002-2005, Cumulative Supplement, published by BNA Books, and has served on its editorial board since 2006. John is also a chapter editor for the Occupational Safety and Health Law, Fourth Edition published by the ABA and Bloomberg Law.
John is frequently asked to comment on labor and employment issues and has been quoted extensively in the Long Island Business News, Bloomberg Law, the San Francisco Chronicle, SHRM, CNBC, MSNBC, Forbes, Newsday, the Daily Labor Report, and Employment 360 and has been published in the New York Journal and USA Today (the magazine), among other publications. John has been named a New York Metro Super Lawyer since 2013 and Best Lawyers in America since 2019. John has also appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box and been interviewed by several news stations, including PIX11 and NPR’s Marketplace Morning Report.
John is also a frequent panelist and contributor on OSHA and Wage and Hour issues before the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, New York City Bar Association, Practicing Law Institute, LawLine, and EHS Today.
John is active in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. He served on the board of the Connecticut Asian American Bar Association for over a decade and is currently the management vice-chair of the ABA, Labor and Employment Section, Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession Committee. He is also serving as the employer co-chair for the ABA’s 17th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion track and will continue to co-chair that track in 2024. John is the co-chair of the firm’s Asian Attorney Resource Group and a member of the firm’s Diversity Committee.
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.
Howard A. Mavity
Howard Mavity is a partner in the firm’s Atlanta office. He founded and is the former co-chair of the firm’s Workplace Safety and Catastrophe Management Practice Group.
He draws upon his past business experience in transportation, logistics, construction, and industrial supply to work with clients as a business partner and focuses on eliminating employee problems by commonsense management.
Howard has provided counsel for over 225 occasions of union activity, guided unionized companies, and has managed approximately 550 OSHA fatality cases in construction and general industry, ranging from dust explosions to building collapses, in virtually every state.
He has coordinated complex inspections involving multi-employer sites, corporate-wide compliance, and issues involving criminal referral. Howard is active in rulemaking and dealings with federal and state Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other agencies.
Steve Hawkins
Steve Hawkins is currently the Chief Operating Officer of FDR Safety LLC. He began his employment with FDR in March of 2020. Steve previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development and as the Assistant Commissioner for Tennessee OSHA for seven years.
In his role as Deputy Commissioner, he managed Tennessee OSHA, the state Unemployment Insurance System, and the Workplace Regulation and Compliance Division.
Prior to joining FDR Safety, he began his career with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development in 1986 as an Occupational Safety Specialist in TN OSHA. He was promoted to area office Safety Supervisor, Safety Compliance Manager, Assistant Administrator, Assistant Commissioner, and most recently, Deputy Commissioner of the department.
Steve served as the department’s representative to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the Tennessee Emergency Response Commission. He is a member of the following councils and committees: Tennessee Blasting Advisory Council, Tennessee Associated Builders and Contractors Safety Advisory Committee, Associated General Contractors Safety Committee, and the Tennessee Road Builders Association Safety Committee.
Steve is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Safety and Health Conference.
Steve graduated from the College of Engineering at Tennessee Technological University in 1986 with a BS in Industrial Technology. In 2016, he was recognized by the university as the Technologist of Distinction and was admitted to the Academy of Renaissance Engineering. He is also a member of the Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Advisory board at the university.
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.
Lisa Capicik, CSP, CHST, CCHM
Lisa Capicik has worked in various safety and health capacities in the construction industry over her 30+ year career. Ms. Capicik’ s primary goals are to bridge the technical requirements of safety with sustainable and real improvements to organizational teams to meet best practice standards. Lisa co-contributes in the AIHA Focus Four for Health in Construction publication and co-authors the Silica Matrix design, published by the Georgia Tech OTI Program outlining silica exposures in the construction industry and various other industry related articles on silica and heat exposures. She also develops training curriculum, implements and monitors compliance requirements on multiple high-visibility construction projects including the 2017 completion of SunTrust Park. She also an active fundraising board member with both the Kids Chance of Georgia and Kids Chance of America organizations.
John Marsha
John Marsha has worked over his 30+ year career in safety consulting, obtaining his OSHA 30 for Construction along with being a licensed property and casualty insurance broker for two of the world’s leading firms prior to joining EarthCam for the last 3 years in his current role.
John manages EarthCam’s security solutions and risk management business unit including insurance partners. John’s role and objective is to leverage EarthCam’s technology to improve worker safety, site security and the risk profile of project sites.
Mike Fredebeil, CSP
Mike is the North American Director of Construction Risk Control for the Willis Towers Watson Construction Practice. Mike provides technical support and thought leadership to our 11,000 Construction Clients and our network of 38 full time Construction Safety Professionals across North America.
Mike has over 30 years of experience in construction safety. Prior to joining Willis in 2005 he was a senior construction technical consultant and manager with Liberty Mutual.
Mike is 100% dedicated to Construction Industry Safety Management and is passionate about understanding the ever-changing construction environment through extensive best practice networking with some of the largest and brightest contractors in North America.
Mike’s primary responsibilities include safety management and risk control solutions for Client owners, senior managers, risk managers, safety directors and human resource professionals. Supporting Clients and Willis Towers Watson construction teams with risk assessments and potential coverage gaps. Manage national carrier risk control service issues, and the quality of carrier resources. Provides Client technical support for marketing and renewal underwriting risk control issues. Develop tools to showcase Client Safety management systems to increase insurability in the eyes of the underwriter. Communicate best in class safety management systems, strategies and new products. Provide unbiased advice on products and systems under consideration.
Mike graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a BS in the school of engineering. Mike has been a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) in good standing since 1991. He is also a professional member of the American Society of Safety Engineers – Georgia chapter.
Chad Hart
Chad Hart, with over 37 years of experience in the construction industry, serves as the Corporate Safety Director for Choate Construction Company. His primary mission is to support the project team in crafting and overseeing the Safety and Health Management Processes which aim to keep entire project teams safe throughout the construction process. Chad is dedicated to the elimination of workplace injuries and illnesses.
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.
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.
Jerry N. Shupe, CSP
Jerry Shupe is the Chief Health and Safety Officer for Hensel Phelps which specializes in building development, construction, and facility services. He graduated from Montana Tech with a degree in Occupational Safety and Health, is a Certified Safety Professional, and has more than twenty-two years’ experience in the industry.
Jerry serves on the Industry Advisory Board for Montana Tech’s Safety and Health Program and is involved in key industry groups including the Construction Safety Research Alliance, the National Construction Safety Executives, and is an Ambassador for the AGC of America’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force. He has served on the Executive Industry Advisory Board for Central Washington University’s Safety and Health Management Program and the American Society of Safety Professional’s Construction Practice Specialty.
During Jerry’s career, he has been recognized as the Safety Professional of the Year by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of California, received the prestigious Award of Excellence from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, and presented the Alumni Recognition Award from Montana Tech.
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.
Dave Stanton, Construction Safety Manager, Port of Portland
David Stanton is the Construction Safety Manager for the Port of Portland, responsible for conducting contractor safety oversight of the $3 billion dollar Capital Improvement construction program currently underway at the Portland International Airport. Focus areas include ensuring protection of contractor and airport employees, members of the public and protection of Port infrastructure, while working to maintain the reputation of Portland as the Best Airport in the Nation. David has led the effort in integrating Safety Leading Indicators into the contractor selection process and is the recipient of the 2023 National Safety Council Prevention through Design award for the recently completed $268 million dollar rental car center and parking facility construction project.
Prior to joining the Port of Portland, David retired from a 40 year career with the US Army Corps of Engineers. During that time, he served as a Safety Manager for various Corps Districts to include the Middle East, Puerto Rico, Europe, Afghanistan, and Portland, Oregon. He was the Corps Subject Matter Expert for fall protection, and the primary author, integrating the ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code into the current Corps of Engineers Safety and Health Manual (EM 385-1-1).
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.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Registration Open
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.
Steve Alvarado
Steve Alvarado represents employers in a variety of labor and employment matters. He also has substantial experience representing employers in administrative litigation involving both Cal/OSHA and OSHA. He has advised employers facing willful and serious citations resulting from catastrophic events leading to fatalities with significant penalties. His practice includes investigating significant workplace incidents, managing OSHA inspections, contesting OSHA citations, and defending employers in OSHA enforcement actions. Steve is licensed to practice in California.
Steve has litigation experience in a variety of employment-related matters in both state and federal courts, arbitration forums, in addition to experience in state and federal administrative agencies such as the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and others. Steve represents and counsels employers on various employment-related matters, including, but not limited to, discrimination, unlawful harassment, wrongful termination, unfair business practices, wage and hour class and PAGA actions and compliance with COVID-19 related laws and regulations.
In law school, Steve graduated in the top of his class and was an Articles Editor for the Chapman Law Review. He also served as an extern for the Honorable Andrew J. Guilford of the U.S. District Court, Central District of California in Santa Ana.
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.
Dr. Rajni Walia, Vice President, DEKRA North America
“My aim is to help create safer workplaces so that individuals worldwide can get home to their loved
ones every working day of their career.”
Rajni Walia is a highly sought-after thought leader with over a decade of experience leading performance management, organizational assessment and development, as well as providing human error-reduction consultations. Her methods foster strong performance reliability through a systemic approach to designing and enhancing workplaces and processes, all deeply embedded in applied neuroscience.
At DEKRA, Rajni is the practice leader of the Serious Injury and Fatality Prevention™ Services and helped create the DEKRA SIF prevention model that focuses on exposure-reduction teams and human-performance principles.
In addition, she played a major role in the launch of DEKRA’s SIF Potential Indicator, a diagnostic tool that reduces subjectivity and simplifies the process of identifying SIF potential at the point-of-incident data entry.
Rajni’s clients benefit from her extensive experience in bringing about sustainable safety improvement through leadership development and operational reliability analyses, using applied and embedded knowledge of the brain. Her areas of expertise include extensive knowledge of neuroscience, fatigue-risk management, high-reliability organizational strategies, business development, individual and organizational assessments, data
analysis, and management of complex projects.
Before DEKRA, Rajni was a principal consultant at a major consultancy firm, There, she focused on driving sustainable improvements and advancing process sustainability, with a focus on brain-centered solutions. She was instrumental in developing best practices for mental health awareness, employee well-being, workforce engagement, and change management. She also designed and delivered surveys and training programs to enhance
client operations across all organizational levels within the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Africa.
What drives Rajni is the conviction that through the identification of needs and solutions founded in scientific research, clients can reduce the likelihood of human-performance errors that can negatively impact the health and safety of workers.
She has written for several notable publications, including the Journal of Hospital Medicine, the International Public Health Journal, the Journal of Extra Corporeal Technology, the Journal for Healthcare Quality and for Gerontology & Geriatrics Education and Research Program.
Rajni holds a doctorate in applied organizational psychology from Hofstra University. She earned her master’s in industrial/organizational psychology from St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas, and her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington. Rajni lives in Dallas with her husband and two daughters. When she isn’t working, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
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
William J. Judge JD, LL.M.
Bill is an attorney with over 35 years of experience in the workplace drug and alcohol testing industry. He is the Co-Founder of Drug Screening Compliance Institute (DSCI) focusing on state, federal and subject-specific compliance research, policy development and review, training, education and litigation support.
Bill is a past Co-Chairman of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce Drug-Free Workplace Program, a 10-year member of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) MRO Faculty, a past advisor to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) MRO Committee, A 5-year participant in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Regional Student Drug Testing Summits, and a participant in the 1988 White House Conference for a Drug Free America.
Bill has been involved in many workplace drug testing court cases at all levels, including the 1989 United States Supreme Court ‘Skinner’ decision. Bill co-founded Info-Lab, Inc. and managed Workplace Health Co-Op, a substance abuse program administrator. During his tenure with Info-Lab the group co-owned and operated Info-Meth, an HHS-certified laboratory located in Peoria, IL.
Bill has edited and written numerous articles and publications and regularly shares his industry expertise & thought leadership at several local, regional and national speaking events.
Bill resides outside Chicago.
Sammie Dabbs
Sammie Dabbs is an energizing sales leader who drives multimillion-dollar revenue through partnerships with enterprise-level organizations across multiple industries. As the Executive Vice President of Sales at Hound Labs, Sammie leads a team that effectively partners with clients to solve critical challenges related to balancing workplace safety with fairness.
With a dozen years of experience building solutions within employment screening programs for Fortune 500 clients, and as President for the Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association (SAPAA) board of directors and previous board member of the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA), Sammie is an established leading drug testing solutions expert. Sammie earned her MBA from the University of Redlands and studied communications and journalism at Cal State Fullerton, where she played four years of NCAA Division I softball.
Katie Mueller
Katie Mueller has worked for 15 years in health communications, injury prevention programs and policy. In her role at NSC, she is a member of the roadway practice area and manages programs to better understand and address roadway mobility issues.
As a fatality car crash survivor herself, Katie is passionate about safety in transportation. Prior to joining NSC, she led the program management section at the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, developing and executing the State’s highway safety plan. In this role, Katie worked extensively with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Oklahoma State Department of Health and Oklahoma State Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services on policy and programs to reduce the incidence of injury and death in motor vehicle crashes.
Katie spent time leading injury prevention programs at The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center and Oklahoma’s Safe Kids Coalition. Here she managed funding and developed programming to reduce the incidence of unintentional injuries to children. She specialized in hospital policy development and staff training. Katie also lobbied the Oklahoma legislature to improve laws in order to prevent injuries to children. During this time, Oklahoma became the first state to require children to ride in a rear-facing car seat until the age of 2 years old.
As a native Oklahoman, Katie is interested in Tribal/State relations, working alongside Oklahoma’s 38 nationally recognized Native American tribes to improve health outcomes for Oklahoma’s native and non-native populations. Katie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications from Rogers State University. She is a nationally certified child passenger safety technician instructor. She resides in Yukon, Oklahoma, with her two boys.
Nick Hartman
Nick is an Accredited Drug Screening Industry Consultant and advisor who has built, implemented, and managed drug-free workplace programs for thousands of employers across the U.S. and abroad for more than 17 years.
The Drug Screening Compliance Institute (DSCI) focuses on state, federal, case law, and subject-specific compliance research, policy, training, education, litigation support, research, and consulting.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Transforming Safety in the Subcontractor Environment
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.
Shelley Scalzo Brown
Shelley Scalzo Brown has over 20 years of experience as a safety professional working in construction and engineering. She has provided support to private companies and government agencies in preparing and responding to new and unexpected challenges. She provides leadership and technical SH&E support to management teams on SH&E, optimizing programs and results.
Shelley has been a Certified Safety Professional since 2012. She has a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of San Diego, and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from San Diego State University. Currently she is a member of AGC America’s DEI Committee. She has previously served on the National Safety Council’s Board of Directors, as a Campbell Award reviewer, Chair of NSC’s Women’s Caucus, and Chair ASSP’s Young Professional Common Interest Group’s Professional Development Committee. Shelley is a recipient of NSC’s 2010 Rising Star of Safety Award and ASSP’s 2015 Safety Professional of the Year, YP-CIG.
She has published two papers on environmental health issues in the San Diego region and has contributed to Safety and Health Magazine and NSC’s Safety First Blog.
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.
Reese Fortin
Since graduating from Fresno State in 2007 with a bachelor’s in safety, Reese Fortin has dedicated her career to engaging, mentoring, and inspiring people to truly value safety. Her diverse experience spans several industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and construction. She has lead dozens of safety professionals and hundreds of construction projects from California to Texas.
Currently, she guides teams constructing building projects in the southwest region and is a key player in managing corporate safety policies and initiatives for Sundt Construction where she has been a proud employee owner for over five years. In 2023, she became an industry partner with the Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA) at Colorado University, Boulder. Her work with CSRA involves a two-year-research project on construction safety culture.
Reese holds numerous credentials from BCSP (CSP, ASP, CHST, STSC), is a long-time member of the American Society of Safety Professionals and is an active participant in national and local AGC safety programs. In fact, she is the acting chairwoman of the Arizona Construction Safety Council (AGC & ABA). She was also recognized in 2020 as a Top Young Professional (20 under 40) by ENR.
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
Jim Young
Mr. James Young is the Senior Director of Congressional Relations for Labor, HR and Safety for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). In this role, he works directly with members of the U.S. Congress, AGC members and press on a multitude of issues that directly affect the construction industry. Previously, Mr. Young worked for Direct Impact, the preeminent grassroots firm in Washington and Democracy Data and Communications which provides a comprehensive array of grassroots and political action solutions. Mr. Young began his career on Capitol Hill working for Congressman Benjamin Gilman (NY).
James holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the College of Charleston, Charleston, SC.
Macrina Wilkins
Macrina Wilkins works as senior research analyst for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the leading trade association for the construction industry. She analyzes industry trends and compiles data products on the construction, labor, spending and material markets. Ms. Wilkins graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. degree in human development and is currently pursuing a B.A. degree in economics at George Mason University. She is a member of the National Association of Business Economists and National Economist Club.
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.
Shari Franklin Smith, CIH, CSP
Shari Franklin Smith, CIH, CSP has 20+ years of experience helping to keep workers healthy and safe. She has worked with protective clothing including high visibility safety apparel and protective coveralls, and 9+ years of experience managing an organization of safety and health professionals supporting 3M’s PPE products such as hearing and respiratory protection, protective clothing, and fall protection and 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material. She has been involved with human factors research in visibility protective clothing and hearing conservation. She is the Vice Chair of the AIHA Construction Committee. Shari is currently supporting the health and safety needs for the construction and the food and beverage industry. She has helped several companies implement hearing protection fit testing, hosted multiple health and safety symposiums for the chemical, food and construction industries, and spoken on emerging health and safety concerns such as COVID-19, walking working surfaces, dropped objects, manganese hazards in welding, and changing regulations such as silica and beryllium.
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.
Carl W. Heinlein, ARM, CSP, CRIS
Carl Heinlein joined American Contractors Insurance Group (ACIG) in February 2002, where he contributes to the successful safety initiatives of multiple construction clients. Prior to this, Mr. Heinlein worked as the Director of Construction Services for FDR Safety. He is also the past National Safety & Health Director for the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America.
Mr. Heinlein holds a Master’s degree in Safety & Environmental Management from West Virginia University and the ARM, CIT, CSHM, CSP, OHST and STSC safety, health, environmental and risk management credentials.
Mr. Heinlein volunteers his time as a member of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Construction Sector. He also sits on the editorial advisory board for Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) magazine. Mr. Heinlein served as National Director-At-Large for the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) from 2017 to 2020, and is a past President of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). Mr. Heinlein was awarded the BCSP’s Certified Safety Professional 2019 Award of Excellence. Mr. Heinlein’s leadership skills are sought in his field; he is the past Chair of the West Virginia University’s Safety Management Graduate Program Visiting Committee and serves on the advisory committee for the Keene State University Safety Program. He is also an instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an advisor to the University of Fredericton Safety Department.
Mike Hill, SMS, CHST
Mike Hill, the Director of Corporate Safety for Performance Contracting Group, brings over two decades of invaluable experience to the construction industry. Over the course of his dynamic career, Mike has seamlessly transitioned through various operational roles, including Project Engineer, Project Manager, and Estimator.
With a steadfast commitment to safety, Mike has emerged as a prominent figure in the construction industry. His dedication to creating secure work environments is evident through his pursuit of professional certifications, holding both the Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) and Safety Management Supervisor (SMS) designations from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.
For the past eighteen years, Mike has been an integral part of Performance Contracting Group, contributing his expertise to both the Operations and Safety facets of the business. His passion for safety and leadership extends beyond the workplace, making him an active member of several local and national organizations.
Mike is affiliated with esteemed bodies such as the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), National Insulation Association (NIA), Association of Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI), and the Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA) in collaboration with the University of Colorado Boulder.
In his current roles, Mike serves as the Co-Chairman for the Safety Health and Environmental Committee at the Midwest Insulation Contractors Association (MICA), Chairman of the Safety and Health Committee at the National Insulation Association (NIA), and Chairman for the Construction and Utilities Division of the National Safety Council (NSC).
Beyond his professional commitments, Mike finds joy in spending quality time with his wife and two daughters. His diverse interests include coaching softball, enjoying lakeside activities, and contributing as a USA Swim Official. Mike Hill embodies the fusion of dedication to safety, professional leadership, and a rich personal life.
Lindsay Hale, CRIS
Lindsay Hale joined Zurich Insurance in 2022 as a Senior Construction Underwriter, but her love affair with Construction Specialty began when Travelers Insurance hired her as a Construction Claims Adjuster in 2007. In that role, Lindsay had the opportunity to assess and responsibly handle complex large loss construction bodily injury and physical damage claims, most of which were litigated. She partnered with contractors, attorneys, and risk engineers alike in order to arrive at the best possible outcome.
In keeping with her affinity for construction, the transition from claims to underwriting was a seamless one. She finds it fulfilling to be able to use what she learned in claims management to protect contractors before the claim occurs with appropriate insurance coverage and contractual risk transfer techniques (who doesn’t love a good contract?). Lindsay holds a Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designation, and is blessed with a busy family life filled with a wonderful husband and four awesome children that keep her on her toes.
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.
Friday, January 12, 2024
7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Registration Open
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.
Lee Rubin
For twenty years, Lee Rubin has been building high performance teams in both corporate America and the collegiate and professional sports world, setting the foundational cornerstone for a leadership and culture-building mindset focusing on the key components that create extraordinary teams.
This strong core foundation was instilled early in Lee’s life as he held the position of captain of the Penn State football team, and later went on to serve as a Human Resource Executive building senior leadership teams for some of the countries’ most prominent corporations which have become dominate leaders in their industries.
Lee has emerged as one of the most engaging and sought-after voices across the country with his unique ability to understand and articulate winning principles with tremendous clarity and practical application on team building, leadership, and peak performance.
Lee has collaborated with and taken the stage for leading Fortune 500 Companies, like Johnson & Johnson, Sony, and JP Morgan, to name a few, as well as collegiate and professional sports teams and organizations across the country.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications, with a minor in Business from Penn State University. Rubin received a full athletic scholarship to play football for the Nittany Lions. Lee was a three-year starting free safety, the 1994 Florida Citrus Bowl Defensive MVP, and an All-Big Ten Conference selection and an Honorable Mention All-American.
Lee was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in Central New Jersey. Lee and his lovely wife, Carmen, have been blessed with two beautiful daughters.
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Culture of Care: Safety’s Influence on Total Worker Health, DEI, and Psychological Safety
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.
Tricia Kagerer CSP, CPCU, CRIS
Ms. Kagerer leads the risk management, safety, and leadership teams at Jordan Foster Construction and is a construction industry expert and speaker on various leadership, risk management, and safety topics, including crisis management, emergency response best practices, education across cultures, and servant leadership and diversity. She received the highest honors in her industry, including the 2020 IRMI Bill McIntyre Leadership Award and the Board Certified Safety Professional Award of Excellence.
She holds a master’s degree in dispute resolution from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, a bachelor of science degree in business administration and a bachelor of arts degree in communication-public relations from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.
Her professional credentials include Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Certified Safety Professional, Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist certification, Associate in Risk Management, Associate in Claims Management, and licensed Texas claims representative and commercial agent.
Chantel Gorton, PT, DPT, SCS
Dr. Chantel Gorton, PT, DPT, SCS is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Injury Prevention Specialist, and corporate team member of Work Right NW. Chantel understands the challenges associated with an injured workforce from the perspective of a clinician in managing the healing process as well as from the management side such as claims costs and organizational inefficiencies. Chantel has worked as an Injury Prevention Specialist as well as managed injury prevention services in a variety of industries including: Manufacturing, Construction, Healthcare, and Food & Beverage.
Chantel has a Bachelors of Science degree, a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, and holds a board certification in sports medicine. She is passionate about education and provides continuing education to the rehab professional, teaches a leadership course developing future injury prevention specialist leaders, develops training for the workforce targeting injury prevention, and builds programs empowering all to be leaders in safety.
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.
TJ Singh
With over 15 years of experience in occupational safety and health, TJ brings a diverse background to his role as Director of Safety & Risk Control at KHS&S Contractors Inc.
TJ holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from California State University, Fullerton. He maintains a certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and holds an ARM designation.
Prior to joining KHS&S, TJ held positions in human resources, accounting, and operations at various organizations. This varied experience allows him to understand safety issues from operational, financial and people perspectives to develop innovative, multifaceted solutions.
As Director of Safety & Risk Control, TJ oversees KHS&S’ comprehensive safety management system, ensures regulatory compliance across all projects, and provides strategic direction to achieve world-class safety performance.
TJ enjoys sharing his expertise and exchanging ideas with others in the safety field. In his role, he is dedicated to continually advancing KHS&S’ safety culture through leadership training, risk analysis and use of emerging technology.
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.