State Fire Marshal’s Office Update

Louisiana State Fire Marshal UPDATE FIRE SAFETY IN THE CONSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENT BY: ASHLEY RODRIGUE, STATE FIRE MARSHAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR Whether putting a building up, taking it down, or making improvements, fire hazards exist. Following a recent reminder of this with a highly publicized construction site fire in New Orleans, Any temporary lighting setups should be the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) wants to installed and inspected by electrical professionals make sure the construction industry makes fire and disconnected at the end of each work day. safety a top priority. Also at the end of each work day, ensure the Fire safety starts with efforts toward fire entire site is secured, which includes equipment prevention. To prevent fires, you have to know and materials. Properly cleaned up and locked what are the most common causes of fires up construction sites prevent the area from being in your environment. In the construction targeted by criminals for unauthorized entry and environment, we know this to typically be when theft and potentially arson to cover up that theft. hot work is active, when cordless tools and other battery-run equipment are in use, when Having fire extinguishers available throughout temporary electrical and lighting are utilized your site is important to help limit any threat to and when sites are left unsecured and open to life or damage to property in the event a hazard arsonists. does become a fire emergency.

When hot work is underway, ensure flammable and combustible materials are far from the location of that hot work. That goes for above and below the hot work as well. Designate safe storage locations for these types of materials so they don’t get loose and end up in a hot work area. This last tip is especially important for incidents that could occur after everyone has left the work site for the day.

Rechargeable equipment may reduce the hazards from hot work, but they create another hazard of overheating. Ensure charging stations are outside of the construction site and contained in a safe space. It is critical for everyone on site to constantly be aware of these fire hazards and how to address them when discovered. That goes for the environment around you and the environments of others around you.

The SFM wants to help you ensure your construction sites are as safe as possible. We know many company mottos involve everyone going home safely, every day. We believe these simple fire safety practices can help guarantee that goal.

Thank you for being a fantastic partner in safety!

2021 Annual Sponsorship Benefits Program Strengthen Your Brand Invest in Your Assocation

Your Annual Sponsorship Includes:

• Investment in a better industry and business climate • Recognition in chapter office, training centers & events • Cost effective marketing/social media recognition • Reach target audience in quarterly newsletters • Admission to ABC Pelican Events (see below)

Contact Lindsey Russ at 225.753.2497 or lruss@abcpelican.com

Platinum Sponsorship $8,000 Investment

• 4 tickets per Merit Mixer • 1 team at the Spring Golf Tournament (4-man scramble) • 1 table at each ICC/Membership Breakfasts • 4 tickets per crawfish boil • 1 team at the SW Fishing Tournament (3 anglers) • 2 teams at the Fall Golf Classic (2-man scramble) • 1 team at the Annual Clay Shoot • 1/2 table at the Excellence In Construction (EIC) awards Gold Sponsorship $6,000 Investment

• 3 tickets per Merit Mixer • 1 team at the Spring Golf Tournament (4-man scramble) • 3 tickets for each ICC/Membership Breakfasts • 3 tickets per crawfish boil • 1 team at the SW Fishing Tournament (3 anglers) • 1 team at the Fall Golf Classic (2-man scramble) • 1 team at the Annual Clay Shoot • 3 tickets for the Excellence In Construction (EIC) awards

Silver Sponsorship $4,000 Investment

• 2 tickets per Merit Mixer • 1 team at the Spring Golf Tournament (4-man scramble) • 2 tickets for each ICC/Membership Breakfasts • 2 tickets per crawfish boil • 1 team at the SW Fishing Tournament (3 anglers) • 2 tickets for the Excellence In Construction (EIC) awards

Bronze Sponsorship $2,000 Investment

• 1 ticket per Merit Mixer • 1 ticket for each ICC/Membership Breakfasts • 1 ticket per crawfish boil • 1 team at the SW Fishing Tournament (3 anglers) • 1 ticket for the Excellence In Construction (EIC) awards

* All events and admission to events are subject to change * All Annual Sponsors have to register for events to claim their tickets/teams

LSU CM Team LSU CM PLACES THIRD IN NATIONAL COMPETITION

Each year the LSU Construction Management Department selects a team of qualified students to represent the ABC Pelican Chapter in the ABC Construction Management Competition at the annual ABC National Convention. The competition is based off of a real-life project in which each team is given the opportunity to “bid” the project. The competition includes all aspects of a real bid presentation – Estimate, Safety, Quality Control and Project Management.

Adam Burkhalter (co-captain)

John Davis

This year a team of twelve was selected in the fall of 2019 to participate in the 2020 competition which was set to take place March 24-26 in Nashville, TN. Six students were chosen to travel – four for the presentation round and two alternates. Common to many plans for 2020, the Convention was postponed in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 throughout the country. Although the Convention was postponed to August 17-19, the CM competition moved forward with Step 1 and 2 of the competition virtually. In March, The Top 10 teams were selected to move on to Step 3 of the competition at the new convention date in August.

We were proud to learn that the LSU CM team made the top 10 and were invited to compete in the live presentations in Nashville! However, yet again, COVID-19 caused a change of plans and the ABC National Convention was canceled. This meant the top 10 teams would now present live through the virtual platform, GoToMeeting, in an effort to maintain safety and slow the spread of the virus.

Rebecca Davis

Lindsey Harrell Will Gibson

Evan Hood

The team worked hard to prepare for the live presentation and teamed up with the ABC Pelican Young Professionals members to practice and receive feedback. The team met with the Young Professionals via GoToMeeting because this would be the platform used during the live presentations!

Two weeks prior to the live virtual presentations, Evan Hood had to step down and alternate, Kiersten Weidel, stepped up to take his place. The presenters – Annalise Rabito, Adam Burkhalter, John Davis and Kiersten Weidel gave an impressive presentation! Although the team did not make top 3 in any particular category, the team’s overall performance earned them Third Place Overall in the competition!!

ABC Pelican staff and members are proud of this team for all of their hard work and perseverance through the many challenges presented by the pandemic. Way to geaux team!

Annalise Rabito (team captain)

Corbett Russell

William Rosevally

Martin Sipiorski

ABC pelican turns 40 AND MANY MORE...

On September 16, 2020, the Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors turned 40 years old.

That’s FORTY years of the merit shop, networking, political advocacy, craft education, safety programs, and lots of fun memories for our members. For forty years, the industry’s fiercest competitors in 52 of the 64 parishes have gathered and coalesced for the common cause of the merit shop. For forty years, generations of craft professionals have perfected their craft in Baton Rouge and Westlake.

While our fortieth year did not go exactly as we planned (but honestly, did 2020 go according to anyone’s plan?), we are a strong and essential voice for a strong and essential industry in Louisiana and look forward to many more years of #ABCMeritShopProud.

We could not be more proud that ABC Pelican has strengthened the Merit Shop Construction Industry, advocated for principles of free enterprise, offered world-class safety programs, honored best-in-class construction projects, developed hundreds of future industry leaders, and educated thousands of craft professionals over the past four decades. Fulfilling our missions and visions is only possible because of our members, our extended family.

Thank you to every single past and present member for making this nothing short of a wonderful chapter.

Happy Birthday, ABC Pelican!

suicide prevention in the construction industry CONSTRUCTION SAFETY AND MENTAL WELL-BEING MUST GO HAND IN HAND BY: DAVID HELVESTON, PELICAN CHAPTER, ABC

Originally published in BIC Magazine, October 2020 2020 has been a challenging year for our nation and the construction industry. We’ve experienced a global pandemic with stay-at-home orders and governmentmandated closures of businesses, a collapse of oil prices and contraction of construction activity, record unemployment rates, and protests on racial inequities in our country, just to name a few. These are unprecedented and often stressful times. I’ve seen Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) member companies address the pandemic with a strong safety plan and procedures that prioritize their employees’ health. Yet as much as we prioritize the physical health and safety of our employees and coworkers, the time is long overdue for us to expand that safety focus to include mental health. With a suicide rate that is four times greater than the national average, the construction industry is facing an enormous crisis. Let’s look at some of the reasons why more construction workers die by suicide each day than by all other workplace-related fatalities combined: •Statistically, male-dominated occupations tend to have more suicides. The tough, feelingless stereotype of construction workers can dissuade those who are at risk from speaking up and seeking help. This industry also employs many veterans, who are at a greater risk of taking their own lives than nonveterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. •Construction projects have a beginning and an end. Moving from one jobsite to another can create new and uncertain environments, which could make workers feel disconnected from family and friends. •Construction work can be exhausting because of the physical demands. Coupling physical labor with long or inconsistent hours can create sleep deprivation and mental exhaustion, which can contribute to mental instability, chronic pain or the inclination to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. •Layoffs can be part of the nature of an occupation in construction. Outside circumstances like seasonal work and economic shifts can increase uncertainties around income and job stability. Whatever our role in construction, we have a responsibility and a calling to value and uphold the mental wellbeing of the employees and colleagues around us. Lowering the terrible statistics around suicide in construction starts with understanding the warning signs and proactively doing something about those signs. We must understand what

we can do to build up these at-risk individuals. •If you’re a manager, supervisor, or any position of leadership in your company, have an open-door policy. Change your mindset and view asking for help as courageous, not disgraceful. Advocate for comprehensive mental health and suicide prevention polices in your company. Try to keep crews together that consistently work together so that they can build strong relationships.

•Get to know your coworkers and employees by building a trusting relationship. Each one of us is more than a name and a skill set, who have a story, families, goals and unique personalities. Effort to understand the types of lives they live outside of the workplace community.

•Communicate, communicate, communicate. Ensure employees and coworkers understand how you and your company prioritize mental wellbeing and suicide prevention. Give colleagues and employees the space to open up during a time and place that’s comfortable for them.

•Raise awareness by educating colleagues and coworker to recognize signs of mental distress.

As ABC Members, safety is in the very DNA of who we are as individuals, employees, citizens, family members and friends. If safety is a motto we profess in life and on the job, then mental health must be one of the key safety initiatives that we focus on. We must talk about how to prevent suicide, learn the warning signs and understand how to help employees, colleagues and coworkers strengthen their mental wellbeing and esteem their own lives as priceless and invaluable. For educational resources on or ways to get involved in suicide prevention in the construction industry, visit preventconstructionsuicide.com.