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Builders Should Treat Mental Health and Substance Abuse as Safety Issues

Every week during National Safety Month, NAHB and other partners will focus on a different aspect of jobsite safety. This week is mental health and substance abuse.

Everyone agrees that substance abuse carries a very real safety issue on jobsites. But how should you address an employee or contractor that you suspect is impaired? And is your goal to treat them and have them return to work safely as soon as possible?

Top 10 Reasons To Do Business With An Active Associate Member

1. They support the industry at the local, state and national levels.

2. They volunteer time, talent and treasure to help the association accomplish its goals.

3. They recruit their colleagues and business contacts to become members.

Lisa Hudson NMLS 664126

850-436-7842 lisahudson@synovus.com

Tracey McClurd NMLS 664145 850-436-6538 traceymcclurd@synovus.com

Charles Thomas NMLS 938537 850-436-7831 charlesdthomas@synovus.com

Karen S. Welch

NMLS 594834

850-994-2503 karenwelch@synovus.com

Rhonda Holl NMLS 437030

850-837-6525 rhondaholl@synovus.com

NAHB has numerous resources that can help identify and address substance abuse issues and create a path for return to work, including resources for tackling Opioids in the Home Building Industry and a video toolbox talk on Substance Misuse.

Mental health issues may not be considered a safety concern, but workers who are distracted by or fatigued due to their mental health circumstances may pose a real danger to themselves and others on jobsites.

Although mental health is a tricky issue for many, the most powerful and direct first step to addressing them with a worker is a simple, “How are you doing?” When someone knows they are supported, seeking professional help is much easier.

NAHB also has resources to help home builders navigate these tricky conversations. Check out the various resources on the Mental Health and Wellbeing page, and watch the video toolbox talk on Mental Health, also embedded below.

It can be difficult to talk about mental health and substance abuse, but in an era of labor shortages and heightened stress, it’s a business necessity to keep workers safe and on the job.

4. They serve on committees and councils gaining valuable networking opportunity while helping to advance the association’s mission.

5. By doing so, you increase the value proposition for all membership in our HBA.

6. They are strong supporters of local and state PACs and BUILD-PAC.

7. They are a major source of non-dues revenue through sponsorships, advertising, etc.

8. As industry partners, they are a valuable resource for business and management tips.

9. They are heavily invested in your business success: You win, they win!

10. Why wouldn’t you do business with a member?

NAHB Chairman Alicia Huey issued a letter this week to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) requesting them to finalize a revised regulatory definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) that clarifies the limits of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (CWA) consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court’s holdings in Sackett v. EPA.

“Since the Sackett decision was announced on May 25, 2023, the Corps headquarters has placed a nationwide freeze on processing requests for approved jurisdictional determinations (AJDs) under the CWA 404 federal wetland permitting program,” Chairman Huey stated in her letter, “Last week, the agencies announced the current nationwide halt on AJDs would remain in place until the agencies propose a revised WOTUS sometime prior to Sept. 1,

2023. Halting AJDs leads to permitting delays and places another barrier on the nation’s home builders’ ability to provide safe, decent and affordable housing.”

With no post-Sackett interpretive guidance more than a month following the SCOTUS decision, home builders and developers face three options:

• Attempt to determine whether their activities require a CWA Section 404 wetlands permit and risk subsequent CWA enforcement action if they interpret Sackett differently than the federal regulators.

• Accept a preliminary jurisdictional determination (PJD), allowing federal regulators to assume that the wetlands or water features on or near the property are jurisdictional in order to process requested CWA Section 404 permits.

• Wait until the agencies figure how to address Sackett to take action.

“These options are extremely frustrating and costly to the U.S. home building industry, and none is appropriate or acceptable,” Huey noted.

The agencies intend to make changes to the 2023 revised definition of WOTUS consistent with the Sackett ruling and issue a direct final rule by Sept. 1, 2023.

But, as Huey stated, “Land acquisition, permit processing and home building cannot be paused until Sept. 1; we desperately need interim guidance from the agencies now.” NAHB supports the agencies’ plan to promulgate a new WOTUS regulatory definition consistent with Sackett, but there is an immediate need for interim regulatory guidance to lift the nationwide suspension of issuing AJDs and provide affected landowners, including home builders, certainty over whether their lands may be subject to CWA jurisdiction. For more information, visit nahb.org.

New Members

Spike Credit: Amir Fooladi, Encore Homes

Rebol Battle & Associates (Engineers/Surveyors)

Jason R. Rebol - Managing Partner 2301 N. 9th Ave. Pensacola, FL 32503 p (850) 438-0400

Spike

Spike Credit: Amir Fooladi, Encore Home

In construction, a spike is a steel object that is essential to making a building strong. As in construction, the HBA of West Florida sees a Spike as someone that works to keep our association strong. Spikes work on the recruitment and retention of members in addition to keeping members active with the association. Anyone is eligible for Spike status. On Spike credit is awarded for each new member recruited and an additional credit is awarded for that new member’s renewal on or before their anniversary date. If you help to retain a member, you are eligible to receive a half point for each member.

Spike Club Levels

Spike Candidate 1-5 credits

Blue Spike 6-24

Life Spike 25-49

Green Spike 50-99

Red Spike 100-149

Royal Spike 150-249

Super Spike 250-499

Statesman Spike 500-999

Grand Spike 1000-1499

All-Time Big Spike 1500+

Spike Club Members and their credits as of 05/31/2023.

Statesman Spike 500 Credits

Harold Logan 525

Super Spike 250 Credits

Rod Hurston 431.5

Jack McCombs 303.5

Royal Spike 150 Credits

Rick Sprague 209.5

Edwin Henry 201

William “Billy” Moore 184

Bob Boccanfuso 165.5

Red Spike 100 Credits

Charlie Rotenberry 150

Oliver Gore 114.5

Ron Tuttle 109.5

Ricky Wiggins 101.5

Green Spike 50 Credits

Newman Rodgers IV 100.5

David Holcomb 99

Doug Sprague 90.5

Kenneth Ellzey, Sr. 80.5

Russ Parris 73.5

Paul Stanley 68.5

Blaine Flynn 68

Bob Price, Jr. 60

Thomas Westerheim 57.5

Darrell Gooden 52.5

Bill Daniel 51.5

Wilma Shortall 50.5

John Hattaway 50

Life Spike 25 Credits

Doug Whitfield 42.5

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Advertiser’s Index

Alpha Closets

Lorie Reed 16 Martin Rich 15

William Merrill 15

Kevin Ward 13

Rick Faciane 12.5

Bill Batting 12

Alex Niedermayer 11

Kim Cheney 10

Spike Credits

Shelby Johnson 9.5

Mary Jordan 9.5

Kevin Russell 9

James Cronley 9

Rodney Boutwell 7

Gold Sponsor for the 2020 Dream Home

If you would like to join the Spike Club or Desire Additional Information, please contact Vicki Pelletier(850) 476-0318