GCA Construction News Bulletin May 2023

Page 1

A CLEAN PLAN FOR OUR ISLAND

VOL. 64 ISSUE 5 MAY 2023 • GUAM CONTRACTORSʼ ASSOCIATION

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2 TABLE OF CONTENTS MAY 2023 MAY 2023 14 HAVE A STORY IDEA? LET US KNOW! email taco@adztechguam.com WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING COVERED? 22 S.A.M.E. UPDATE 8 BUILDING PERMITS 26 14 FEATURE STORY 24 NEWSLINE 12 MEMBER BENEFITS 22 CONSTRUCTION HEADLINE 28 REPORTS/ INFORMATION 18 PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS 10 NAWIC NEWS

THEDIRECTORS THEEDITORIALS

PRESIDENT

James Martinez

Guam Contractors’ Association

PAST CHAIRMAN

Bill Beery

Tutujan Hill Group

CHAIRMAN

Joe Roberto

East Island Tinting

VICE CHAIRMAN

Matthew Hunter

Dylan Mechanical Construction Services

SECRETARY/TREASURER

Kathleen David

Pacific Rim Constructors

CONTRACTOR DIRECTORS:

Don McCann

Black Construction Corporation

William Best

SmithBridge Guam

AJ Perez

Hawaiian Rock Products

Brian Holm

Hensel Phelps

Soraya Vongjalorn

Vertex Guam

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS:

Mark Cruz

MidPac Far East

Jose Garcia

First Hawaiian Bank

Camilo Lorenzo

Matson Navigation

Geri Leon Guerrero

Adztech Advertising and PR

THETEAM

Guam Contractor’s Association (GCA) in conjunction with Adztech and Public Relations, Inc. publishes the Construction News Bulletin (CNB) monthly. Reproduction of materials appearing in this publication is strictly forbidden without written permission by GCA.

While we always strive for accuracy, we will from time to time overlook mistakes. In order to help us improve the quality and accuracy of this publication, we ask that you take the time to look at the information provided and notify GCA or Adztech of any corrections as needed. Opinions and editorial content of this publication may not necessarily be those of the publisher, production team, staff, GCA members, GCA Board of Directors and advertisers.

For more information about advertising in the GCA Construction News Bulletin contact the advertising department at (671) 477-1239/2239 or email at adztech@teleguam.net.

Distributed to GCA members or can be obtained by stopping by the Guam Contractors’ Association office located at 506 Mariner Ave., Barrigada, Guam 96913

To find out more about how you can become a GCA member contact Guam Contractors’ Association at Tel: (671) 647-4840/41 Fax: (671) 647-4866 or Email: gca@teleguam.net. www.guamcontractors.org

Postmaster. Send address changes to Guam Contractors’ Association, located at 506 Mariner Ave., Barrigada, Guam 96913

PUBLISHER: James Martinez

PRODUCTION TEAM

LEAD:

Geri Leon Guerrero

AD SALES: Alyssa Roces

PRODUCTION:

Jason Davis

Alyssa Roces

Christopher “Taco” Rowland

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Alyssa Roces

Trevor Cruz

EDITOR: Adztech

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Joanna Rupley Sablan

Dr. Sam Mabini Young, BOD

R.D. Gibson

Rodney “RJ” Ricarte

GCA STAFF:

Desiree Lizama

Elaine Gogue

Francine Taitague

Trevor Cruz

COVER:

Guam Power Authority Green Energy pursuit for a better Guam.

GCA Building Skills For A Lifetime
TRADES ACADEMY
4 EDITORIALS www.guamcontractors.org MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
Guam Contractors Association
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8 S.A.M.E. UPDATE www.guamcontractors.org MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN

2023 Block Kids Building Competition

On April 15, 2023, NAWIC Guam #381, along with tremendous community support and participation, completed its annual Block Kids Building Competition. This year’s event was hosted at the Agana Shopping Center, attracting over 160 students and involving 40 volunteer judges from the business community.

“We had children from Grades 1 through 5, representing 19 public schools, 5 private schools and 1 home school. Prizes were awarded to all the winners of the competition. It was truly a rewarding experience for all,” according to Peggy Denny, Event Co-Chair and Vice President of NAWIC Guam #381. “We had about DOUBLED our participation from previous events, and were thrilled to see all the creative building skills,” says Selina Ashland, Event

Guam #381.

The Block Kids Building Competition introduces children to the construction industry and creates awareness of the rewarding careers in the industry. Each child is provided 100 Legos, a rock, a piece of string, and a piece of tin foil; they are then invited to use their imagination to build a structure within one hour. This national award-winning program is hosted annually by NAWIC Guam #381 and other NAWIC chapters throughout the United States and Canada, and at no cost to the student participants.

“The spark in young minds who took the simplest materials to build extraordinary structures was fascinating. I envision our future will be in good hands, as we

continue encouraging our youth to use their skills in creating a better, safer, and sustainable community. We are looking at our future engineers, builders and other professionals, and honored to support their dreams,” shared Crystal Cruz Herrera, in-coming President of NAWIC Guam #381.

This event was made possible by the generous sponsorships from our business community and public partners (see below). “With the incredible support of our local construction partners and the active participation of our NAWIC Guam members, we look forward to more participation and a bigger event in 2024!” shared Lucia Wood, current President of NAWIC Guam #381.

10 NAWIC NEWS www.guamcontractors.org MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
SILVER SUPPORTERS • Sentry Hospitality Corp • Vertex Guam • Cruz Benefits Consultants • Payless Supermarkets • Ken Cruz • Subway Guam • Ambros, Inc. • GCA Trades Academy • Guam Contractors Association • Tamuning MAYOR’S OFFICE • Mangilao MAYOR’S OFFICE • Dededo MAYOR’S OFFICE • MTM MAYOR’S OFFICE • Sinajana MAYOR’S OFFICE GOLD

Accessing your TakeCare benefits off-island

Your TakeCare GCA Employee Health Benefit travels off-island with you and your family.

The provider networks of hospitals and clinics that can be accessed are throughout the mainland United States, Hawaii, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand. Recognizable names include Cedars Sinai, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Mayo Clinics, MD Anderson Cancer Centers, Shriners Children’s Hospital in Hawaii, and Bumrungrad Hospital in Thailand, to name just a few. In the Philippines, TakeCare members have access to St. Luke’s Medical Center, The Medical City, Makati Medical Center, Cebu Doctor’s University Hospital, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, and Select Medexpress and Mercury Drug locations.

In order to create a smoother, less stressful process to access your health benefits off-island, TakeCare has processes in place to review requests by providers for authorization of health care services for members who are receiving on-island care.

I’m not able to describe every policy in detail, due to the space limitations of this column, so I will provide a general outline. In addition to the member handbook (https://tinyurl.com/TakeCareMemberHandbook), please refer to the schedule of benefits and provider directory for a more thorough description of covered benefits and plan information. I also advise to call ahead to TakeCare Customer Service Department in Guam (671) 647-3526, obtain information about your benefits. Non-urgent inquiries should be emailed to customerservice@takecareasia.com. For pre-authorization inquiries or requests, please call TakeCare Medical Referral Services at (671) 300-5995 or email tc.mrs@takecareasia.com.

When do you need to contact TakeCare for off-island medical referral?

A list of health care services requiring off-island pre-authorization is found in the Member Handbook. These services include primary care, preventive services, specialty referrals, evaluation, hospitalizations, surgeries including maternity care and delivery, procedures, services, and/or treatments.

Prior authorization requires the prior authorization form with appropriate ICD 10 and CPT Code, the referral form from your medical provider, and complete supporting medical records (doctor notes, imaging report, pathology report, etc).

When you’re planning off-island hospitalization or procedures, please make sure your provider contacts TakeCare for pre-authorization of services. Doing so will provide you additional peace of mind as you receive your health care benefits. It is also very important to follow up with your medical provider for the proper paperwork submission.

Rodney “RJ” Ricarte is the TakeCare account executive for GCA. He can be contacted at (671) 487-7121 or rodney.ricarte@takecareasia.com.

12 MEMBER BENEFITS www.guamcontractors.org MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN

CLEAN ENERGY

Saturday mornings used to be reserved for two things: sleeping in and cartoons. These were sacrosanct. The list of classic cartoons seemed to go on forever, and they ran on almost all the networks. It was a moment in a child’s upbringing when a kid could just be a kid, watch animals resolve problems about older kid problems, and get a few laughs. The shows always had amazing theme songs, and characters always seemed too cool and just as smart as adults.

One cartoon in particular comes to mind - Captain Planet and the Planeteers. It featured five teenagers called the Planeteers who each possessed a ring that could summon the elements whenever Captain Planet called them to save the world from ecological catastrophes - these include pollution and forest fires. The elements were earth, air, fire, water, and heart. The show’s tagline was, “The power is yours!” Sound familiar?

The show ran for four seasons and over 30 years after it first aired, the same conversations are still happening regarding the environment and the steps we need to take in fighting ecological problems; granted now in a more accessible and direct way with the advent of social media, streaming services, and instant news, which have all shone a light on these problems and strengthened conversations.

Part of the bigger discussion is that of renewable energy and moving away from fossil fuels. According to the United Nations website, “renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed.” These are resources that are in abundance, like solar, wind, geothermal, water, bioenergy, and ocean energy. The UN also shares how renewable energy produces less emissions than fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and gas. “transitioning from fossil fuels…to renewable energy is key to addressing the climate crisis,” it continued. The United States Department of Energy shared on their website how clean energy is a booming industry creating ‘hundreds of billions in economic activity’.

In a U.S. Energy Information Administration profile about Guam, a lot of information is shared out about the

fuel surcharges, are almost two times higher than the U.S. average, although Guam's residential electricity rates are typically the lowest among the nearby Pacific islands.” Additionally, the profile provided a timeline starting in 2008 when the 29th Guam Legislature started a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) goals with Bill 166, which would later become Public Law 29-62. These included renewable sources that generate eight-percent of the island’s electricity by the end of 2020, ten-percent by 2025, and 25-percent by 2035.

According to the Guam Power Authority website, that number is at 12-percent. Additionally, John Cruz, Assistant General Manager of Engineering and Technical Services at GPA also shared that it has been a journey. A critical, monumental part of this journey is the Clean Energy Master Plan (CEMP).

GPA’s website states, “The Guam Power Authority’s Clean Energy Master Plan (CEMP) is a comprehensive plan for transitioning Guam from legacy fossil fuel fired generation to renewable energy and non-greenhouse gas emissions electric energy supply.” According to Cruz, this “living document” spans nine volumes, which focus on generation system reliability, adequacy, and resiliency, generation expansion plan, addendum to the 2018 Environmental Strategic Plan, Demand Side Management Plan, Medium Range Distribution Plan, Information/Operational Technology Plan, Strategic Plan, Electric Vehicle Road Map, and Net Metering Plan. These are all part of a balanced plan with a spectrum of targets ranging from renewable energy to energy efficiency to transportation electrification. This CEMP will help lead GPA toward their goal having 50-percent of the electric power in island created from renewable or non-greenhouse gas emissions sources by 2030 and then 100-percent by 2040.

For the everyday resident, a lot of what the CEMP is supposed to mean is lower power bills, increased renewables, cleaner air, safe and reliable power, as well as phasing out and retiring Cabras Power plants, which was shared on a short video on the Guam Power Authority YouTube channel. A bigger part of GPA’s journey toward 100-percent renewable energy is the new Ukudu Power Plant, which will “burn cleaner and

FEATURE STORY facebook.com/GuamContractors MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN 15

lower fuel cost (LEAC). LEAC stands for Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause - simply put the fuel charge.

The CEMP, with its goals for renewable energy-produced electricity, presents the island and the GPA with several ‘generational, unique’ opportunities “to reduce the island’s dependency on foreign oil, reduce base rate and LEAC rates, reduce overall Guam energy costs, improve GPA system reliability, resilience, and affordability, significantly improve the GPA customer experience, and develop another economic pillar for the Guam economy that sustains higher paying, higher quality jobs,” according to Cruz. “If GPA is not allowed to move forward with its Clean Energy Master Plan, the GPA grid has the potential for being less reliable, less resilient, and less affordable,” he continued.

Outside of all of the technical jargon and number talk is a real concerted effort to not just help the people of Guam and their pocketbooks, but the planet. The CEMP is aligned with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets a goal for 40-percent of Federal investments in climate change, clean energy and energy efficiency - among others - go toward disadvantaged communities. Additionally, the CEMP is also aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13 - Affordable and Clean Energy and Climate Action, respectively.

On top of aligning with worldwide initiatives that address clean energy, the CEMP is augmenting GPA’s reach, assembling an armada of stakeholders, which includes government agencies, non-governmental organizations, branches of the Nation’s defense, numerous laboratories, universities, and others. The list is extensive to say the least, but brings together the minds and know-how to see the success of the targets set forth by the CEMP.

More than engaging, discussing, and working on the CEMP with the experts and stakeholders on panels, it is important for GPA to engage and involve the community in the CEMP, its targets, and how they plan to achieve the goals they have laid out. Part of this includes outreach, education, and everybody speaking the same language.

this same language. “In order to make meaningful progress, we must share the same vocabulary,” Cruz emphasized. “We must be technically informed…and we must be open minded to find the best solutions for Guam.” According to Cruz, it goes beyond using ‘rooftop systems’, which he says will not get Guam to 100-percent, which requires stakeholders to learn concepts like how renewable energy impacts power systems and how inverter-based generation and synchronous generation differ.

“The CEMP is written for a technical audience,” Cruz stated. This leaves a lot that can go straight over most people’s heads; that doesn’t include the gargantuan number of (about 1,000) pages that can get lost on the general population who just want to know how much it will cost to keep the lights, Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning on every month.

Cruz stated how the GPA hopes to achieve 50-percent of its energy production by renewable sources by 2035 and 100-percent capability by 2040, while also “improving power system resiliency, reliability, and affordability.” As the utility agency celebrates 55 years of service to the island this month, it also has a lot on its plate as it faces a big shift in power generation and an education campaign for the community at large.

A key point that needs to be emphasized is GPA’s move toward using the renewable gifts from Mother Nature allows us to use what we have been blessed with to power our community reliably and reduce costs, as well. It only makes sense. This is a significant moment not just in GPA’s history, but the island’s itself. People might say it is difficult or expensive; others might think it will take too long. But, with all the work, research, and collaboration going into it, it is definitely worth seeing what the future has in store for renewable energy and the Guam Power Authority.

The coolest thing is we might all have a chance to become Planeteers in our own right; that we saw an environmental problem affecting our community and took action using what our community has been blessed with. The power truly is ours, and maybe Captain Planet would be proud!

FEATURE STORY 16 www.guamcontractors.org MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN

GCA April Luncheon

April 19th, 2023

Dusit Beach Guam Resort

18 PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS www.guamcontractors.org MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
20 PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS www.guamcontractors.org MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN

“Having our home windows tinted by East Island Tinting was an excellent decision. Our power bill dropped enough to pay for the work in less than a year. Even better, our home is much cooler and more comfortable when we walk in after a long, hard day.”

Kelly and Maria Fitzpatrick Home Owner East Hagåtña 477-TINT (8468) / 472-TINT eastislandtinting@guam.net

Coffman Engineers Announces New Shareholders in Hawaii and Guam Company names 12 shareholders companywide

HONOLULU, Hawaii, May 2, 2023 -- Coffman Engineers, Inc. (Coffman), a multidiscipline engineering firm, is pleased to announce Jeremy Dow, PE, and Scott Thompson as new shareholders in the Pacific Region. The company announced 12 new shareholders at their annual shareholders’ meeting held on March 23 in San Diego.

“Jeremy and Scott have provided trusted leadership for many years and are respected in the Pacific Region by clients and colleagues. We are proud to see them become principals at Coffman,” said John Thielst, Senior VP and Pacific Regional Manager for Coffman.

Jeremy Dow, PE, is the electrical engineering department manager for Coffman’s Honolulu office. His background includes design work in commercial, institutional, residential, light industrial, retail, educational, military, and government projects. In addition to his management and project responsibilities, he mentors junior professionals, improving their skills and code knowledge. Jeremy’s business development efforts have been vital to Coffman’s growth in Hawaii and Guam.

Scott Thompson is a vice president and the operations manager for Coffman’s Guam office. He relocated from our Alaska office to open the Guam office 11 years ago and has been instrumental in growing Coffman’s presence in the Indo-Pacific, and establishing relationships with the DoD, local government, and commercial clients. His entrepreneurial spirit and diverse experience in DoD and industrial engineering has propelled him as a leader.

“Adding new ownership is critical for the growth and health of Coffman to support our people, teams, and clients. These incredible leaders give us great confidence in our future. We welcome and thank these new principals for their commitment to leading our company and supporting our vision,” stated Chad Heimbigner, Coffman’s Chief Operations Officer.

This year’s election of 12 new shareholders is the largest group in the company’s history. These leaders represent diverse engineering experience and management roles from across the company. For more information visit: www.coffman.com/news/2023-board-updates-and-new-principals/

CONSTRUCTION HEADLINE
Jeremy Dow

Guam Power Authority Celebrates National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18

GPA honors its linemen for their vital role in keeping the community safe and connected

(Fadian, Guam) April 18 is National Lineman Appreciation Day, and the Guam Power Authority invites the community to join them in recognizing the essential role that GPA Linemen play in Guam’s safety and connectivity.

In 2013, the U.S. Senate designated April 18 as National Lineman Appreciation Day, and each year, lineworkers are honored for their vital role in keeping electricity flowing nationwide. Each year, GPA joins the celebration to express its gratitude to the hardworking electric lineworkers who work to keep Guam powered.

GPA General Manager John M. Benavente, PE, stated, "Our linemen truly deserve this special day of recognition. Every day of the year, they work around the clock to perform tasks under hazardous conditions to keep our community connected.” GM Benavente added, “Our linemen are first to respond to reports of outages or downed power lines. They head out after storms or during emergencies to assess the safety of an area for other responders, repair damaged lines, and restore power connections. Their goal is to maintain the

energy infrastructure of Guam and keep electricity flowing into villages, homes, schools, and businesses while keeping themselves and the community safe.”

Edward R. Leon Guerrero, Assistant Manager of Transmission and Distribution, who has worked for GPA for 28 years shared that GPA linemen do not have typical days on the job. He said, “On any given day, we can respond to reports of downed lines due to weather-related issues, emergencies, or accidents that affected the power lines, new service connections, or maintenance work to trim trees and branches that can potentially damage lines if they fall.” GPA linemen work under dangerous conditions, working on lines powered by thousands of volts of electricity high above the ground, which is why safety is of utmost priority for GPA. According to Leon Guerrero, “every day we respond, we look out for each other and keep each other safe so we can all return to our families at the end of our shifts.”

Kyle D. Siguenza, Line Electrician Leader, Overhead, Transmission and Distribution, started with GPA in 2012 as a Lineman Installer/Repairer Apprentice. Over the years, he said that some of the most fulfilling work has been taking care of customers through new service connections, responding to outage calls in the villages, educating residents about line safety, and teaching the island’s schoolchildren about electricity and the work they do.

Siguenza said, “We want our customers to know that their connectivity is important to us, and we work as swiftly and safely as possible to get them connected. When you see us working in your village, be sure to proceed with caution and say hello to your GPA crew. We are proud of the work that we do for them and our island.”

Join GPA in thanking the lineworkers for their dedicated service and in celebration of National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18. Use the hashtag #ThankALineman on social media to show your support for the men and women who help keep Guam connected.

April 18 is National Lineman Appreciation Day, and the Guam Power Authority is celebrating its lineworkers who keep electricity flowing islandwide. Each year, GPA joins the nationwide celebration to thank its hardworking lineworkers who keep Guam powered. From left: Kyle Siguenza, Line Electrician Leader; Zachary Santos, Line Installer-Repairer Apprentice; Joseph Pereda, Line Installer-Repairer Apprentice; Darren Dunstan, Line Electrician II; Jaren Gumataotao, Electric Operation Trainee; and Jeremy Leon Guerrero, Line Electrician Leader

the rest of the nation to recognize lineworkers who work under hazardous conditions to keep communities powered and safe.

Guam Power Authority crew member Damon Hocog, Line Installer-Repairer Apprentice, in the bucket truck, checks power lines along Agat Umatac Road while Edward Garrido, Line Electrician II, right, directs traffic and monitors from below. GPA celebrates National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18 along with Guam Power Authority lineworkers Manuel Borja, Line Installer-Repairer Apprentice, left, and Julien Bagcal, Line Installer-Repairer Apprentice, right, use a bucket truck to test power lines to ensure the integrity of the connection. GPA is celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18 alongside other U.S. electric companies and agencies to recognize the vital work of linemen in keeping communities connected and safe.
CONSTRUCTION HEADLINE facebook.com/GuamContractors MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN 23

NEWS LINE

Consistent Communication and Task-Specific Analysis Build a Strong Safety Culture

Intentional, purposeful, two-way communication is vital to a successful workday. Daily communication builds resilient relationships and enables a group to accomplish mission-driven tasks with a high degree of safety, quality and effectiveness. Daily toolbox talks and consistent start-up inspections create the environment where both communication and safety coexist successfully.

Daily Toolbox Talks and Start-Up Inspections

Toolbox talks are important to keep safety foremost and engage a crew. Traditionally, toolbox talks were performed monthly and took about 15 minutes. Currently, many companies hold weekly toolbox talks that are seven to 10 minutes in length.

But new data shows the effectiveness of daily toolbox talks, which are trending among contractors. Some companies accomplish this through the use of apps that include a short 90to 180-second video followed by a

three-question quiz. At the end, the supervisors add any company-specific policies or answer questions.

Another best practice is to include a start-up inspection at the beginning of the day. This inspection includes PPE, tools, equipment and ensuring all necessary materials are available and ready for use. If a material (like a gasket or fitting) or tool is missing, corrective action or a change of plans can be made early to prevent any safety issues.

Task-Specific Safety Processes

The ABC STEP Safety Management System is designed to help you strengthen safety culture through several methods. Its task-specific safety process comes in many forms—Activity Hazard Analysis, Job Safety Analysis, Pre-Task-Plan and a dozen more.

All have at least a three-column, delineated plan of action. The first column is usually a list of several small

steps, and the next identifies the hazard(s) associated with each step. The last column documents the action taken to prevent the hazard(s) from injuring people.

While these analyses and plans are designed to be updated daily, if conditions change, the plan will need to be adjusted more frequently. In the distant past, these documents were written by a safety professional and shared with a crew. Now, many crews have outlines or an app and complete the process together, giving everyone a voice in shaping the workday and a role to fulfill in terms of safety.

Communication Builds Trust

Meaningful conversations, group input and a daily learning moment do more than keep the team safe. When utilized properly, these actions build interdependent relationships, incorporating connectivity, belonging and a sense of common purpose, which ultimately drive a stronger safety culture.

Update Your Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form by July 25

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has revised the Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form (CC-305) with updated preferred language and examples of disabilities. Federal contractors use this self-identification information to support required affirmative action programs.

The revisions include additional disabilities; more descriptive and inclusive examples of disabilities; and simplified and broadened response options to self-identification questions. Federal contractors and subcontractors have until July 25 to implement the new form into their applicant and employee systems and processes.

For more guidance on implementing the form, please read OFCCP’s Frequently Asked Questions.

For more information on Section 503 requirements, visit the OFCCP Section 503 information page, or contact the OFCCP Help Desk at (800) 397-6251 or online.

24 NEWSLINE www.guamcontractors.org MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN

ABC’s 2023 Guide to Construction Safety Best Practices Reveals How Contractors Can Be Nearly 7 Times Safer Than the Industry Average

Associated Builders and Contractors today released its 2023 Safety Performance Report, an annual guide to safety best practices on construction jobsites and comprehensive study of the impact of the STEP Safety Management System.

Established in 1989, STEP is a proven system that provides the framework to measure, strengthen and build industry-leading safety programs that enable top-performing ABC members to achieve incident rates 688% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average. The annual study is unveiled to coincide with Construction Safety Week, May 1-5.

“ABC’s safety report is the road map and how-to guide for contractors to achieve world-class safety and health,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development. “STEP participation can lower incident rates and create safer jobsites so that employees can return home to families and loved ones every day. STEP Diamond members are nearly seven times safer than the industry average, achieving an 85% reduction in Total Recordable Incident Rates.”

ABC’s research on more than 850 million work hours completed by participants in the construction, heavy construction, civil engineering and specialty trades in 2022 identified the following proactive injury and hazard elimination best practices:

• New hire safety orientation: Companies that conduct an in-depth indoctrination of new employees into the safety culture, systems and processes based on a documented orientation process experience incident rates that are 48% to 52% lower than companies that limit their orientations to basic health and safety compliance topics.

• Substance abuse prevention programs: Robust substance abuse prevention programs/policies with provisions for drug and alcohol testing where permitted lead to a 59% reduction in Total Recordable Incident Rates and a 62% reduction in Days Away, Restricted or Transferred Rates.

• Toolbox talks: Companies that conduct daily toolbox talks reduce TRIR by 78% and DART rates by 76% compared to companies that hold them monthly.

• Top management engagement: Employer involvement at the highest level of company management produces a 54% reduction in TRIR and a 55% reduction in DART rates.

“Top-performing ABC STEP members actively build health and safety into their culture, creating industry-leading, holistic safety programs to protect their workers and deliver for their clients,” said Sizemore. “STEP measures performance on key components, strengthens and expands best practices and builds safety culture. Our people are our greatest asset, and ABC will continue to advance world-class safety for our people through valuable resources like the Safety Performance Report.”

Since 2018, ABC’s Safety Performance Report has captured the results of ABC STEP member companies performing real work on real projects to identify what comprises a world-class safety program. ABC member firms participating in STEP measure their safety processes and policies on key components and the criteria for best practices through a detailed questionnaire, with the goal of implementing or enhancing safety programs that reduce jobsite incident rates.

The 2023 ABC Safety Performance Report is based on submissions of unique company data gathered from members that deployed during the

2022 STEP term, Jan. 15-Dec. 15. ABC collects each company’s trailing indicator data as reported on its annual Occupational Safety and Health Administration Form 300A (“Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses”) and its self-assessment of leading indicator practices from its STEP application. Each data point collected is sorted using statistically valid methodology developed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for its annual Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Survey and then combined to produce analyses of STEP member performance against BLS industry average incident rates. The report demonstrates that applying world-class processes dramatically improves safety performance among participants regardless of company size or type of work.

New in 2023, ABC added total human health as a key component of an effective safety program. Total human health raises the bar of keeping workers safe to acknowledge and address thoughts and preoccupying concerns that everyone experiences in daily life, incorporating:

• A whole-person approach to engage a person’s body, mind, heart and soul.

• Psychological safety that is respectful and inclusive of a diverse workforce.

• Acknowledgement of the risk of distraction and impairment and responding with appropriate care. The ABC 2023 Safety Performance Report is brought to you by SafetyHQ, powered by Foundation Software, which is a comprehensive health and safety management application designed to help contractors better manage their health and safety programs.

Any company can participate in STEP. Visit abc.org/step to begin or continue your safety journey.

facebook.com/GuamContractors MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN 25
NEWSLINE
Residential NEW ADD RENO Commercial NEW ADD RENO Government Warehouse/Storage Utility / Infrastructure Solar / Photovoltaic Elevator / Escalator Signage Demolition Clearing / Grading Boring / Testing Miscellaneous Government 2 Residential 17 Stores / Shops 3 Commercial 1 4Plex / Duplex Church / Chapel Hotel Condominium Hospital / Clinic Warehouse / Storage Townhouse School / Child Care 1 Utility / Infrastructure Apartment Bldg. 1 Restaurant / Bar 2 PERMIT TYPE CONSTRUCTION COST BUILDING PERMIT FEES TOTALS TOTALS 27
COMPLETED BUILDINGS (OCCUPANCIES) $3,429,320 $60,000 $0 $0 $246,000 $772,982.09 $175,120 $0 $99,790 $485,350.52 $0 $587,051 $0 $38,413.5 $17,345.2 $468,000 $6,379,372.31 $16,065.02 $481.88 $0 $0 $2,681.25 $7,751.7 $2,685.38 $0 $1,828.61 $5,585.84 $0 $7,109.36 $0 $1,030.02 $433.95 $3,928 $49,581.01 26 BUILDING PERMITS www.guamcontractors.org MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
PERMITS FOR MARCH 2023
G U A M D E P A R T M E N T O F L A B O R A l i e n L a b o r P r o c e s s i n g C e r t i f i c a t i o n D i v i s i o n E m p l o y e r s W o r k p l a c e M o n t h l y R e p o r t S t a t i s t i c s MONTH ENDING: April 2023 Automotive Mechanic 10 A/C & Refrigeration Mechanic 4 Cement Mason 805 Baker 5 Auto CAD Drafter 3 Carpenter 1170 Camp Cook 42 Const. Equipment Mechanic 18 Reinforcing Metalworker490 Dental Auxiliary 1 Construction Supervisor 30 Structural Steelworker93 Electrician (Motor Rewinder) 4 Crane Operator 2 Plumber 225 Lead Transportation Equip Painter 1 Equipment Technician 2 Sheetmetal Worker 137 Maintenance Mechanic 0 Field Supervisor 6 Heavy Equip. Operator209 Marine Mechanic 7 Foreman 7 Electrician 336 Painter 0 HVAC/Aircon Technician 1 Camp Cook 5 Painter Blaster 4 Heavy Equipment Mechanic 50 Welder 147 Pipefitter 7 HVAC Mechanic 14 Total Common Const. 3617 Planning Clerk 2 HVAC & Refrigeration Mechanic 24 QC Inspector 3 HVAC & Refrigeration Technician 1 Shipwright Carpenter 3 Landscape Gardener 25 Philippines 3970 Soil Technician 0 Licensed Practical Nurse 1 Korea 76 Specialty Chef 2 Occupational Health Safety Technician 6 Taiwan 0 Welder 9 Painter 75 Australia 2 Pipefitter 80 New Zealand 4 Rigger 1 Greece 2 Tile Setter 18 El Salvador 10 Mexico 0 Honduras 18 Thailand 3 Romania 0 Total by Nationality 4085 Construction 48 Non-Construction7 Total H-2B Employers55 CES US Workforce*8000 less H-2B 3985 SubTotal Worker s 100 SubTotal Worker s 0 US Const workers4015 100 Total Other Const. Occupations 368 Total U.S. Workers in H2 companies 3108 Total Const Occupations 3985 Grand Total H-2B Workers 4085 *December 2022 Total Occupations 3642 Common Const. Occupations Other Non-Construction Occupations Other Construction Occupations DPRI Authorized Total Non-Construction H2-B Workers Workers by Nationality Employers By Industry 22% 32% 14% 3% 6% 4% 6% 9% 0% 4% Common Construction Occupations Cement Mason Carpenter Reinforcing Metalworker Structural Steelworker Plumber Sheetmetal Worker Heavy Equip. Operator Electrician Camp Cook Welder 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 US Const workersTotal U.S. Workers in H2 companies Grand Total H-2B Workers US Workers vs. H-2B Philippines 97.18% Korea 1.86% Taiwan 0.00% Australia 0.05% New Zealand 0.10% Greece 0.05% El Salvador 0.24% Mexico 0.00% Honduras 0.44% Thailand 0.07% Romania 0.00% Workers by Country of Origin Philippines Korea Taiwan Australia New Zealand Greece El Salvador Mexico Honduras Thailand Romania Prepared By: Tabitha Cruz Contact information : Greg Massey, ALPCD Administrator P.O. Box 997 0 Tamuning, Guam 96931 (671)475-8005/8003 28 REPORTS/INFORMATION www.guamcontractors.org MAY 2023 CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN

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