ABC NH/VT Hosts Trench Safety Summit

Concord, NH – The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) NH/VT Chapter, in partnership with the OSHA Training Institute Education Center, recently hosted a Trench Safety Summit in Concord.

According to OSHA, trench collapses, or cave-ins, are more likely than other excavation-related incidents to result in worker fatalities. The summit was held to address these risks and provide resources to help keep workers safe. Galen Blanton, the U.S. Department of Labor OSHA regional administrator, was in attendance to help raise awareness of this issue, along with leadership from the ABC.

“Our training today is about empowering people with knowledge to be jobsite leaders in trench safety,” said Josh Reap, president and CEO of ABC NH/VT. “It’s incumbent upon everyone working in and around a trench to know the conditions to protect human life from even the slightest risk of cave-ins, which are avoidable with the right equipment and training. We are pleased to see so many employers and their employees are committed to fostering that mindset and it’s that commitment to safety and full human health which makes this one of the best industries to work in.”

ABC, OSHA, Concord Fire, Dig Safe, NH Dept. of Energy and more than 22 employers came together for the Trench Safety Summit to participate in classroom and live outdoor demonstrations. rewarding STEM-based careers.

AGC MA’s most recent event at Mattahunt Elementary School, conducted in partnership with LEGO Discovery Center Boston, featured professional mentors from BOND Construction, Columbia, C.E. Floyd Company, Elaine Construction, Gaston Electrical, Janey Construction, Shawmut Design and Construction, Sienna Construction, Turner Construction, Walsh Brothers, and W.T. Rich Company, who worked with students to design and build structures using LEGO blocks. Janey Construction was the AGC MA member sponsor for the event.

“The enthusiasm for this program, from students and construction leadership alike, has been inspiring to watch, and demonstrates the importance of outreach and education from an early age,” said Marion Jones, director of workforce development and industry inclusion at AGC MA. “When young people see the possibilities and meet the people who can help them achieve their goals, it transforms their lives. We’re thrilled that AGC MA member firms have embraced this program and with their help, we will make it bigger and better.”