Blog
The CFCSA: sharing construction safety resources and building safety harmonization from the bottom up
By The Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations
The name may not be familiar to everyone, but as a united umbrella organization, the CFCSA represents a formidable force. The CFCSA shepherds national programs such as the COR® accreditation standard, and the National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO®) and National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA™) designation programs. In addition, the association promotes awareness of construction health and safety practices and programs, facilitates information sharing, and collaboratively produces workplace health and safety training, standards and information resources. Read the full blog here.
How to recruit more women into the construction industry
By MJ MacDonald
When I was a recent graduate of mechanical engineering from Technical University of Nova Scotia in 1984, I was hired by Black and McDonald. I was thrilled to get my first real job — especially as a recession was in full force. The leadership team at Black and McDonald were incredible and very supportive. I was the first female engineer they had hired. Ever.
Read the full blog here.
Mental health safety for construction workers: What leaders can do
By MJ MacDonald
In Nova Scotia, 142 people died by suicide in 2021, and 107 were men. This figure is the highest on record since data was collected on this metric in 2008. While we don’t yet have an industry breakdown in Nova Scotia, it is likely safe to assume some were construction workers. This presents a significant opportunity for business leaders in the HRM. There are 18,000 construction workers in the Halifax area and as a leader, you have a platform to help support better mental wellness and to shape their mental health both on and off the job.
Read full blog here.
Rate of suicide more than twice as high in construction industry than general population, finds U.S. report
By MJ MacDonald
At industry event in the fall of 2021, during COVID, I was sitting at a table with a union leader who told me he personally knew of six people who had died by suicide in the past year in the construction sector. He said it was a real wakeup call for him that something needed to be done. I couldn’t agree more.
Read the full blog here.
Conflict on the construction site is a safety concern
By MJ MacDonald
A construction site is no stranger to conflict: someone took someone else’s tape measure without asking for the tenth time; another person made a crack about a colleague’s work ethic; a sub challenges the superintendent’s orders; a super continuously assigns an undesirable, menial task to worker who is not happy about it. And the list goes on.
Read the full blog here.
