FTBA Safety Committee

Our mission is to provide relevant safety training and resource materials to our FTBA members which can be used to educate workers, protect the public and promote safety within our industry.

Mental Health & Suicide Awareness

February 24, 2023
Vince Hafeli, president, Ajax Paving of Florida, is leading a national campaign to promote awareness of suicide and mental health wellness in the construction industry. He presented his “Suicide in Construction Awareness Proclamation” February 7, 2023, at the FTBA Construction Conference, and collected signatures from industry leaders.

For information on the “Suicide in Construction Awareness Proclamation,” reach out to Vince Hafeli at Ajax Paving at vhafeli@ajaxpaving.com. Please read and sign the proclamation today at https://www.artba.org/suicide-awareness/#sign

ARTBA Proclamation Press Release
Suicide in Construction Awareness Action Steps
Construction Hike for Hope
Mental Health at Work
Natural Therapies for Mental Health
Coping Skills

OSHA Getting Hot, Hot, Hot!

May 27, 2022 | Ogletree Deakins
OSHA recently issued its first-ever national emphasis program (NEP) targeting heat illnesses and injuries. The agency is also in the process of implementing a new heat-stress standard, but that is not expected to be in place until at least 2023. For now, OSHA will use the NEP for inspections and citations under the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, Section 5(a)(1), which requires employers to maintain a workplace free from recognized hazards and use feasible means of abatement...
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A few of our Industry leaders observing National Work Zone Awareness Week 2021!

April 26-30, 2021 | Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC & Ranger Construction Industries, Inc.

OSHA At Your Door –Important Steps to Take

March 15, 2021 | Ogletree Deakins
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Important Legislative Updates from Sunshine 811

March 3, 2021 | Sunshine 811
Stop Use and Recall Notice

Effective July 1, 2020, the Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act, Chapter 556, Florida Statutes, introduced higher penalties for violations involving gas facilities, investigations of gas facility damages that result in incidents by the Florida Fire Marshal, new protections for permanent markers, new violation for digging in the tolerance zone and more. Sunshine 811 has several informative resources available via links below, and also offers free webinars to assist with education on these updates.

https://www.sunshine811.com/law
https://www.sunshine811.com/learning-center
https://www.sunshine811.com/education-reps

COVID-19 OSHA Recordkeeping Flowchart

February 18, 2021 | Ogletree Deakins
A helpful resource from Ogletree Deakins to assist employers in determining how to properly record COVID-19 cases in accordance with OSHA recordkeeping requirements...
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Stand Up for Suicide Prevention

September 18, 2020 | Construction Industry Alliance
There are approximately three jobsite fatalities in construction every day and an estimated 10 to 12 suicides among construction workers. In the construction industry, mental health awareness and suicide prevention are just as important as job safety issues...
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Rescheduled ‘Roadcheck’ set for Sept. 9-11

August 28, 2020 | Safety + Health Magazine
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has rescheduled its 33rd International Roadcheck for Sept. 9-11 after initially postponing the enforcement and safety outreach event over concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic...
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2020 National Safety Month

June 9, 2020 | National Safety Council
Each June, the National Safety Council celebrates National Safety Month. The goal is to help educate and influence safer behaviors for some of the leading causes of injury and death in the United States, particularly in the workplace. Read their top 5 ways to avoid work injury...
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Corona Virus CDC Employer Guidance

March 9, 2020
Below you can find a PDF for download with the CDC's Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Diseas 2019 (COVID-19)
Download PDF

Four Things to Know About a Certificate of Insurance “COI”

February 4, 2020 | Bill Phelps
“THIS CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION ONLY…….”  This is what the standard COI form (ACORD 25) states immediately after the document title. The Certificate of Insurance is a document which identifies important aspects of an Insured’s insurance policy or policies.  It will give the holder information regarding insurance companies, policy numbers, policy dates and limits.  This data is very important.  You should know these details of your subcontractor’s insurance program or an Owner to know these details about your program.  But the only document that confers coverage is the policy itself...
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Safety Leadership

October 28, 2019 | Jamie Bertoch, Acme Barricades, LC
Stop Use and Recall Notice

Safety Professionals frequently have a wealth of training, knowledge and experience in the technical aspects of their work and the EHS field, such as hazard identification, implementation of controls, development of policies and procedures, and safety audits. These are critical, however, without effective leadership corresponding to these efforts, your organization will be fighting a losing battle when it comes to your risk-reduction and loss-prevention culture...
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Stop Use & Recall Notice on 3M DBI-SALATwin-Leg Nano-Lok Self-Retracting Lifelines

August 16, 2019
Stop Use and Recall Notice

3M Fall Protection announces an immediate stop use and product recall of the 3M™ DBI-SALA® Nano-Lok™ edge and Wrap Back Twin-Leg Self Retracting Lifelines. The twin-leg Nano-Lok edge is part of a personal fall protection system and connects two self-retracting lifelines/devices (SRL’s/SRD’s) directly under the dorsal d-ring of a worker’s harness. It is intended to be anchored at foot-level, and is designed for sharp edge applications. The twin-leg Wrap Back Nano-Lok is intended for wrapping around an anchor and incorporates a similar energy absorber. 3M has determined that in the event of a fall and under certain conditions, the energy absorber may not properly deploy which could expose the worker to serious injury or death. Although there have been no reports of accidents or injuries associated with this issue, these products must be removed from service immediately...
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Certification Requirements for MOT Personnel

August 1, 2019 | Jamie Bertoch, Acme Barricades, LC
Traffic Signals and Barricades

We’ve all had the experience of driving down the road, and suddenly you find yourself approaching a disorganized, confusing mix of Temporary Traffic Control (a.k.a. TTC or MOT) devices scattered about the road ahead, possibly accompanied by a sign or two haphazardly installed on the shoulder. While those devices were intended to help motorists safely navigate through or around the work zone, when done improperly, they can create a far more hazardous situation, compromising the safety of the workers and the traveling public....
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Driveway Assistance Device Increases Safety at Lake Okeechobee

July 8, 2019 | Matt Stubblefield, Horizon Signal Technologies

During a recent construction project on Rucks Dairy Road in Lake Okeechobee, FDOT faced a dilemma. Seven individual driveways fell within the one-lane work zone that would be active for the next four to six months. The residents using these driveways every day would need an indication telling them when it was safe to exit their driveway, and enter the work zone...
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Aerial Lift Safety

May 29, 2019 | Mark Ligon, Vecellio Group, Inc.

A training class prior to operating the lift would have really helped in this situation. Almost every day somewhere in the world, someone is being catapulted from the basket of an aerial lift and landing like a sack of bricks on the ground below.  This is completely unnecessary and 100% preventable....
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Safety
Committee Members

Committee Co-Chairs:
Jamie Bertoch, Acme Barricades, LC - jbertoch@acmebarricades.com
Mandy Kustra, Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC – mkustra@ajaxpaving.com

Membership and Marketing Sub-Committee Chairwoman:
Morgan Reid, WorkComp Solutions, Inc. - morgan@workcompsolutionsfl.com

Resource Development Sub-Committee Co-Chairmen:
Phillip Russell, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. – Phillip.Russell@ogletreedeakins.com
Steve Thomas, Archer Western Construction, LLC - sethomas@walshgroup.com

Training Sub-Committee Chairman:
Bryan Stone, Superior Construction Company Southeast, LLC - bstone@superiorconstruction.com

Technology Sub-Committee Chairman:
Tim McGrath, Travelers – tcmcgrat@travelers.com

Awards Sub-Committee Chairman:
Jeremy Hostetler, The Lane Construction Company – jdhostetler@laneconstruct.com 

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