Qualifying for Cal/OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program is a coveted achievement, one that’s difficult to attain and in many cases, harder to maintain. In the case of Shea Homes, which recently qualified for VPP-Construction at its Enclave residential project in Seaside, Monterey County, the achievement goes even further. “It’s a model for other construction sites,” says …
Like many safety professionals, Christopher Ross didn’t start his career in safety. In fact, he earned a degree in communications from Cal State Sacramento in the late 1990s. And he began his career not in safety, but in workers’ compensation. And it fits because safety determines outcomes in workers’ comp. But safety found him, and …
The United Contractors trade association has recognized several dozen of its member companies for safety excellence. The R.E.A.L. Safety Awards – Recognizes Excellence, Awareness and Leadership – highlights the “exceptional efforts of union-signatory contractors,” UCON says. The award program is 20 years old, and the association says the latest round saw a record number of …
What little kid isn’t fascinated by construction equipment – bulldozers, scrapers, cranes, pavers and the like? Even older kids like this writer still think such machines are the definition of cool. But actually, operating these amazing and increasingly sophisticated machines is not kid stuff. When someone decides they want a career in this field and …
Associated General Contractors of California has honored two individuals and 10 employers with its 2025 Construction Safety Excellence Awards. The awards were presented at the association’s recent conference. The winner of the Safety Professional of the Year award will be announced next January at AGC’s 2026 general meeting. Here are the winners and finalists in …
Associated General Contractors of California has recognized numerous construction companies for their safety efforts in three divisions: Building, Heavy/Civil/Highway, and Specialty. Of particular note, many of these winning contractors, according to Contelligence.com, have current EMRs among the lowest in California. For firms headquartered outside the state, the EMR applies only to California. The EMRs in …
Granite Construction took the honors in this CSEA category for its project to rehabilitate runways and taxiways at Los Angeles International Airport. The $160 million project took slightly over two years to complete and was work “that could significantly endanger flights, passengers aboard flights, and personnel in the airfield environment.” Hazards included individuals driving on …
. Victor Muniz, the former Cal/OSHA deputy chief for enforcement who explained to Cal-OSHA Reporter earlier this year that crews cleaning up fire sites in the Los Angeles area were ignoring safety, is still concerned. He says harmful exposures are still taking place. Muniz was deputy chief in the late 1980s and spent the rest …