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According to a recent FMI study, the construction industry will be short 1.5 million workers by 2014. This statistic is staggering and must be addressed now by workforce development professionals if we are to prepare our current and future workforce for the challenges that lie ahead in a recovering and highly competitive construction market. In the latest issue of The Cornerstone, NCCER’s bi-annual publication, we discuss the sizeable impact recruiting will have on the future of the construction industry. Acutely aware of its declining numbers, major players in the construction sector are targeting untapped workforces and developing robust recruiting programs. These programs promote the development of young students seeking a career in the construction market and allow students to gain exposure to craft-specific skills and career opportunities. NCCER and the Construction Workforce Development Center are working together to head the Choose Construction Initiative (CCI), which focuses on recruitment, training, retention and image-enhancement within the construction industry. CCI will take a well-rounded approach to careers in construction, by leading new potential candidates to opportunities in advanced education, training and job-placement opportunities. We believe this multifaceted strategy will help recruits invest in long-lasting careers in construction. Even in a down economy, employers should be readying their workforce for the upturn with heavy recruitment and training practices. With the aging workforce, and no room in the budget for safety concerns, attracting young new entrants and training employees is a must for any successful contractor. In the end, investing in the skills and certifications of your employees will provide your company with an excellent ROI through increased employee loyalty, motivation, safety and a more competitive stance for your company in the market. Construction is one example of how important professional development can be, to safety, to revitalizing the workforce and to a company’s bottom line. Resources: http://www.nccer.org/ http://www.branchsmith.com/eBook/MEDP/26188_MEDP/26188_MEDP/flash.html#/6/  About Donald E. (“Don”) Whyte Don is the President of the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and has been involved in the development of NCCER for nearly 20 years.  Prior to taking the reins of NCCER, Don served for six years as Vice President directing all training operations and program development. During his tenure, he assisted NCCER in achieving extraordinary growth and distinction as one of the premier workforce development organizations in the construction and maintenance industry.  Don’s background includes experience as a vocational educator, corporate management trainer and operations manager in structural steel fabrication, erection and maintenance.  Don holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Virginia Tech University.

With the eyes of the world focused on Japan in the wake of the recent earthquake and tsunami, the United States has begun to weigh the damage of Japan’s crisis and review the strength of current U.S. nuclear safety standards. Over the past 40 years, nuclear reactors have established themselves within the U.S. energy mix as one of the leading sources of renewable energy. With the spotlight on nuclear energy, operators and regulators in the market must be increasingly cognizant of the potential consequences of operational oversight. President Obama has recently ordered the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to conduct a “comprehensive review” of U.S. nuclear reactors. There are 104 U.S. nuclear reactors in place; the last nuclear plant was completed in 1996. Reevaluating these reactors is a critical step to addressing the current nuclear safety practices the U.S. has in place and in determining if additional standards and regulations need to be implemented. Additionally, the NRC is proposing a 90-day review of the nuclear crisis at Japan’s Fukushima power plant to increase awareness and understanding of the current nuclear crises. Increased awareness of the series of events leading to Japan’s nuclear emergency should help strengthen the NRC’s evaluation methods and provide a helpful outline for auditing U.S. nuclear reactors. Further research is needed to identify solid preventative measures that can promote increased nuclear security and operational control. The lessons learned from Japan’s catastrophe cannot be disregarded, and inspection of U.S. and worldwide nuclear infrastructure should be continually pursued. The destructive impact and looming consequences of Japan’s nuclear disaster serve as a reminder of the need for diligent, effective nuclear safety practices and the importance of evaluating safety standards.  Sources http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0320/Secretary-Chu-says-Americans-in-no-danger-from-Japanese-nuclear-reactors/(page)/2 http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/03/calif-panel-nuclear-safety-japan-/1

“Mining companies must engage constructively with indigenous communities,” said Aidan Davy, Senior Program Director for International Council on Mining & Metals, who spoke at the second annual Mining, People and the Environment conference on March 5, 2011. Davy highlighted the importance of developing meaningful relationships with indigenous populations at every stage of the decision making process. Mining companies are faced with the challenge of respecting the traditional culture, while also engaging members of the community who are often overlooked, including women and young people. For the mining industry, there are numerous social and economical benefits associated with collaborating with indigenous communities. The relationships foster credibility in the marketplace, an advantage in a competitive global industry. Other benefits enjoyed by shareholders and the indigenous people alike include land agreements and a common understanding for each other’s social ideas and merits. Though the relationship can be a positive experience, many companies have not been properly equipped with the information vital to succeeding. To assist, ICMM published a review on Indigenous Peoples and the mining industry, which lays out practical steps and best practices for companies to follow and explores the cost of getting it wrong. Sources http://www.icmm.com/ http://www.mpe-conference.com/

March 13th marks the start of Daylight Saving Time, where North Americans adjust their clocks an hour ahead, and in turn, add extra daylight to the end of their day. As a result, many employees are functioning on less sleep which could result in a dangerous Monday work day. Based on an analysis of a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics database, employees get 40 minutes less sleep, on average, the Sunday night preceding the switch to Daylight Saving Time. That may seem insignificant, but researchers who analyzed mining injury data from the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health database found that, for the period of 1983-2006, there were 5.7% more workplace injuries and 67.6% more work days missed due to injuries on the first Monday following Daylight Saving Time. The increased danger also affects drivers. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) reports a higher driving risk the first Monday after Daylight Saving Time. According to statistics averaged from 2005-2009, on the Monday following the start of Daylight Saving Time, car accidents increased 23%. Keeping these statistics in mind, and with Daylight Saving Time quickly approaching, take extra precautions commuting to work and look out for sleepy co-workers to avoid potential workplace injuries. Sources http://safetytoolboxtalks.com/toolbox-talks-mainmenu-2/34-behavioral-safety/277-daylight-savings-time-safety http://www.safety-reporter.com/ArticleView.aspx?l=1&articleid=9640 http://www.mromagazine.com/issues/story.aspx?aid=1000403286

That question would have been laughable even one year ago. More and more recently, however, social media is being used as a tool for businesses to communicate internally and to a broader audience. Twitter is a microblogging site that limits users to communicating in 140 character blurbs, per post. NIOSH, the United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, utilizes Twitter to provide timely information on relevant safety and health issues. Not only are they reaching out to their audience, but NIOSH is listening as well. For example, NIOSH retweets, or reposts the contents blogged by other users, to indicate agreement or to acknowledge that their followers’ posts are being read. One recent tweet offers readers a link to test their hearing protection. Another asks readers who handle pesticides to respond with their personal protective equipment (PPE) concerns. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opts for a more traditional social media avenue. Greenversations, a blog written by EPA employees and guest bloggers, discusses day-to-day environmental issues, opinions and comments. Though the EPA does not verify the accuracy of the content their authors publish, the blog offers a vehicle to discuss hot topics in the environmental arena: green offices for example. Social media may or may not be a good fit for disseminating information at your company. Either way, it is certain that social media in the workplace is a growing trend that has potential to be very effective when applied to safety. Sources http://blog.epa.gov/blog/about/ http://icast.icst.org/2010/01/social-media-health-and-safety http://www.ccohs.ca/products/webinars/social_media.pdf