


There’s always room for improvement” is a cliché that applies to nothing if not health and safety in the construction industry, where doing things differently—doing them better—means preventing injuries and saving lives. In that spirit, Construction Executive asked five industry safety advocates a simple question: What is one thing about construction safety you’d like to see change?
Ranging from sweeping to granular, their answers all focus on the people underneath the hard hats. As Miller & Long’s Frank Trujillo notes: “‘Safety first’ has been a mantra in the industry for decades, but I think companies have forgotten what that means. It’s about people—who they are, what they care about, who they love and their wellness.”
But each of our experts—all of them representing companies who participate in ABC’s STEP Safety Management System —has a different idea of how safety in the construction industry can and should evolve, and what needs to change. Their answers below have been condensed and edited for clarity.





Pole Top Rescue Training
At Power and Construction Group we embrace that the health and safety of our employees is paramount to the success of our company. Through ongoing training, education, and emphasizing safe work practices at the beginning of each workday we encourage every employee to feel empowered to assess the job tasks at hand, evaluate their exposure to injury, communicate concerns, and ensure they are prepared to work together as a team throughout the day while providing safe, quality services to our customers.

“At Power and Construction Group we endeavor to provide growth opportunity to our employees. In our pursuit to ensure we have highly trained and qualified employees in our electric division, management selects highly motivated individuals to participate in the Northeast Public Power Association (NEPPA) Apprentice Lineworker Program.
This is an intense four (4) year program designed to prepare apprentice lineworkers for a career progression to a journey level lineworker certification in either overhead or underground high/low voltage electric systems and components. Apprentices attend formal classroom instruction which includes electric theory, crew leadership, and self-study along with integrating on-the-job learning and application. Each years’ experience culminates in a “timed” team demonstration (rodeo) of skills learned throughout the year where the apprentices participate in numerous events throughout the week. It is also a time when family is encouraged to attend the event and experience what is required to become a journey level lineworker in the electric industry.
When our employees successfully complete the apprentice program, it is a win-win; we have skilled and highly motivated employees and our continued success in providing safe, reliable, and quality services to our customers.”





UTV Training 2022
As part of our Utility Structures Division our employees rely on UTV’s to get themselves and equipment to the structures. Some of the most remote areas of New York State. UTV’s are a lot like cars but you are not on a flat road. Our Team spent a week down in Pennsylvania at the AOAA Trails where we had Offroad-Consulting teach 30 of our Utility Structure Crew members how to properly operate a UTV in all conditions. Mud, Hills, Rocks, Water and much more. A great time was had at the same time as helping our Employees become better operators and safer Employees.
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Murph Re-Elected to
ABC's National's Executive Committee
Thomas “Murph” Murphy, Empire State Chapter Board Member and Vice President of Aggregates Division at member company Power & Construction Group has been elected to ABC National's Executive Committee to serve as the Northeast Region Vice Chair. Murph's term will begin on January 1st.
Murph has been with P&CG for nearly 16 years. He has served as a member of the Empire State Chapter's Board for more than a decade and is currently the Immediate Past Chairman.
Murph has served as a National Board Member for six years, and has been on the National Executive Committee for the last two.
Congratulations Murph and thank you for representing the needs and concerns of Empire State Chapter members


2022 ABC Empire State Construction Excellence Celebration
The Otesaga, Cooperstown, NY
Winners
Electrical - Sitework
ESS Oswego Steam
Electrical - Commercial
Station49

