The Building Trades Employers Association, representing 1,200 union contractors in New York, recently held its annual SAFEBUILD national industry forum designed to promote worker safety and salute firms with best practices. Noting that the Centers for Disease Control cites construction workers as having one of the highest rates of suicides of any industry, BTEA leaders said going forward they would broaden their safety focus to include mental wellness and suicide prevention.
Several discussion panels included safety and mental health experts, government officials and management and union representatives. President and CEO-elect Elizabeth Crowley said the BTEA would conduct a campaign this year with construction firms and workers to provide helpful resources and encourage those in trouble to seek help.
Conference leaders also saluted departing President and CEO Louis J. Coletti, who led the BTEA for 27 years. He is launching a consulting firm that will focus on strategies, processes, technologies and the use of data to reduce real estate development and construction costs in New York City.
Attendees received hardhat stickers for workers with the message: “It’s Ok To Not Be Ok” along with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 phone number. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Construction Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 4-8.
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