Safety Goes on the Road

Beginning in June of this summer, BAC’s Safety & Health Department launched its Stay Cool Heat Illness Prevention Campaign. With the priority to engage our members where they are, IU Safety and Health Director Liliana Calderon traveled around the United States to talk to members – visiting the ADC 1 of Illinois, Wisconsin District Council, Local 3 of Iowa, and Local 8 Southeast chapter meetings, jobsites, and training centers.  

Listening to members and seeing their work environment helps shape the IU Safety & Health initiatives and training. The International Union partnered with IMTEF Safety Director Dave Wysocki to hold jobsite safety standdowns and hazard awareness talks on silica, heat illnesses, and fall prevention during the jobsite visits. Wysocki also spoke about training opportunities offered through the National Training Center in Bowie, MD, and at the local training centers.   

“It’s important to hear it from our members so we are aware of all the hazards that they are facing each day they go to work,” Calderon said. “Our goal is to provide the resources needed to keep them safe and healthy.” 

“Having 1-on-1 interactions with members is essential; you can’t do that from a screen,” Calderon continued. “Meeting members where they are and hearing directly from them helps shape our efforts in providing safe workplaces for all our members.” 

Members, field staff, contractors, and their safety managers attended the jobsite safety standdowns and shared their thoughts on the benefits of standdowns. “I cannot express how much this means to us, having these types of standdowns where the workers can engage is great.  It lets us know how we can do better,” said an Iowa based signatory contractor.  

The visits will continue into 2026. Go to bacweb.org/safety to learn more about Stay Cool campaign, and other safety resources and trainings available.