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Safety Directors Forum Heads to Vegas
NUCA’s Claims Avoidance Program Hits the Million Dollar Mark
NUCA of Las Vegas Forms Nevada’s First Safety and Health Alliance
Golfers Come Together Full Swing for a GUCA Golf Tournament
Safety Directors Forum Heads to Vegas
Since 1994, the National Utility Contractors Association’s Safety Directors Forum (SDF) has been bringing together utility construction safety and risk management professionals from around the country to learn from expert presenters and each other about how to create and maintain accident-free workplaces and jobsites. This year’s forum is scheduled for Dec. 2-3 at the New York-New York Hotel in Las Vegas.
As always, the program will be include safety presentations related to the needs of utility contractors followed by another great Open Forum. The tentative list of presentations for 2009 includes: Bridging the Spanish Language and Culture Gap; Beyond Tab Data; Heavy Equipment Operator Orientation; and Dealing with Hazardous Materials and Waste. In the concluding Open Forum, attendees will have an opportunity to discuss their own company challenges and share successful safety solutions. Some of the topics for discussion that have already been suggested include: Job Safety Analysis; Site Specific Safety Plans; Driver Qualification; and Fleet Safety, OSHA Multiemployer Policy, OSHA Voluntary Protection Program and OSHA Reform.
Industry safety directors and risk managers come back to SDF year after year to stay ahead of the hazards lurking in every workplace and on every jobsite. As one regular put it, “Anytime you can learn from professionals ready and willing to lend their expertise and offer advice in matters related to safety and safety management, it’s time well spent.” To register, visit the NUCA Web site at www.nuca.com and click on “Safety Services” on the navigation bar. The fee is $450 for NUCA members and $675 for non-members. NUCA 2009-2010 Safety Ambassador Club members receive one complimentary registration per company. To make your room reservation at the reduced rate of $89 single/double, call the New York-New York Hotel and Casino at (800) 693-6763.
NUCA’s Claims Avoidance Program Hits the Million Dollar Mark
NUCA’s Damage Prevention and Claims Avoidance Program (CAP) recently hit an exceptional milestone — over $1 million saved for NUCA members in 2009 through reduction and outright reversal of spurious or over-priced facility damage claims.
The CAP was initiated in 2006 as a three-tiered benefit exclusively for NUCA members. The benefits include consultation of damage prevention best practices, as well as consultation on damage investigation, including photography, evidence gathering and effective documentation of materials.
Importantly, the program also offers actual evaluation of damage claims (four hours a year free of charge to NUCA members, followed by a half-price discounted rate). Since its inception, the CAP has been highly effective in reducing the amounts of money paid by excavators around the country who do their part in the damage prevention process but still face unwarranted damage claims.
2009 has become by far its most successful year for the CAP. Of the 52 damage claims evaluated, 25 have been reduced and three have been overturned completely, while 21 cases are still pending (due to ongoing negotiation or currently in litigation). If you would like more information about the CAP or its benefits, call Ron Peterson of TWS Technical Services LLC, (and CAP Service Provider) at (816) 231-5105, or contact NUCA at (800) 662-6822.
NUCA of Las Vegas Forms Nevada’s First Safety and Health Alliance
In September, NUCA of Las Vegas, Federal OSHA and Nevada SCATS signed the first formal Safety and Health Alliance in the State of Nevada. The alliance will provide the State of Nevada and NUCA-LV members with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to work-related hazards by addressing safety training issues. The partners will work together to reduce accidents and injuries by focusing on such issues as excavation safety, hazard communication, emergency evacuation, tool safety, driving safety and jobsite emergencies. The creation of the alliance was initiated by the NUCA of Las Vegas Safety Committee. Dick Schneider, Executive Director, said, “We are very excited about forming this alliance and taking a pro-active role in improving safety within our segment of the construction industry in Nevada. I would like to express my appreciation to NUCA of New Mexico and LD Alexander, NUCA’s National Safety Committee Chairman for providing us with information and guidance regarding their alliance.”
Golfers Come Together Full Swing for a GUCA Golf Tournament
Even in these hard economic times, good things happen when GUCA members come together. GUCA members hit the greens on Monday, September 14 at the Orchard Hills Golf Course in Newnan, Ga., for the 2009 GUCA Larry S. McReynolds Golf Tournament to raise money for GUCA educational programs, which included helping fund the NUCA Foundation for Education and Research. This tournament was established to help give back to the industry by providing scholarships to college students in construction degree programs, as well as other educational endeavors such as school-to-work programs for high school students and HEO programs for those seeking career opportunities in utility construction. Members showed what they were made of with their ability to rally together for a good cause. With 196 players in attendance, this was a successful golf tournament for GUCA. This year’s event included two tournaments with 51 teams. The contributions from the participants and sponsors were a major part of the success of the 2009 Larry S. McReynolds Memorial Golf Tournament.
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