SAFE Workplaces

Over the past 30-plus years of organizational consulting experience in risk management, safety/health and well-being, I’ve had the pleasure of supporting hundreds of organizations. The importance of culture cannot be overstated. Culture is how an organization communicates how things get done. 

With the nation’s overdose crisis now in its third decade, it continues to be driven by opioid misuse. Initially, due to overprescribed medications, the crisis first shifted to heroin use with the advent of prescription drug monitoring initiatives at the state and federal levels.

There is a clear and compelling business case for investing in a “people-first” culture. These companies create a competitive advantage in recruiting, retaining, and developing tomorrow’s leaders and workers.

In today’s fast-paced construction industry, where efficiency and safety reign supreme, the well-being of employees often gets the spotlight.

The number of opioid-related deaths in Kansas has jumped drastically in the last few years. In 2020, there were 255 deaths, but by 2022, that number had rocketed to 497, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

In recent years, the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) has increased its advocacy for mental health in the workplace and at the jobsite. The mission is led by ICRI’s 120 Environmental Health and Safety Committee, which is dedicated to building a culture of safety in the concrete repair industry through training and education.

Most entrepreneurs and construction leaders and managers understand this level of commitment. The stress and strain of hard work and constant pressure from tight schedules, manpower shortages, and unexpected contingencies is real. 

The construction industry faces significant challenges in workplace safety, particularly with the growing opioid crisis. Bob Kunz, Corporate Safety Director at Dimeo Construction, and SAFE Project (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic) share a common goal: tackling opioid overdoses head-on and fostering safer work environments. By combining Bob’s on-the-ground experience at Dimeo with SAFE Project’s comprehensive resources and support, we highlight the critical need for naloxone programs in workplaces and offer insights on overcoming the associated challenges.

John Burcaw, Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Academic Education at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest (FTIUM), has been a driving force in integrating mental health and substance misuse education into apprenticeship programs. His approach emphasizes the need to support the “whole worker,” reflecting his deep commitment to providing a well-rounded education for apprentices in the construction industry.