Building PA Podcast

This is a throwback podcast from 2020. Co-hosts Jon and Chris talk safety culture in the construction industry with Owner and President Clayton Leibold from Leibold Inc. Leibold is a mechanical contractor based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. 

Leibold shares the biggest challenge for the construction industry regarding safety is overcoming job site hurdles and the pressure to complete work within shorter timelines. While the industry is facing a worker shortage, Leibold mentions that as a union mechanical construction company, they have a good source of competent and well-trained individuals from their apprenticeship programs. 

They focus on molding their key employees into effective safety leaders, combining field expertise with safety knowledge.

Onboarding new hires can be a challenge, especially if they lack field experience or previous exposure to safety protocols. 

Leibold emphasizes the importance of educating and providing the necessary information and protocols to ensure new employees understand and abide by safety standards. It is crucial to instill a safety culture and not compromise on safety, even if it means taking longer or facing initial resistance.

He advises other companies to emphasize safety as a priority and avoid compromising safety for shortcuts. Leibold mentions that more and more clients are prioritizing safety in their projects. 

Many clients demand a high safety standard, especially in sensitive facilities, and not meeting those standards could result in losing future work. The industry as a whole has placed a significant emphasis on safety in recent years, and Leibold believes that it is crucial to continue moving forward with a strong focus on safety to shape a positive perception of the industry.

The discussion covers various aspects of safety culture in the construction industry, including the importance of education, buy-in from employees and clients, and the need to prioritize safety even when faced with challenges and tight timelines.

Leibold Inc. has won two safety awards from the KCA for being the safest subcontractor under 50,000 man-hours worked with zero injuries for two consecutive years.

In this episode, Vice President of Aims Construction, Mike Tarle,  gets in-depth on the topic of how the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry can better deal with local government. Tarle, who serves as the town council president of McCandless Township, shares his insights from both his professional experience in the construction industry and his role in local government. 

They delve into the importance of developing personal relationships with government officials, meeting the concerns of neighbors and stakeholders, and addressing challenges such as stormwater management and outdated zoning codes. 

The conversation highlights the significance of communication and collaboration between the AEC industry and local government for successful development projects.

Building with confidence and navigating risk in construction: Insights from NFP, the Global Insurance Broker.

In this episode, the Building PA Podcast and guest Ivan Usero sheds light on the critical role of NFP, a global insurance broker, in helping construction companies mitigate risks. Ivan Usero provides valuable insights into risk management strategies, the importance of technology, and various types of risks in the construction industry. 

By understanding and addressing these risks, contractors can protect their projects, enhance safety measures, and ensure a smoother claims process.

Usero highlights the concept of outsourced risk management, where NFP assumes the responsibility of handling commercial insurance and risk-related matters on behalf of their clients. They assist in program design, risk transfer, consultation, and other aspects to minimize exposures and positively impact clients' bottom line.

The hosts and Usero discuss the significance of mitigating risk in the construction industry. They explore different types of risk, including environmental, force majeure, and supply chain risks. Asano stresses that risk mitigation is crucial because construction risks can be costly, often ranging from 10% to 15% of project value, especially in cities like New York and Chicago.

They also touch on vandalism and theft, contractural transfer and trends, and future considerations.

Usero shares insights into emerging trends in the insurance industry. He emphasizes the need for contractors to be proactive and innovative in adopting technology and managing risks. Additionally, he advises paying attention to market updates, such as changes in construction insurance policies, inflation's impact on costs, and potential penalties associated with coinsurance.

NFP is a massive global insurance broker, generating close to $2 billion in revenue. They offer services in various areas, including employee benefits, property and casualty, retirement planning, and more. Usero describes NFP as an agile and adaptable entity, capable of navigating the complex insurance landscape for their clients.

Ensuring a healthy work environment and fostering a positive work culture have become paramount for numerous companies. The advantages of prioritizing these aspects far exceed any associated costs.

In this podcast replay, we delve into the strategies employed by a company that places utmost importance on the well-being of its employees. The episode outlines how this organization prioritizes the health and welfare of its workforce, showcasing the significant benefits that result from such a commitment.

Original Content:
The Building PA Podcast in partnership with Barry Isett and Associates brings you another podcast in the Healthy Work Environments Series.

This episode is with PJ Dick - Trumbull - Lindy Group's Vice President of Human Resources, Lisa Nakamura.

Nakamura expands on the high importance they place on their employees. She'll share details of how looking at the total employee helps guide them on the types of programs their company puts into place to assist with mental health and wellness initiatives.

You'll hear how their forward-thinking help attracts and retain talent. Nakamura shares that an investment or lack of investment in our employees directly affects the bottom line concluding that one dollar can provide a $3 to $5 return. Nakamura states it's well worth the investment.

Nakamura offers training tips on how to recognize signs of distress and despair in employees. And with the holidays right around the corner, the information in this podcast may offer some help and guidance to you, a friend, or a co-worker.

If you need to talk to or know someone who may need help, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. There's someone available 24 hours a day.
 

In this podcast episode, the host introduces Josh Strickler, the Chief Operations Officer at Diplomat Demolition. The discussion centers around worker re-entry, a topic that has been increasingly discussed in recent years but has not been covered on the podcast before.

Strickler shares his experiences and insights on employing veterans and individuals who are reentering the workforce after incarceration. He talks about how Diplomat Demolition started working with organizations like Impact Services and the Montgomery County correctional facility to hire individuals from these backgrounds. 

Strickler emphasizes the positive impact these individuals have had on the company, their strong work ethic, and the low turnover rate. Strickler also discusses the benefits of having a consistent labor force through work release programs and the value of re-entry programs in providing support and training for individuals transitioning back into society.

Work release programs provide a consistent labor force for companies with seasonal fluctuations.

Josh Strickler, the COO of Diplomat Demolition, has been employing workers through worker re-entry programs for almost 20 years.

Diplomat Demolition employs workers who have gone through re-entry programs, with 70 out of 70 workers having some form of re-entry background. Approximately 20-30 workers have come directly from re-entry programs, while another 20 have criminal backgrounds.

Diplomat Demolition has incorporated worker re-entry programs into its growth strategy. This initiative started when they had a large project and hired a project manager who was a veteran. This led them to explore worker re-entry in work release programs, and they began hiring individuals from such programs after evaluating their performance.

Diplomat Demolition shared they find real value in work release because of the availability of a reliable labor force, especially for seasonal work. The company aims to focus on hiring individuals when they are released from these programs. They have obtained OSHA 10 certification and are working on the logistics, including hiring a driver.

Hiring workers from re-entry programs involves dealing with more red tape, especially post-COVID. There are differences in the hiring process compared to hiring from prisons. Diplomat Demolition is currently working on refining its process by partnering with organizations like IMPACT. They have also faced challenges related to transportation and tools reaching job sites, especially when most of their employees are in Philadelphia and Delaware.

Diplomat Demolition has successfully integrated worker re-entry programs into its operations, capitalizing on the available labor force and contributing to the reintegration of individuals into society. They have faced challenges in logistics, transportation, and bureaucracy but continue to expand and grow while maintaining a positive reputation in the industry.

In this episode, we have a special guest, Kerry Smith, a freelance writer and expert in media relations. We dive into the topic of storytelling and the interview process, exploring what makes a good story. 

Our enthusiastic hosts are excited to learn from Smith's wisdom and experience.

Smith introduces herself as a serial entrepreneur however, she clarifies that her innovation lies in various writing forms, ranging from news publications to websites, ghostwriting, and now podcasts.

Smith reflects on the evolving landscape of the industry, particularly the impact on journalism and editorial content. She highlights the shift from traditional print advertising to digital platforms, which has significantly affected revenue streams. 

The conversation delves deeper into the implications for professionals in the construction industry. Smith emphasizes the importance of contractors, architects, engineers, and the supply chain in telling their own stories, as there is a decline in business reporters covering their work. With limited media attention, companies must proactively share their achievements and projects. Smith's construction magazine, Saint Louis Construction News, plays a vital role in reaching out to these industry players and providing a platform for them to showcase their work.

In this podcast episode, the focus is once again on safety. The discussion revolves around strategies that construction businesses can employ to create safer work environments, aiming for zero injuries and reducing OSHA recordable incidents.

Original Content:
The HR and Safety Director of Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal, Seth Abraham, stopped by the Building PA Podcast to discuss labor relations and safety.  Listen in as Seth discusses his thoughts on workforce development and the value relationships bring to creating a safety culture across five offices and seven states. 

Seth shared that at Kalkreuth, the company sees HR and safety as a combination that ties labor together.  His challenge is to encourage his team to focus on zero tolerance and incidents while balancing relationships.  Seth discussed why relationships are so important in this industry because “you quickly learn who to rely on internally and that is not only in the field but in the office as well.”

This positive and powerful podcast addresses a topic that the Building PA Podcast, can not talk enough about - workplace mental health and suicide prevention. 

Our guest, Cal Beyer, Vice President of Workforce Risk and Worker Wellbeing for Holmes and Murphy is sharing his personal and professional journey of communicating, educating, and informing individuals in the field of construction.

Our co-hosts dig deep with Beyer to learn how companies can jump-start tough conversations with the office and field.  You'll learn practical ways to break down barriers and start communicating. 

Take a minute, or 20, and listen to a podcast that could change your life or the life of someone else. 

If you or someone you know needs help, text or call 988 to talk to someone. 

Construction safety is an ongoing conversation. This podcast replay with Bob McCall, safety director for the MBA shares insight into job site safety and how safety is compromised when we aren't focused on the root cause which is often stress and mental health and wellness.

On the heels of Construction Safety Week, we thought this podcast was a good refresher for everyone working in the construction industry.

Original Content
In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with the Director of Safety, Bob McCall of the Master Builders' Association. McCall is a seasoned professional in safety-related matters and candidly spoke about COVID, mental health, and the need for more programs that help construction workers.

McCall shared that COVID placed a greater reliance on safety and the need for companies to plan their work. The pandemic brought personal lives into the workplace. Workers and their families who were affected by the pandemic had a greater level of stress on the job. It's a different level of impairment and one that brought the issue of mental health and awareness of construction workers front and center.

McCall shares that it's time to start having real conversations about mental health and share resources for workers in construction.

Please listen to this podcast and share it with your family, friends, and coworkers. 

If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 988.