Posted: Jan 17, 2019
On February 7 join us at our social event at Painting with a Twist! Bring your family for a night of painting, fun, and food! Attendance is capped at 22 people. So if you are interested don’t wait too long! Register now!
Posted: Nov 30, 2018
Last month the CDC released a report that deaths by suicide among American workers is on the rise, and ranking construction as the industry with the highest suicide rates.
What can an employer do to increase psychological safety in their workplace? One place to start is to train employees on some important skills and practices. On January 25th, 2019 from 8:30-5:00PM, we are sponsoring a “Working Minds Train-the-Trainer Certification Course” at Community Room at Poudre Valley REA, 7649 Rea Parkway, Fort Collins, Colorado 80528.
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT DEADLINE IS January 15th (after this price increases).
Tickets are limited to the first 30 people who register.
Posted: Oct 17, 2018
ASSP Members Appointed to Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention Oct 01, 2018 Members Jerry Shupe and Rick Zellen were recently appointed to represent ASSP on the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention by the Construction Practice Specialty. The alliance’s goal is to provide and disseminate information and resources for suicide prevention and mental health promotion in construction.
Shupe, a professional member of ASSP’s Colorado Chapter and a member of the Society’s Construction Practice Specialty, explains that suicide is prevalent in the construction industry. “The construction industry has one of the highest rates of suicide among all professions,” he says. “As safety professionals, we have an opportunity to further our mission of helping people by learning about risk factors, identifying warning signs and providing avenues to get people resources that are available to them if there is concern of suicide. A great national resource that all safety professionals should be familiar with is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.”
Rick Zellen, a professional member and past president of the Colorado Chapter, 2017 Region II Safety Professional of the Year and a member of the Utilities, Management, Construction and Risk Management Insurance practice specialties, also spoke about the importance of the alliance in the construction industry.
“I accepted [this position] because I wanted to be a part of the movement that is helping to break the stigma surrounding mental health and building a culture that moves people who are facing pain, that would drive them to consider suicide as a solution, to be aware of the assistance that’s available,” he says. “I lost a close friend to suicide about 10 years ago. I had absolutely no idea that he was in that much pain. I’d like to think someday, because of the work the alliance is doing, we will see a significant reduction in suicides in the construction industry.”
Shupe and Zellen’s roles in the alliance will be to provide educational materials, such as articles and resources to help, to the Society’s Construction Practice Specialty to raise awareness.
