Sir Isaac Newton’s First Law deals with inertia and tells us an object at rest will stay at rest; an object in motion will stay in motion. These statements remain true unless an outside/external force acts on the object. The virus that escaped China—the external force—to ravage the globe in 2020 put the health and safety community of the construction industry—the object—into what I’d call “increased velocity.”

While members of the construction industry’s safety arm weren’t at rest prior to COVID-19’s outbreak, I think we’ve stepped up our game. Many other editors in the trade, commercial and literary publication marketplaces have bemoaned how the pandemic has changed business dynamics in 2020, but, to be honest, I think we should view ourselves differently for it. For example, if you’re like me, you think more intentionally about health and safety in your personal and professional lives.

I’m putting self-awareness in the “positive” column for the year.

While I would never minimize the physical and mental health issues many people have had to deal with as reactions to the pandemic have made their way into our daily thoughts and activities, I want to move forward into 2021. Without negating anyone’s concerns, I posit it’s time for clear-thinking adults to take advantage of the New Year and all the resolution-power that comes with it to make positive choices for health, safety and prosperity combined. Let’s take the lessons we’ve learned from lessening the spread of an unknown and unpredictable virus, apply those lessons to whatever’s coming out of Andhra Pradesh next, and move forward with the benefit of better health and safety programs in place.

We have more to discuss in 2021 than fear of a virus that my 70-year-old father battled and survived, that a publishing friend with the co-morbidity of COPD battled and survived, and so on. I’m fortunate that none of my friends or neighbors who experienced COVID-19 firsthand perished. I include my gratitude in my prayers.

I also include forward-thinking in my supplications and encourage others to do the same. We cannot sit down and stay in place, paralyzed by fear. By turning into bodies at rest, we not only pack on the quarantine poundage from quarantine snacks, but we let the businesses that our employees and economy depend upon slide into failure. Healthy bodies that have nowhere to work and no hope for the future won’t remain healthy for long. Thus I encourage spreading hope for the New Year.

What’s your post-COVID plan for a healthy and hopeful season start-up in Spring 2021? What’s your plan to get your company—the object—in motion in the safest, healthiest operations for all of your workers?

I wish a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year to everyone!

Stay Safe,
Sandy Lender

An eight-month congressional log jam on COVID relief is breaking and a $900 billion package is heading to Americans in time for the holidays.

Bipartisan congressional leaders Dec. 20 announced the agreement, which includes:

• $45 billion for transportation program operational assistance
  • $16 billion for airline and airline contractor payroll support
  • $14 billion for public transportation agencies
  • $10 billion for state departments of transportation
  • $2 billion for airports
  • $2 billion for private motor coach
  • $1 billion for Amtrak

• A second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for those businesses severely impacted by the pandemic
• Final FY 2021 appropriations package that will set transportation and other programmatic investment levels for the year and include any supplemental infrastructure resources
• Water Resources Development Act reauthorization legislation
  • Allows $16 billion in port, waterway and harbor maintenance projects to move forward

“ARTBA members who made thousands of grassroots contacts and participated in hundreds of virtual meetings with elected officials deserve applause for their dogged outreach,” said ARTBA President Dave Bauer. “The inclusion of transportation and, specifically, state department of transportation assistance, in this package demonstrates the value of those outstanding efforts.”

The $2.4 trillion COVID relief and annual spending package is expected to pass both chambers of Congress Dec. 21 with overwhelming bipartisan support and be signed into law by President Donald Trump.

ARTBA will keep you posted as the process moves forward and further details about the package become available.

“As a former mayor, Pete Buttigieg has seen firsthand how transportation improvements can improve the economy and quality of life in communities.

“He put forward a comprehensive and thoughtful plan during his presidential run to make major improvements to highways, roads, bridges and public transit systems, and address the Highway Trust Fund’s solvency challenges.  His understanding of the issue will allow him to hit the ground running once confirmed as secretary.

“The pivot from economic rescue to renewal amidst the ongoing pandemic begins with major new infrastructure investments.

“We are eager to work with President-elect Biden and Mayor Buttigieg in early 2021 to build the broad-based support for a multi-year federal transportation investment program that benefit all Americans.”

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) brings together all facets of the transportation construction industry to responsibly advocate for infrastructure investment and policy that meet the nation’s need for safe and efficient travel.  ARTBA also offers value-added programs and services providing its members with a competitive edge.

Catherine Hejl, a civil engineer manager at HNTB, has become the 500^th industry professional to earn the Safety Certification for Transportation Project Professionals™ (SCTPP) credential, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Foundation announced Dec. 15.

“At HNTB, we want every one of our employees to go home each evening.  Preparing for and getting this safety certification reinvigorated my commitment to myself and my team that safety is our number one priority in everything we do, “said Hejl. “Earning this credential helps me expand my contribution to our CEI practice and ensure an extra set of safety eyes throughout the life of a project.”

The SCTPP was created to raise safety awareness in the planning, design, construction and management of transportation projects from inception to completion.  Its goal is to establish a national benchmark for safety awareness to dramatically reduce the number of incidents that occur on U.S. transportation project sites. Nearly 50,000 people are injured or killed in or around these sites annually.

Here are the names of the industry professionals who have earned the SCTPP credential since February.

• Peter Distefano, Project Manager, Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc.
• David Prouty, Safety Specialist, Fred Smith Construction
• Adam Gardner, Construction Manager, KCI Technologies
• Scott Stevens, Safety Manager, Maryland Department of Transportation
• Jason Schuster, Project Manager, Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc.
• Tommy Bruce, Engineer, TXDOT
• Shawn Tinkey, Field Representative, HNTB Corporation
• Larry Sharp, Construction Inspector, HNTB Corporation
• Kevin Bennett, Area Manager, Vecellio & Grogan, Inc.
• Glen Wetherington, Safety Professional, The Middlesex Corporation
• Gary Butters, Project Manager, Vecellio & Grogan, Inc.
• Terry Paholek, Senior Project Engineer, HNTB
• John Lawrence, Construction Manager, HNTB Corporation
• Brian Hall, Professional Engineer, HNTB Corporation
• Randolph Durland, Transportation Technician, Idaho Department of Transportation
• Matthew Williams, Staff Civil Engineer, Burns & McDonnell
• Jason Burger, Resident Construction Manager, Development Facilitators Inc.
• Steven Crawley, Safety Supervisor, Lane Construction
• Aaron Fontenot, Field Engineer, Barriere Construction Company, LLC
• Michael Easley, Project Manager, Barriere Construction Co. LLC
• Anthony Joosten, Project Safety Manager, Kraemer North America, LLC
• Clayton Zacha, Area Engineer, TXDOT
• Bryan Clelland, Superintendent, Barriere Construction Co. LLC
• Philip Graham, Director of assurance Services, HNTB Corporation
• Roy Schofield, Resident Manager, HNTB
• Michael McCauley, Safety Director, Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration
• John Hurst, Field Engineer, Barriere Construction Co., LLC
• Catherine Hejl, Civil Engineer Manager, HNTB
• Christian Valeton, Project Manager, Barriere Construction Company, LLC
• Brian Ishee, Superintendent, Barriere Construction Co. LLC
• Tyler White, Civil Engineer Manager, HNTB Corporation
• Dillon Lee, Field Engineer, Barriere Construction Co. LLC
• Brandon Kuehl, Assistant Civil Engineer, Burns & McDonnell Engineering
• Timothy Jones, Safety Manager, Lane Construction
• Michael Munsell, Safety Specialist, Burns & McDonnell Engineering
• Jerrad Heppler, Corporate Safety Coordinator, Banks Construction Company
• Rashawn Austin, Safety Engineer, TAP Electrical Contracting

As of Dec. 15, 510 professionals representing 103 companies and agencies in 38 states and Washington, D.C., have earned the credential since the program’s launch in late 2016.

“Our industry was deemed essential at the onset of COVID-19, and with a full work week and new challenges in an uncertain environment, these professionals still accomplished their goals,” said Brad Sant, ARTBA senior vice president of safety & education.  “There are few stories in the safety arena this year more positive than the transportation construction industry professionals who earned the SCTPP credential.”

To learn more about the American National Standards Institute-accredited certification exam and eligibility requirements, visit puttingsafetyfirst.org.

Established in 1985, the ARTBA Foundation is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt entity designed to “promote research, education and public awareness” about the impacts of transportation investment. The Foundation supports an array of initiatives, including educational scholarships, awards, professional development academies, a transportation project safety certification program, roadway work zone safety and training, special economic reports and an exhibition on transportation at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

NSSGA’s Michele Stanley has been named one of Washington’s Top Lobbyists by The Hill, a long-time publication covering Capitol Hill. According to The Hill, those recognized on the list have “wielded their clout and knowledge most effectively for their clients.”

Read what NSSGA had to say about the honor:

In a year full of challenges, Stanley rose above to deliver results for NSSGA’s members. Stanley led NSSGA’s Government and Regulatory Affairs team to ensure our industry was deemed as essential to continue operations during the early weeks of the pandemic. With advocacy changing by the day in a virtual world, Stanley led the efforts of a hardworking and passionate team to draw in members of Congress to speak directly with our members through regular Policy Briefing webinars. Those efforts built a level of engagement with our members that paid off during our annual fly-in, where 325 bipartisan hill meetings were held virtually with Congressional offices, including leadership on both sides of the aisle in both chambers. Stanley also continued her efforts as a leader and coalition builder in the aggregates industry, working with the Highway Materials Group.

“Michele is an outstanding advocate, who tirelessly works to advance the public policy priorities of our member companies,” said NSSGA President & CEO Michael Johnson. “Very simply, advocacy is job #1 at NSSGA, and Michele has made us more effective than ever in doing that work. The value our industry provides to our communities and our economy would not get the understanding it deserves with policymakers without Michele’s great work. We are extremely fortunate to have her leading our advocacy team.”

Stanley finds herself among a ‘who’s who’ of Washington heavyweights, as a leading advocate for the aggregates industry. The Hill’s Top Lobbyist List is the most anticipated recognition each year for government relations professionals.