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In 2019, a group of industry leaders came together with a shared mission: to improve safety, health, and well-being across the construction industry by fostering collaboration over competition. This coalition, including Shawmut and Dimeo, recognized that consistency—not competition—is key to creating safer, healthier jobsites. Their work gained urgency and momentum during the pandemic, and today, their efforts are expanding across multiple states intending to establish a national standard for mental health and safety in construction.
In this session, Shawmut Chief Safety Officer Shaun Carvalho and Dimeo Corporate Safety Director Bob Kunz will share how they transitioned from competitors to partners, aligning values to address the complex challenges of mental health and substance use in construction. They’ll highlight the programs and frameworks developed to –date, including:
A universal orientation system launched through AGC of MA’s CARE Construction Safety Program, reaching over 26,000 workers across 220 projects.
Support for Building Futures RI’s “We’ve Got Your Back” campaign, which provides clinical and peer support for tradespeople.
The creation of a first-of-its-kind Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ratified by the RI Construction and Building Trades Council, establishing guiding principles for providing mental health and substance use disorder support and resources.
A Mental Health First Aid Training network where 20% of attendees have reported using their training in real-world situations.
Through interactive elements like live polling and Q&A, Shaun and Bob will offer actionable insights for attendees to implement within their own organizations. This session is designed to inspire industry-wide change by demonstrating how collaboration can drive consistency, empower everyone on a jobsite, and create a culture where mental health and safety are foundational—not optional.