Report of the MCAA Safety Committee

Words: Zach Ackley

Safety Newsletter

The Committee continues to help produce the safety newsletter. These newsletters are short quick newsletters sent to member firms. The purpose is really to re-focus contractors on the importance of safety and give another resource to safety folks in our member firms.

Safety Forum

The Committee is in need of volunteers to assist with the Safety Forums. They don’t take a lot of time, just a quick 15-minute presentation on a safety topic and then the programs lead into other safety related topics. The more volunteers we have, the more forums we can do.

Safety Awards

The MCAA gave our annual safety awards to member companies at our mid-year meeting in Steamboat, CO. Top safety performers were presented with awards at our mid-year Board meeting. We seem to be getting more entries every year.

Networking

The committee has been busy addressing individual requests and inquiries. Whether it be citation advice, implementing a safety program or any other item related to safety, the committee is positioned to help other safety representatives and often spends hours on the phone assisting each other. This is often an overlooked service of the committee, but one of it’s more important one’s.

Masonry

The safety committee is working with Masonry to make sure safety is featured in every issue. Safety will continue to be a major focus for Masonry in the year ahead.

Silica

The committee continues to work on this issue. Whether it be through the courts, the coalition and our attorneys, the committee is committed to making sure the implemented silica rule is the best we can get. We will continue to work with the new administration to seek and advise changes for the rule.

On Boarding Videos

The committee is working to develop on boarding videos in the year ahead. Jackson Lewis has been contracted to develop the content for the videos and then Tom Clark will likely be tapped to be the host and provide the video service for these topics. There will be three topics tackled in 2018, PPE, Silica and HAZ Comm. These videos will be available to members along with tests that will allow them to have new hires watch them and take the test and then get on the job-site having met the training needs of these topics. Every year we will add additional topics to the library. We expect them to become very popular and become an indispensable tool for our members.
Monadnock Building
August 2026

Chicago’s Monadnock Building doesn’t dominate the skyline the way it once did. Surrounded by steel-and-glass towers, the dark brick structure can seem almost understated. But for anyone in the masonry industry, it remains one of the most important buildin

Cass Stern
American Treasure
Brick Clay Brick
Read More
Britt Stokes, Acme Brick’s Director of Marketing, Retires.
August 2026

Fort Worth, Texas – After faithfully serving Acme Brick Company for 40 years, Britt has chosen to retire – although he will still be involved with Acme on various projects. Britt began his career with Acme as staff photographer and through dedicati

Industry News
Read More
Why SkillsUSA is the Keystone to MCAA’s Outreach
August 2026

When I stepped into the role of the MCAA’s first Director of Youth Outreach and Education, I knew we had a massive job ahead of us. I am a fourth-generation brick mason, and I have spent over two decades teaching the trade, from working with apprentices a

Robert Melgaard
Outreach Outlook
Read More
The First Paycheck
August 2026

Several years ago, Huntley Brothers hired a young apprentice. It was his first real job, and he had never had a paycheck before. Friday rolled around, and he got paid just like everyone else. Later that day, one of the guys told me something I have never

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More
Interested in working with us? Learn about and join the Masonry Alliance Program →