Seminars, Standards, and the Next Generation

This last month kept us on the move. From a nearly 50-year-old wastewater seminar to a statewide gathering of construction safety professionals to four days of hard hats and hands-on labs with the next generation of tradeswomen, the month gave us plenty of reminders that safety knowledge travels best when people are in the same room. Here's a look back.

July 16 — 49th Annual SARBS Collection Systems Seminar & Vendor Fair

We were proud to exhibit at the 49th Annual SARBS Collection Systems Seminar & Vendor Fair, a day built around the people who keep wastewater collection systems running. The seminar brought together collection professionals, industry experts, and vendors for a full agenda of technical sessions, candid conversation, and the kind of peer-to-peer problem solving you can't get from a manual.

The day opened with registration, breakfast, and networking in the vendor exhibit hall, followed by welcome remarks from the Collection Chair. From there, the sessions covered a lot of ground:

• Lock-Out/Tag-Out in Utility Operations — Our own Kyle Harris walked attendees through why proper energy isolation is non-negotiable during maintenance and servicing, and where LOTO programs most often break down in the field.

• The History of Sewer — Tray Hall of Nixon-Egli Equipment Co. traced the evolution of sewer systems and how century-old decisions still shape the infrastructure crews work on today.

• Sewer Spill Round Table Discussion — An interactive session on spill prevention, response strategy, regulatory considerations, and hard-won lessons from real incidents.

• Improving Manhole Rehabilitation Decisions with LiDAR and 360° Digital Twins — Jason Lake of RH Borden & Company showed how advanced imaging is sharpening inspection accuracy, asset management, and rehab planning.

• Patch Perfect — Nick Hollan of Yorba Linda Water District shared practical, field-tested best practices for sewer pipe patching and rehabilitation.

Between sessions, attendees had time to walk the exhibits, get hands on new products and technologies, and compare notes with peers from across the industry. The day closed with door prizes and remarks that landed on a familiar theme: collaboration, safety, and innovation are what move this work forward.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth. We had great conversations, and we're already looking ahead to the seminar's 50th year.

AGC of California & AGC San Diego Joint Safety & Health Council Conference

We were glad to take part in the annual Joint Safety & Health Council Conference, hosted by the AGC of California and AGC San Diego Safety & Health Councils. The event pulls construction safety professionals from across the state together for a single day of regulatory updates, best-practice sharing, and open discussion of the safety and health issues shaping the industry right now.

What makes this conference work is who's in the room. Safety directors, managers, coordinators, superintendents, project managers — anyone carrying safety responsibility is encouraged to attend, and the conversations reflect that range of perspective. Regulatory updates hit differently when you can immediately ask a peer how they operationalized the change on an active jobsite.

As a longtime AGC affiliate, we always appreciate the chance to connect with fellow members, trade notes, and bring what we learn back to the organizations we support.

July 27–30 — Camp NAWIC

We closed out July with one of the most energizing events on the calendar: Camp NAWIC, a free four-day hands-on construction camp hosted by NAWIC Orange County and ABC Southern California in Anaheim, designed to introduce young women to careers in the trades.

Campers spent Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday in discovery labs across electrical, carpentry, plumbing, masonry, and more — working in teams alongside construction professionals, ABC trainers, and volunteers. Day one set the tone the right way, starting with stretch and flex, camp orientation on PPE, OSHA, and safety expectations, and a safety scavenger hunt before students moved into tool safety, a motor control lab, plumbing, and a doorbell installation activity.

Tuesday took the group off site for a jobsite tour with Bergman Build at an active private school project in Chino, paired with resume-building work — a real look at how a project comes together and what it takes to get hired onto one.

Beyond the skills, campers left with career readiness training, encouragement, and role models who look like them. Hats off to NAWIC Orange County, ABC SoCal, the volunteers, and everyone who gave their time to make it happen.

Looking Ahead

Whether the audience is a room full of collection systems veterans, a statewide council of safety leaders, or a group of students holding a tool for the first time, the goal is the same: give people what they need to go home safe and to help others do the same.

Thank you to every partner, host, and volunteer who made this last month what it was!

A Month of Safety, Celebration, and Recognition: Our June 2026 Recap

 

June was a milestone month for our team. From community celebrations to a world-class industry conference to a first-of-its-kind recognition ceremony, we had the privilege of being part of events that reflect exactly why we do what we do — helping organizations build stronger and safer workplaces. Here's a look back at the month, in the order it unfolded.

June 6 — Celebrating 50 Years of DigAlert

We kicked off the month at the DigAlert 50th Anniversary Celebration, held Saturday, June 6 at the Corona Civic Center. The event marked a half-century of promoting safe excavation and underground utility damage prevention across Southern California.

Officially known as Underground Service Alert of Southern California, DigAlert has been serving the region since 1976, helping protect underground infrastructure through its notification and education programs. Fifty years is no small feat, and the celebration matched the occasion — food trucks, a live DJ, a visit from Wild Wing, first responders on site, and hands-on demonstrations including utility line locating and backhoe skills. It was a genuine community event that made safe-digging awareness fun for all ages.

June 15–17 — Safety 2026 Conference & Expo

Mid-month brought us to the Safety 2026 Conference & Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center, hosted by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). For more than 60 years, ASSP's annual conference has drawn environmental, health, and safety professionals from around the world, and this year was no exception.

With more than 200 educational sessions led by industry experts, the conference offered a deep dive into the trends and challenges shaping our field. Sessions spanned OSHA and regulatory compliance, risk management, safety leadership and culture, industrial hygiene, fall protection and confined space safety, and worker well-being and mental health — alongside a growing focus on the role of artificial intelligence in EHS. 

Beyond the sessions, the expansive expo showcased hundreds of safety products, technologies, and service providers, and the networking opportunities with thousands of peers across industries were second to none. We came away with fresh ideas, practical tools, and renewed energy — the kind of insights we're already putting to work for the organizations we serve.

June 18 — A Historic Cal/VPP Star Recognition at Prima Deshecha Landfill

We closed out the month with one of its proudest moments. On Thursday, June 18, we were honored to take part in the Cal/VPP Star Recognition Ceremony and flag raising at OC Waste & Recycling's Prima Deshecha Landfill in San Juan Capistrano.

The occasion was truly historic: Prima Deshecha Landfill officially earned Cal/OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (Cal/VPP) Star Site recognition — making it the first municipal solid waste landfill in California to receive this honor, and only the second in the nation. The ceremony featured the official Cal/VPP flag raising, recognition of employees and leadership, the presentation of certificates, and photo opportunities with staff, local officials, and department leadership.

We were especially honored to be invited to participate in recognition of our role in supporting the organization's safety initiatives. Our team played an integral part in the development and delivery of Cal/OSHA training programs, as well as the creation of the Certified Spotter Training Program for OC Waste & Recycling. These efforts helped strengthen employee safety, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence throughout the organization — and seeing that work contribute to a milestone of this magnitude was deeply rewarding.

Looking Ahead

From a community anniversary to a global conference to a history-making recognition, June reminded us that safety is both a daily discipline and a shared achievement worth celebrating. Congratulations to everyone who made these moments possible — and thank you for letting us be part of the journey!

Here's to carrying that momentum forward! 

All In Together: ehsInc's May 2026

Construction Safety Week: "All In Together"

The first full week of May was Construction Safety Week 2026 (May 4–8), the annual industry-wide initiative focused on reducing injuries and fatalities on the jobsite. Across the country, contractors, unions, safety professionals, and organizations marked the week with stand-downs, toolbox talks, training sessions, and on-site safety events.

This year's theme was "All In Together" — a reminder that a strong safety culture isn't one person's job, but everyone's. The campaign organized that idea around three core pillars, each tied directly to preventing serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs):

• Recognize — spotting the hazards and high-risk situations before they cause harm.
• Respond — acting decisively and supporting one another when something goes wrong.
• Respect — valuing every worker's right to go home safe at the end of the day.

We kicked off the week on Monday, May 4 at the LAWA ADG/Contractor's Safety Week Kickoff, where we hosted a booth and spent the day connecting with industry partners. We shared insights, answered questions, and talked through everything from safety training to compliance with professionals who are all committed to building a stronger safety culture. A special thank-you to Larry Turner of Hensel Phelps, who extended the invitation and did a fantastic job emceeing and organizing the event — and to the Famous Taco Bar that kept everyone well fed throughout the day.

We closed the week on Friday, May 8 out at the Port of Los Angeles, at the final-day safety event hosted by the HERZOG–Larison JV at Berths 302–305, home of the port's railyard expansion project. Our own Kaila Krichmar stopped by to show support for the initiative and bring treats to the crew on site — a small gesture, but a fitting way to wrap a week built on showing up for the people doing the work.

To everyone who stopped by, asked a question, or shared a conversation: thank you. The momentum carries well beyond a single week.

NAWIC PSW Spring Forum: "Breaking Ground, Building Dreams"

Mid-month, the NAWIC Pacific Southwest Region Spring Forum (May 13–15) brought women leaders, professionals, and allies from across the region together in Downtown LA. Hosted by NAWIC LA Chapter #42 at the Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown under the theme "Breaking Ground, Building Dreams," it was three days of connection, learning, and celebration.

The forum opened with registration, networking, a welcome reception, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the LA Convention Center project. The second day delivered a powerful lineup of conversations on culture, legacy, and leadership — from Liliana T. Pérez-Palacios of the Los Angeles Chargers on how sport can unite communities, to LA County Supervisor and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis on leading with the dignity of working people at the center. AECOM leaders shared how landmark projects like the Intuit Dome and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games are being built with community and economic inclusion in mind, and the Tradeswomen Take Center Stage panel offered real stories of apprenticeship, ownership, and building the pipeline for the next generation. Procore's Morgan Traynor closed the day's sessions with a timely look at leading through change.

The final day kept the energy going with an Emerging Professionals walk and coffee meetup, sessions on turning relationships into revenue and navigating the legal realities of the jobsite, and a glamorous Old Hollywood–themed awards banquet — "Lights, Camera, Construction" — to send everyone off in true LA style.

A heartfelt thank-you to Regional Director Kaitlyn McKenna as she closes out her term, and congratulations to NAWIC LA Chapter #42 on a forum to remember. We're already looking forward to 2027, when NAWIC Orange County hosts the region.

Happy 62nd Birthday, NAWIC Orange County!

We then kicked off the month of June by celebrating the NAWIC Orange County Chapter's 62nd Birthday — and we were proud to sponsor the event. Our very own Marjorie Del Toro and Corrie Chan were there on our behalf, and we were especially excited to help create the night's crowd favorite: a Kahoot! trivia game that put members' knowledge of NAWIC's history to the test while bringing plenty of fun and friendly competition.

It was inspiring to connect with longtime members, welcome the chapter's new Board, and honor 62 years of empowering women in construction. Happy birthday, NAWIC OC — here's to many more.

Looking ahead

If there was a through-line to May and the beginning of June, it was the spirit of being all in together — on the jobsite, across the region, and in the communities we're part of. Thank you to every partner, member, and team member who made this month what it was. We'll see you out there.

What Brought Industry Leaders and Safety Teams Together This April

Over the past month, our industry has come together across Southern California and beyond to spotlight what truly drives safety forward.

From empowering conversations all the way to moments of remembrance, each event carried a shared theme—building stronger teams and safer job sites.

Leadership in Action: Women Shaping the Industry

At the start of April, NAWIC Orange County hosted an impactful evening at Hope Builders in Santa Ana centered on Leadership Perspectives from Diverse-Owned Businesses.

The panel brought together Robin Thorne (CTI Environmental, Inc.), Carolina Alvarez (J&S Building Maintenance, Inc.), and Christie Bravo (Bravo Building Concepts / Bravo Roofing, Inc.), who shared firsthand experiences navigating growth, leadership, and the realities of running successful construction businesses.

Moderated by our very own Marjorie Del Toro, the conversation created space for candid dialogue that moved beyond theory and into real-world experience. Attendees left with practical insights and a stronger sense of community within the industry.

National Work Zone Awareness Week: A Shared Responsibility

As National Work Zone Awareness Week came to a close, the message remained clear: safety in work zones is not optional, it’s shared responsibility.

Each year, thousands of crashes occur in active construction zones across the country, many of them preventable. 

Behind every cone and barrier are crews working in close proximity to live traffic, building and maintaining the infrastructure communities rely on daily.

This year’s theme, “Safe Actions, Save Lives,” reinforces a simple truth: every decision behind the wheel has consequences for those on the ground.

Workers’ Memorial Day: Remembering the Lives Lost

April 28 served as Workers’ Memorial Day, a solemn reminder of the lives lost to workplace incidents—and the families forever impacted.

The week leading up to the observance included national gatherings and safety-focused events, including training summits, memorial ceremonies, and vigils honoring fallen workers.

Across these moments, one message stood out: Remember the dead, Fight for the living.

Industry Connection on and off the Jobsite

The 50th Annual ABC San Diego Golf Tournament brought professionals together in a lighter environment, where relationships were built beyond the jobsite!

The tropical theme set the tone and the the purpose behind the event remained strong—supporting scholarships, workforce training, and the next generation of builders entering the industry. 

Construction Safety Week: Strengthening the Culture

More recently, Construction Safety Week (May 4–8, 2026) brought teams together across job sites and industry events, including the LAWA ADG/Contractor’s Safety Week Kickoff.

The kickoff provided an opportunity to connect with industry partners, share safety insights, and reinforce the importance of continuous training and compliance. Special thanks to Larry Turner at Hensel Phelps for the invitation and leadership in organizing the event, and to all who contributed to meaningful conversations around safety culture.

The week concluded with field engagement at the HERZOG Larison JV Berth 302–305 project at the Port of Los Angeles.This year’s theme, “All In Together,” highlighted three core pillars: Recognize, Respond, and Respect—reinforcing that strong safety culture depends on participation at every level of the industry.

Closing Thoughts

Across every panel, memorial, tournament, and kickoff event, one thread remains consistent: this industry is built on people.

And when people lead with awareness, responsibility, and collaboration, the entire industry moves forward—safely and intentionally.