The ACEC/MA Health and Safety Forum provides an outlet for its members to discuss aspects of firm health and safety programs, industry health and safety concerns, and client services.
Structure
Managed by two co-chairs, our Health and Safety Forum is organized around particular areas of membership expertise and interest, focusing on sharing knowledge and experience with health and safety issues. All committee members are volunteer representatives from ACEC/MA member firms. Additional participants from member firms are always welcome. If your work responsibilities include Health and Safety issues for your firm, or if you are interested in learning more about the issues, sign up for this Forum. This Forum is open to all employees of ACEC/MA Member Firms, even if you are not located in Massachusetts. Because most of the meetings are also held on Zoom or Teams, it is easy to participate.
Meeting Schedule
ACEC/MA’s Health and Safety Forum usually meets monthly by Zoom or, when possible, at the office of an ACEC/MA Member Firm. The Forum presents on topics solicited from participants as well as current local and national safety issues and concerns, drawing upon the knowledge of personnel within the member firms and occasional outside firm subject matter experts. Forums are held as either a presentation by a speaker/panel, or open forum, sometimes in conjunction with other ACEC/MA forums, and there is always opportunity for open discussion among the members.
Resources and Updates (most current at the top)
11/17/25 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum on Ergonomics with Dr. Lito M. Amit, DHSc, CSP, CIT, Associate Professor, Safety and Construction Sciences, Keene State College, NH – PDF of Presentation
8/26/25 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum on MassDOT Highway Construction Safety Legislation with Neil E. Boudreau, Assistant Administrator for Traffic and Safety, MassDOT – Highway Division – PDF of Presentation
4/28/25 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum on OSHA Regulations: Confined Space Entry: General Industry vs. Construction, Presented on April 28, 2025 by Dr. Scott Smith, CSP, Safety & Health Director, Tighe & Bond, ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum Co-Chair
1/27/25 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum on Review and Breakdown of the Proposed OSHA Heat Injury and Illness Prevention with Scott Smith, Ph.D., Tighe & Bond, Co-Chair of ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum
10/28/24 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum on Decoding OSHA Regulations with Scott Smith, Ph.D., Tighe & Bond, Co-Chair of ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum
- PDF of Decoding OSHA Regulations
- PDF of CIPP Process Risk Controls – Please note: Slides 15 and 16 are the new content on OSHA standards they can enforce. Scoot also drew comparison to the top OSHA citations issued.
6/17/2024: Climate Impacts on Occupational Safety: Nature, Health, and Regulation by Scott Smith, Tighe & Bond
5/20/2024: OSHA Focus 4 – ACEC Refresher Presented by Scott Smith, Tighe & Bond
4/22/2024: Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP) Presented by Scott Smith, Tighe & Bond
1/22/2024: Briefing from MEMA Director Dawn Brantley
12/19/2023: Crisis Management in Challenging Times!
6/12/2023: Emergency Response Plan Basic, presented by John Bocchino, Jr., Principal, Operation & Maintenance, Weston & Sampson
5/22/2023: Safety & Health: Lagging and Leading Indicators, presented by Dr. Scott Patrick Smith, CSP, Safety & Health Director, Tighe & Bond
4/24/2023: Leveraging Technology: Engaging Employees in your Safety Programs, presented by Richard Ecord, CIH, CSP, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
2/27/2023 Health & Safety Forum: Training Programs, discussion led by Dr. Scott Smith, Safety & Health Director, Tighe & Bond
PDF of Training Resources discussed during this zoom.
1/30/2023 Health & Safety Forum: Health & Safety Inspections & Audits presented by Dr. Scott Smith, Safety & Health Director, Tighe & Bond presentation developed in conjunction with Mick Brown, Health & Safety Manager, Weston & Sampson
11/28/22 Health & Safety Forum: Dr. Scott Smith, Safety & Health Director, Tighe & Bond, Health and Safety Plans
10/31/22 Health & Safety Forum: Incident Investigations: How can we learn from workplace injuries? with James Laing and Sarah Yiu, State FACE Program at Massachusetts Department of Public Health
3/28/22 Health & Safety Forum: Safety and Health Management Systems with Kimlee Lindgren, AECOM, Site Safety Officer, South Coast Rail Project
2/28/22 Health & Safety Forum: Lone/Remote Worker
Resources:
Stay Safe: Lone Worker Policy Guide
Ohio State University – Working Alone Safety Program
Lone Worker
What is a lone worker?
- Employee working alone
- Routinely
- Periodically
- Occasionally
Identify lone workers in your establishment
What are the potential hazards faced?
What are potential solutions:
- Communication system
- Lone worker App
- Cloud-based monitoring
- Wearable technology
- Satellite Tracking devices
Develop a policy
- Simplicity
- Involve your lone workers
- Keep it updated
Develop lone worker procedures
- Communication
- Worker sign-in and sign-out
- Supervisory check
Response to an emergency
References:
Industrial Safety & Hygiene News (ISHN)
Ohio State University – Working Alone Safety Program
11/29/2021 Health & Safety Forum on OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard and Status of ETS
Recording of Session
PDF of Presentation by Steve Hawkins
Related links shared by participants:
- https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/employment-law/pages/employers-should-be-cautious-when-asking-about-vaccination-status.aspx#:~:text=The%20EEOC%20explained%20that%20any,limit%20its%20use%2C%20Riga%20said.
- https://returnsafe.com/ is a vendor for collecting vaccine status info
- https://www.hhs.gov/answers/if-my-employer-requires-proof-of-my-covid-19-vaccination-status/index.html
- osha.gov website has a 67-page enforcement document for the Emergency Temporary Standard. This document is designed for compliance officers for their inspection and enforcement policies. It has a great amount of information. https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/directives/DIR_2021-02_CPL_02.pdf
- National Law Review discussion on religious exemptions: https://www.natlawreview.com/article/religious-exemptions-mandated-covid-19-vaccines-must-employers-consider-those
9/27/2021 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum on “Path Out of the Pandemic: New Vaccine Mandates
5/24/2021 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum on Lifting of COVID Restrictions and Returning to Offices
3/29/2021 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum on Ergonomics and Risk Management Strategies with Tim Pottorff MSc., CIE, ARM of QP3 ErgoSystems
2/22/2021 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum on Emerging Ergonomics Trends: Work from Home Status, Learning Environments and Back to Business in the Traditional Office with Rachel Michael CPE, CHSP, Director of Consulting Services, Exponent EHF
1/25/2021 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum on COVID Vaccinations and Legal Aspects with Joseph M. Gesker, Jr, Esq, Donovan Hatem LLP:
9/21/2020 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum Recording
ACEC’s Guide for Returning to the Office and the Job Site (version 1) – from ACEC National
Recorded Discussion on YouTube from 6/8 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum: Discussion on Reopening Offices and Construction Site Safety
Recorded Discussion on YouTube from 5/18/2020 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum on Office Reopening and Construction Site Safety
5/18/2020: Massachusetts Standards and Protocols for Construction Sites:
- https://www.mass.gov/doc/sector-specific-workplace-safety-standards-for-construction-to-address-covid-19/download
- https://www.mass.gov/doc/construction-protocol-summary/download
- https://www.mass.gov/doc/construction-checklist/download
Presentation from 11/20/2019 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum + TALC: Training, Qualification, and Oversight for Safety-Related Railroad Employees: Part 243 Implementation Update with Rob Castiglione, FRA Office of Railroad Safety, Human Performance Division
Presentation from 6/19/2019 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum, HR Forum and Risk Management Forum – Medical and Recreational Marijuana: Issues for the Workplace
Presentation from 1/28/2019 ACEC/MA Health & Safety Forum, HR Forum and Risk Management Forum – ACEC/MA Member Briefing on the Experience Modification Rating (EMR) with Greying’s Kent Collier.
Co-Chairs:
Mick Brown
Health & Safety Manager
Weston & Sampson
44 Concord St, Wilmington, MA 01887
Scott Smith | CSP, LpD
Safety & Health Director
Tighe & Bond
53 Southampton Road, Westfield, MA 01085
Board Liaison:
Regional Business Manager – Massachusetts
Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc.
285 Billerica Road, Suite 203
Chelmsford, MA 01824