Six Appointed to Advisory Committee on Construction Safety, Health

Words: Dan KamysSix Appointed to Advisory Committee on Construction Safety, Health
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has appointed four new members and re-appointed two current members to the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health. They will serve two-year terms and represent the interests of the public, employers, employees and government.

The 15-member committee meets at least twice a year. The newly appointed and re-appointed members will join nine other current members serving the remainder of their terms on the committee.

“The new ACCSH members have a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience on a breadth of safety and health issues spanning the construction industry,” says Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “We want good, safe jobs for American workers, and I am confident that these new members – representing the views of labor, management, government and the public – will use their expertise to provide valuable advice and recommendations toward our shared goal.”

Two members represent the public:
 
  • Jeremy Bethancourt, co-owner and program director, Arizona Construction Training Alliance, Scottsdale, Ariz. (new)
 
  • Letitia K. Davis, director, Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston (current)
Five members represent employees:
 
  • Roger Erickson, mobilization, optimization, stabilization and training administrator, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, AFL-CIO, Kansas City, Kan. (new)
 
  • Walter A. Jones, occupational safety and health associate director, Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America, Washington, D.C. (re-appointed)
 
  • Gary L. Batykefer, administrative director, Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust, Pittsburgh, Pa. (current)
 
  • Laurie A. Shadrick, training specialist, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, Arlington, Va. (current)
 
  • Erich J. (Pete) Stafford, director, safety and health, Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, Silver Spring, Md. (current)
Five members represent employers:
 
  • Kristi K. Barber, president, Glen C. Barber and Associates Inc., Rapid City, S.D. (new)
 
  • Donald L. Pratt, president and CEO, Construction Education & Consulting Services of Michigan, Auburn, Mich. (new)
 
  • Kevin R. Cannon, safety and health services director, Associated General Contractors of America, Arlington, Va. (current)
 
  • Thomas Marrero, safety manager, Zenith Systems LLC, Seven Hills, Ohio (current)
 
  • William E. Hering, environmental health and safety corporate manager, SM Electric Co. Inc., Rahway, N.J. (current)
 
Two members represent state governments:
 
  • Steven D. Hawkins, assistant administrator, Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Nashville, Tenn. (re-appointed)
 
  • Charles Stribling, occupational safety and health federal-state coordinator, Kentucky Labor Cabinet, Department of Workplace Standards, Frankfort, Ky. (current)
 
One member was appointed by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
 
  • Matt Gillen, construction program coordinator and senior scientist, Centers for Disease Control –National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Washington, D.C. (current)
GEN NXT: Luis Sontay
September 2026

For this month, the MCAA got to sit down with aspiring mason Luis Sontay. From taking an interest in masonry as a kid to placing 1st in a postsecondary competition, Luis’ dedication and passion for the trade is clear. Luis describes his early passion fo

Mentmore Towers, Fort Point, and More
September 2026

The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, UK, stands as a sweeping estate that represents the absolute peak of English masonry. Conceived with breathtaking scale and precision, the monumental complex is defined by

The Alhambra
September 2026

High above Granada, Spain, the Alhambra offers masonry professionals something more than an architectural landmark. It is a working lesson in how relatively simple building materials, placed by skilled craftsmen and maintained over generations, can create

The Wall
September 2026

There is a story around Huntley Brothers that some of our guys simply call “The Wall.” I’ve told it enough times over the years that when I start telling it to one of our younger guys, I can see a few of the older ones rolling their eyes. They’ve heard i