It is an honor to write you at the beginning of the Spring season – a season of growth and change - as the Director of the Washington State Construction Center of Excellence. We’ve set our sights high through the remainder of the 2023 fiscal year and already have our plan set for 2024:

Never having widely participated in “women’s only” activities previously in her career, Dr. Barbara Jackson began to recognize the need for women to step up, and step out, in the construction industry. Dr. Jackson’s two presentations served as rousing calls to action for everyone in the construction industry, especially women, to stand in their own power and to generate their own future.

The NW Center of Excellence for Marine Manufacturing & Technology is committed to supporting and expanding a competitive and resilient maritime workforce for Washington State.  We work with two broad sub-sectors of the industry, ashore and afloat.  This includes boat and ship building and repair, underway operations, water transportation, and commercial fishing.

This year, for World Suicide Prevention Day, the theme is “Creating Hope through Action.”

Voters, parents, and high school students share a remarkably positive view of skilled trades classes and support greater investment in these courses to prepare students for life after high school, according to a new study from Harbor Freight Tools for Schools conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago. The study finds broad and bipartisan support among voters and parents alike for a variety of funding mechanisms to bolster skilled trades education.

Glen Martin started his carpentry career as an apprentice in 1974. By 1978, he earned his journeyman card. And so began Glen’s journey to becoming a Carpentry Instructor at Green River Community College. Thirty two years later Glen is ready to pass the torch and retire.

Teachers explored connections to high demand careers in the trades through interactive design challenges as well as a panel discussion with industry professionals during a virtual, interactive, STEM Café, “The Building and Construction Trades” produced by the Construction Center of Excellence and West Sound STEM Network.

This guidebook produced by the City of Seattle and Sound Transit in partnership with other regional organizations includes details on how to start and advance your career through apprenticeship.

We feel fortunate to have heard from experts on psychological safety, trust and mentorship! Here are some additional resources.

Being a woman in the construction industry today is highly rewarding. The old adage “it’s a man’s world” no longer applies.

Do you have apprentices who need help with juggling home and career obligations, communication on the job site, conflict resolution, or giving/receiving feedback?

Congratulations to Hunter McInelly on winning the first We Build Washington! video contest! Hunter will receive a $2,000 scholarship to help him in his education.

Welcome to the inaugural edition of “A Simple Cup of Coffee”, a blog initiated by Kristi Grassman of the Center of Excellence for Construction and written by yours truly. We hope to make this a monthly posting speaking to all professionals in the construction industry.

Considering the serious nature of the hazard, the standard mushroom-style plastic rebar caps should not be used for protection against impalement. Protective devices capable of withstanding at least 250 pounds dropped from a height of ten feet should be used.

Vaughn Pugh, President of Integrity Safety Services, is keenly aware of the risks associated with exposed rebar. A staple material across modern jobsites, rebar presents an unparalleled danger when improperly handled. "Rebar is typically placed on the ground, often on a walking path or work surface," creating an ever-present hazard. "Rebar affects every worker on a site and, therefore, has a greater impact on possible injury."

Rebar is used on almost every jobsite. All protruding rebar is hazardous. Employees can fall on protruding rebar, creating major and even life-threatening injuries.

This month, we’re sharing toolbox talks and facts to ensure everyone can work around rebar safely.

Christina Riley, Marketing Representative of the Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA), believes every individual working in construction should prioritize hearing protection. Hearing protection is often neglected due to poor on-site availability and inadequate training. When hearing protection isn’t readily available, workers often forgo it altogether, risking permanent hearing loss.

We’ve compiled resources, videos, and websites on hearing protection to help you stay safe on the job. This month’s resources include a course to teach workers about hearing protection, an OSHA pocket guide to evaluate noise and potential hearing loss, and our PSA-style video on hearing protection..