MCAA Webinars Update

By Cass Stern

Webinars are one of the most effective ways the MCAA can continue to be an educational resource for mason contractors everywhere. Before the Digital Age, mason contractors relied on printed materials, periodicals, and occasional coursework for updated industry information. New techniques, health-related regulations, and OSHA requirements did not always make their way to the smaller and more rural mason contractors as quickly as they did to the larger ones in major cities, and a communication disconnect between the MCAA and its members continued to be a problem for many years.

Thanks to recent innovations in technology like the webinar, issues like these are happily a thing of the past. In this article, we’re learning a little more about some upcoming webinars, as well as ones available on-demand. Remember, most materials like these are completely free to MCAA members, so be sure to take advantage of these educational opportunities.

Upcoming Webinars

OSHA Top 10

September 21, 2020 at 10 AM CST

It’s almost time for OSHA’s annual Top Ten Construction Violations List. This list is an essential tool for every mason contractor looking to keep employees safe on the jobsite. With insight into the most common hazards that are poorly managed in the workplace, employers can focus on improving safety protocols for those particular areas. In turn, this will not only guarantee OSHA compliance but also keep workers safer as they perform their daily duties. Construction and masonry work can be dangerous at times, which is all the more reason to focus on some additional resources to help ensure OSHA compliance- like this one. This webinar will take a granular look at this year’s OSHA Top Ten violations, and provide suggestions and recommendations on how employers can integrate changes into their existing jobsite safety protocols. It’s important to stay on top of industry regulations, and this webinar is an easy and efficient way for employers to keep informed.

Masonry Core Drilling

September 23, 2020 at 10AM CST

In one of our more practice skills-focused webinars, Masonry Core Drilling will focus on the equipment and skills required for this industry technique. Objectives will include everything from basic information like what a core drill is, its applications, and drill and stand options. The curriculum will then take a deeper dive into more specific and granular information including different materials that can or cannot be drilled, how to select the best bit for your project, and an overview of handheld drilling techniques. The course will then conclude with a section on the practical applications of stand-mounted drilling, as well as the care and maintenance of masonry core drilling equipment. This is an excellent opportunity for new masons to learn more about masonry core drilling, or for more experienced masons to get a refresh on a skill they utilize daily.

Management’s Commitment to Safety on the Jobsite

September 28, 2020 at 10AM CST

Employees look to management for leadership, guidance, and experience when it comes to running a jobsite safely and efficiently. Unfortunately, absent managers or disorganized leadership practices can do more harm than just slowing a project down. When managers lead by example and practice the safety procedures that they require, it increases employee awareness and commitment to strict compliance and enforcement. In this webinar, we will discuss several simple and straightforward ways that supervisors, managers, and jobsite leaders of all experience levels can learn new ways to better engage with employees regarding safety policies and procedures. The best practice for increased safety practices on the jobsite starts with the top and works its way down!

Interested in registering for these, or any of the other upcoming MCAA webinars? Visit https://www.masoncontractors.org/live/ to learn more and sign up.

Webinars on Demand

The Three P’s of Protective Treatments: Prepare, Protect, Perform

Originally Presented: May 6, 2020

What do the Colleseum, the Great Wall of China, and the Pyramids have in common? They’re all made with masonry, of course! As one of the longest-lasting building materials in the world, it’s no wonder that many of today’s historical architectural marvels are made with brick or stone. However, at the same time, nothing lasts forever, and even something as sturdy as masonry can benefit from some protection.

Despite the best intentions, incorrectly applied protective materials, chemicals or techniques can be catastrophic for masonry work, especially on historic masonry being preserved or restored. Therefore, this webinar gets back to the basics of protective treatments, teaching the 3 P’s to help masons everywhere. You’ll start at the beginning by revisiting techniques to prepare your substrate before moving onto the best products and ways to apply them. The learning objectives for this webinar include are broken down into:

Prepare: essential steps to ready your masonry for protective treatment.
Protect: deciding on the correct treatment for the substrate and the most effective method of application.
Perform: correlating the outcome of the project with the performance metrics of the selected product and method.

Why Suicide Prevention is a Construction Leadership Issue

Originally Presented: August 28, 2020

This year the United States has been facing an unprecedented mental health crisis largely in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-isolation and the interruption of everyday life have caused great stress and hardship for millions of people, including those in the construction and masonry industries. With the looming uncertainty of what lies ahead, the MCAA has come together to present a webinar on this important topic. This webinar will focus on the reasons why construction is ranked second in the list of occupational suicide rates, and what you as a leader can do to support your team through these trying times and beyond.

The learning objectives for this session include understanding the stigma attached to mental health, mental illness, substance abuse, and suicide, identifying why suicide prevention and mental health wellness are workplace problems, comprehending the different risk factors for suicidal actions, and learning more about the resources available to industry employers and leaders to support both employees and their families as they navigate these difficult issues. As an employer, you have a duty and responsibility to care for your employees- and sometimes, this means having a difficult conversation. Prepare yourself to be the best leader you can be in all situations with this insightful webinar.

Heat Safety

Originally Presented: May 13, 2020

As we make our way through another increasingly hot summer and continue to work in climbing temperatures and direct sunlight, more and more construction industry workers are falling victim to a swath of heat-related illnesses from everything including heat rash or muscular crams to fatal Heat Stroke. Heat Safety education and awareness are effective, as demonstrated by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup. Ten years ago, thousands of inexperienced workers and volunteers were exposed to extremely hot environmental conditions as they performed their work. In response, OSHA and NIOSH provided educational resources and proven techniques used by professional athletes and military members to train the employees and volunteers to properly assess their risk and prevent overexposure. As a result, there were zero serious heat-related illnesses or deaths among employees and volunteers involved in the Deepwater Horizon cleanup. This is just one example of how prevention is key when it comes to keeping workers safe in the hot sun.

In this webinar, the MCAA partners with Jim Rogers, construction safety, and management consultant, as he shares his experience, tips, and techniques that have kept clients safe- even in 110-degree heat. The learning objectives in this webinar include understanding heat safety and prevention techniques and their applications, identifying the available heat safety resources for construction employees, and reviewing the signs, symptoms, and treatments for heat-related illnesses. As always, prevention and early intervention are the best ways to keep workers safe in the summer heat.

The Power of Breakeven Analysis

Originally Presented: September 2, 2020

Every mason contractor has the same objective at the end of the day: to own, manage, and operate a profitable company. In business, there are three main roads to maximizing your profits. You can cut corners and spend less on labor and materials, charge more for your projects, or take on as much work as you can handle. However, deciding which road to take can be challenging, and this is where a breakeven analysis can come in handy. It doesn’t matter if you are focusing your time, attention, energy, and resources on increased or decreased sales- you need to make a smart choice when you’re looking to expand your company.

In this MCAA webinar, you will learn to craft your breakeven analysis whenever you’re at a professional crossroads. Play out various business scenarios with different overhead, margin, or sales volume to reveal which decision has your company coming out the farthest ahead. With breakeven analysis, you’ll avoid repeating any past mistakes and their consequences. This webinar will focus on the difference between the markup you charge with the margin achieved, and the session objectives include learning to use Excel to utilize a breakeven forecasting tool, analyzing price structure changes and their impact on overall profit, understanding the financial impact of slippage, and determining how to measure margins to maximize your returns.

Looking to access one of these or any of the other available MCAA On-Demand Webinars? MCAA members, visit https://www.masoncontractors.org/education/on-demand/ to get started.