ensure that the workers are taken care of to the best of their ability.” EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS At WUCA, education and advocacy are pivotal aspects of its mission. Of course, safety remains the top priority, reflected in the hosting of 10 safety seminars annually, featuring events and presentations from entities such as OSHA, local fire departments, and Diggers Hotline. These seminars, shaped by input from contractor safety directors, cover essential topics like trench rescues and locate processes, providing firsthand demonstrations and practical guidance. The association has also hosted its first annual Mental Health Awareness seminar, much needed in the industry. “You think of contractors as these big burly men who don’t have any issues in the world when in reality, mental health is one of the number one issues that our contractors deal with,” Hackney relays.“That not only means potential loss of life if there’s depression or substance abuse, but it could also be as simple as somebody not being able to come to work because they just can’t get out of bed, and contractor work and construction work is hard work.” In addition to safety education,WUCA cultivates a firm 29 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 06 WISCONSIN UNDERGROUND CONTRACTORS ASSOCIAT ION
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