Last year, LIUNA pledged to increase training on and access to naloxone in an effort to reduce drug overdose deaths, strengthening their commitment to addressing the opioid crisis in the construction industry. Since then, LIUNA affiliates have been taking action to honor this pledge and get more Laborers trained on using naloxone.
This February, the New York State Laborers’ Health & Safety Trust Fund (NYSLHSF) partnered with the NYC Building & Construction Industry Safety Fund (Safety Fund) and set an ambitious goal: getting naloxone on every jobsite in New York.
The NYC Building & Construction Industry Safety Fund (NYC Safety Fund) was founded in 2017 in response to a staggering number of construction deaths in New York. The nonprofit’s mission is to support families impacted by these incidents and make construction jobsites safer for every worker. Part of this goal includes addressing the opioid crisis that disproportionately impacts the construction industry.
“Construction workers currently experience the highest rate of drug overdose deaths and as leaders in the industry, we have a responsibility to take action. Increasing access to naloxone saves lives. I’m proud of the work being done to protect our members in the New England Region and across all of LIUNA.”
LIUNA General Secretary-Treasurer and LHSFNA Labor Trustee
For years, the LHSFNA and affiliates have been talking about behavioral health struggles that construction workers face and, in response, have developed and implemented resources and programs to address these complex issues. For the NYSLHSF in particular, efforts began crystalizing in 2023 with the Hope Lives campaign. So when the NYC Safety Fund looked to its industry partners for guidance and support in this initiative, they found a natural partner in the Laborers.
John O’Hare, Safety Fund co-chairman and Managing Director of the Building Contractors Association of New York, and David Bolger, Business Manager of the Mason Tenders’ District Council of Greater New York and Long Island, reached out to the NYSLHSF to learn more about what they’ve been doing to combat the opioid crisis and how they might be able to help in the new initiative.
“Behavioral health is something we’ve been talking about for years, so we already had the resources and materials at our disposal to pass along to the NYC Safety Fund,” explained TJ Smith, the NYSLHSF’s Senior Occupational Safety & Health Specialist. “We’re already doing jobsite safety visits where we’re talking to workers directly about these issues, so we were eager to work with the NYC Safety Fund to expand those efforts across the whole city.”
Expanding upon existing efforts, the NYSLHSF, the NYC Building & Construction Industry Safety Fund and other industry partners have collaborated to launch HOPE/LIVES, an educational program that will place naloxone kits on every NYC jobsite and ensure every worker is trained on its use. This is no small task, and the organization plans to continue utilizing the strong network of building trades and health and safety professionals to propel this program forward.
“Our own Hope Lives efforts have always been about helping as many people as possible, in any way we can,” explained Frank Marchese, Executive Director of the NYSLHSF. “We applaud the NYC Safety Fund’s ambitious goal and are excited to help them reach even more workers.”
At the center of HOPE/LIVES is a series of jobsite trainings, where workers learn about the dangers of opioid misuse, how to spot an overdose and how to respond in an overdose emergency. Workers also learn about the mental health initiatives and other relevant resources available to them through the LHSFNA and their health and welfare funds. Leading these trainings on behalf of the Laborers are Greg Bonanza, Health & Safety Field Representative for the NYSLHSF and Jo Venturelli, a recovery and addiction specialist and founder of Health Speaks, LLC.
“Through what’s essentially a lunch and learn session, we’re able to reach a lot of people and make a big difference in our industry,” said Bonanza. “I look forward to seeing how this program continues to grow.”
In addition to HOPE/LIVES, the LHSFNA and other affiliates—including the NYSLHSF—are working to grow LEAN LIUNA, an initiative aimed at using peer support to help members facing adversity. For more information, check out the LEAN LIUNA webpage.
[Hannah Sabitoni]
