b'CSAM NEWSFROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CSAMInsights from the CFCSA Annual General MeetingThis past June, the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA) Annual General Meeting was held in Yellowknife, N.W.T., marking 33 years of sharing information, collaboration and harmonization to advance safety acrossthe country.The name may not be familiar to everyone, but as a united umbrella organization, the CFCSA represents a formidable force. It oversees national programs such as the national COR accreditation standard, the National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO) designation and the National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA) designation. In addition, the association promotes awareness of construction health and safety practices, facilitates information exchange and jointly develops training, standards and resources to support safer workplaces. As always, this annual meeting included safety leaders from every corner of Canada, discussing current events, emerging challenges and exciting opportunities to strengthen protection for workers nationwide. Your Construction Safety Association of Manitoba was nominated to be co-chair of the CFCSA for 2025-2026, as well as to continue as chair for both the CFCSA Steering Committee and the CFCSA Training Committee.A major area of discussion, prompted by continued echoes of many contractors who work in multiple jurisdictions, was the benefit of having harmonized training standards across Canada. Stakeholders identified several priority areas, including Working at Heights, Confined Space, Supervisor training, Hoisting and Rigging, and Entry-Level construction training. While achieving this will take time and collaboration, its encouraging to see strong support from both industry and regulators for moving inthis direction.A shared value among CFCSA members is using informed, verifiable and research-based approaches to guide decision-making. A timely example is the role of Type II head protection in reducing serious injuries. Across Canada, more organizations are exploring the benefits of retention systems and side-impact protection. This forward-thinking discussion ties directly into the theme of this editions companion article: Its Time to Rethink Head Protection.Beyond training, we also explored how to better align key safety regulationsfrom trenching and excavation to fall protectionto reduce confusion and improve safety outcomes. These conversations were informed by sobering reminders that differences in terminology, requirements and training can lead to unnecessary risk, especially for workers and contractors who operate in more than one province or territory.Additional meetings with national organizations such as the Canadian Construction Association, Canadian Construction Safety Council and Energy Safety Canada reinforced the importance of collaboration without compromising the integrity of CFCSAs proven national programs like COR. Across all discussions, the message was consistent: open dialogue, client-focused and data-driven decisions should remain the foundations that guide our efforts to help prevent serious injuries and fatalities.Events like the CFCSA AGM remind me why national collaboration matters. While our work sites, regulations and climates may differ, our goal is the sameensuring that every worker returns home safe at the end of the day. By sharing ideas, aligning our efforts and supporting one another, we can make meaningful progress toward that goal.Contact us at safety@constructionsafety.ca or visit our Sean Scottoffices in Winnipeg (1447 Waverley Street / 204-775-3171) Executive Director or Brandon (950-10th Street / 204-728-3456) to learn Construction Safety Association of Manitoba how we can help create a safer workplace for your team.28 BUILD MANITOBAwinnipegconstruction.ca'