BAC LOCAL 8 SOUTHEAST

September 2026: Suicide Prevention Month

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States and Canada, and workers in the construction industry are impacted at higher-than-average rates. With construction having one of the highest rates of suicide among all industries, we must recognize suicide prevention as a critical occupational health and safety effort. 

The Bricklayers' Member Assistance Program (MAP) highlights Suicide Prevention Month with a special focus on Construction Suicide Prevention Week to break the stigma, encourage early intervention, offer hope, and share critical, life-saving resources. MAP has the following message for our BAC brothers and sisters in need: you matter, your wellbeing matters, you are not alone, and help is available. While the reasons behind suicide are not simple, our message could not be more straightforward: your journey isn't over. There is a theme that emerges in stories of hope and recovery: to keep going. Relief happens, and healing is possible. 

For confidential help from a specialist who grasps the realities you may face as a worker in the trades, or to get quickly and easily connected to treatment or other support services, contact BAC MAP at 1-833-MAP-TALK (1-833-627-8255), Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm ET. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. You may also obtain immediate 24/7 help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988.

Stronger Standards, Safer Workers: The Fight Against Silica Dust

Construction workers face various hazards from fall risks to heat illnesses, however, no hazard may be more difficult to spot than silica dust. Unlike more visible dangers on a jobsite, silica dust often lingers in the air unnoticed, making it particularly dangerous. Before the BAC and other unions helped to push the 2016 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) silica safety standard, around 2 million construction workers in the US alone were being exposed to crystalline silica annually. This widespread exposure meant that a significant portion of the workforce faced long-term health risks simply by performing everyday job tasks, often without realizing the severity of the danger.

Prevailing Wages: Myth vs. Fact

Prevailing wages on federally funded construction projects have not only stabilized local wage rates and labor standards for local wage earners and local contractors, but also prevented low-road contractors from bringing in low-rate workers from out of state. Even though the Davis-Bacon Act serves as a pillar holding up workers' rights, organizations like Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) have shared myths about the benefits of prevailing wages.