• Make sure workers are protected from more than heat and moving parts.
  Articles during the summer months often focus on safety — be it on the job, around the rig, in the trench, wherever. I want to jump on this bandwagon as well but focus on a few other things on my mind that relate to safety.

  Let’s focus on safety that we don’t often see or know about because we don’t always ask our employees. It is the safety of unseen issues.

  New hires (and even your long-time hires) may be dealing with a lot more than you know about outside the job. Personal life, social issues, and other things can take a huge toll on each of us.

  Make sure you take some time to do the following:

  Educate yourself on knowing the signs of mental health stress and struggles. What do the sudden mood swings say? Is an employee suddenly reserved and quiet?

• §  Reach out to these employees, asking them if everything is alright. Is there anything they need?
• §  Realize that these are your employees and they need support.

Also, think about other unforeseen items. We all know that our industry’s preferred method of fixing a wound in the field is a rag and tape, but do you know where the nearest pharmacy is to your jobsite? What about an ER?

Have you made sure your first aid kit is stocked with the necessary items, and up-to-date items? Make sure the items dad put in there 30 years ago have been changed out!

Finally, make sure you know the protocol for specific safety issues.

Does everyone know what to do if there is an epileptic episode with a worker? What do you have in place if that happens?

What about a Type 1 or Type 2 diabetic attack? Do you know the difference? Does the employee have a First Alert tag on them? Have they told you what to do?

We have to be safe — and not just from heat and moving parts. We have to make sure we take care of all of our employees, both those in the field working and those back working in the office.

DAVE SCHULENBERG
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IAGP

• While complex passwords may help deter cybercriminals, they can still be cracked. According to telecommunications company Verizon, an estimated 80% of hacking-related data breaches involve stolen credentials. With these findings in mind, it’s clear that passwords alone aren’t enough to protect your workplace accounts.

  Fortunately, that’s where multifactor authentication (MFA) can help. MFA is a layered approach to securing data and applications, in which a system requires a user to present a combination of two or more credentials to verify their identity during login.

  This article provides more information on MFA, explains how it protects companies and employees, and offers best practices.

  MFA Overview
  Through MFA, employees must confirm their identities by providing extra information, such as a phone number, biometric data, or one-time security code in addition to their passwords when attempting to access sensitive corporate information and infrastructure.

  Companies should require MFA for remote access to their networks, for the administrative functions within their networks, and for any enterprise-level cloud applications.

  With this method, it’s not enough to just have your username and password. In order to log in to a workplace account, you’ll need another “factor” to verify your identity, similar to someone needing both a key and an identification badge to gain physical access to a building. This additional login hurdle means that cybercriminals won’t be able to easily unlock your account, even if they have your compromised credentials in hand.

  Key Protections
  Although proper password management can prove beneficial, stolen credentials remain a common and pervasive cybersecurity threat. Even the most sophisticated passwords can be stolen, whether via brute-force techniques or advanced phishing scams.

  In these instances, all it takes is one compromised account to expose an entire company, potentially resulting in devastating and disruptive cyberattacks (e.g., account takeovers, data breaches, or ransomware incidents).

  Without MFA in place, employees could be leaving personal information and sensitive projects stored on their workplace accounts—as well as a company’s larger corporate systems—vulnerable to cybercriminals. Using this method can help halt these hackers in their tracks, safeguarding both employees and their companies.

  While MFA may seem like a tedious or unnecessary step in the login process, it’s well worth it to avoid potential cybersecurity incidents. Technology company Microsoft confirmed that MFA can block more than 99%(!) of automated and bulk account compromise attacks, demonstrating its effectiveness.

  Best Practices
  When leveraging MFA at work, remember the following guidelines:

• ·      Use approved methods. Adhere to company policies and any related documentation on how to set up MFA services across your workplace accounts. Use only approved methods, whether it’s a mobile authenticator application, biometric scanner, text messaging system, or hardware key.
• ·      Pay attention to prompts. Be prepared to comply with MFA prompts when logging in to your workplace accounts (e.g., “Enter the unique code sent to your device.” or “Use facial recognition to approve login attempt.”), as these prompts must usually be completed within a brief time frame. However, never follow or approve prompts you didn’t initiate!
• ·      Report suspicious activity. If you receive unexpected MFA requests, unusual prompts, or other login problems, report them immediately.

For More Information
Cybersecurity can be challenging, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Any employee with questions should reach out to their manager for more information.

Nearly 40 NGWA members participated in more than 60 meetings with Congressional offices, Senate staff, and key federal agencies March 24–25 at the 2026 NGWA Fly-In held in Washington, D.C.

Representing a broad cross-section of groundwater professionals, members traveled from across the United States — including as far as Alaska — as well as internationally, with participation from Nigeria.

A two-day event focused on advancing the organization’s federal policy priorities, the 60-plus conversations provided a platform for members to share real-world insights from the field, while reinforcing the important role groundwater plays in supporting communities, agriculture, energy production, and economic growth nationwide.

A central focus of this year’s Fly-In was advocating for the reinstatement of geothermal tax credits, which are essential to advancing clean energy development and supporting jobs across the groundwater and geothermal sectors. Members also emphasized the need for increased federal investment in the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Ground-Water Monitoring Network, a resource for tracking water availability and quality.

Fly-In participants also highlighted NGWA’s newly released Data Center Position Paper, raising awareness around the increasing water demands tied to rapid data center expansion and the importance of responsible groundwater management.

During the event, NGWA members presented the 2025 Groundwater Protector Award to U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado). This recognition is awarded to government officials who have demonstrated strong leadership and a sustained commitment to advancing groundwater protection and policy. Hickenlooper was recognized for his ongoing support of water infrastructure, science-based policy, and efforts that elevate the importance of groundwater at the federal level.

“This year really demonstrated the strength and expertise of our membership and their commitment to giving NGWA a voice in D.C.,” said Ben Frech, NGWA’s government affairs manager.

“From geothermal energy to water monitoring and recharge, our members are on the front lines of the nation’s most pressing water challenges. These conversations help ensure that policymakers understand both the urgency of these issues and the practical solutions our industry is ready to deliver.”

IDPH 2025 & 2026 Dates for Water Well License Testing

• Friday, April 18, 2025, 9:00am
• Friday, October 17, 2025, 9:00am
• Friday, April 17, 2026, 9:00am
• Friday, October 16, 2026, 9:00am

Applications for the for examination for registration as a licensed water well contractor or water well pump installation contractor must be received 45 days prior to the test. https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/077/077009150000100R.html

Click here to download a copy of the Illinois Water Well and Pump Installation Contractor's License Act