AWCI’s Excellence in Construction Safety Awards give national recognition to members who manage an effective safety program in a given year. The pool of nominations is reviewed by the AWCI Industry Awards Committee, and categories based on man-hours are determined each year so that companies with similar man-hours are competing against each other. This year AWCI honored three companies in three different categories for their safety success in 2009.
Category
More Than 1 Million Man-Hours in 2009
Winner
Performance Contracting, Inc.
In this tough economy, bottom line can mean everything for a company. For Performance Contracting, Inc., good safety translates to low costs overall. Fewer people getting hurt means fewer incidents, which in turn means sending fewer workers to medical care.
With more than 5,200 employees, PCI’s consistently low EMR is a credit to their dedication to safety.
There’s no doubt that a bad safety record can hurt a contracting company, too. But the numbers here don’t lie. In 2007, this company’s average cost per claim was $20,000. In 2009, it dropped to averaging only $11,444.
As they say, good safety programs may cost a lot, but poor safety programs cost even more.
One of the company’s tips for a successful safety program starts with operations. PCI believes that a good foreman must be held accountable for safety on his job, and consequently, each branch should be financially accountable for safety. After all, no estimator puts accident costs into a bid.
On the other hand, the company’s safety program rewards all levels for successes. An individual’s salary increases are directly proportional to their safety performance achievements. And branches are likewise rewarded for having good safety programs through bonuses and insurance rebates.
A low EMR and lowering recordable incidents mean lower premiums, which mean good business. Incentivizing safety performance yields lower numbers of claims. Bottom line? Safety equals success for Performance Contracting, Inc.
Category
Between 500,000 and 1 Million Man-Hours in 2009
Winner
John Bender Inc., St. Louis, Missouri
There is a certain elegance to the openness and consistency fostered by John Bender Inc., a winner of AWCI’s Excellence in Construction Safety Award. In creating an atmosphere where employees and managers communicate clearly and freely regarding the specifics of safety, both in company policy and specific job plans, they’ve developed a safety culture that’s opened new doors and opportunities to bid work where they couldn’t before.
Considering that over four years they’ve significantly dropped their EMR, their programs are certainly pointing them ever upward.
So what elements make up this safety culture?
First, they suggest getting the entire company to speak the same language. From clear definitions of safety guidelines, you’ll end up with clear expectations the company can offer to a potential client.
Next on the list, the company says to make sure your employees are on the same page with management. Safety issues are rarely black and white. The more you talk it out and involve your employees in helping resolve these issues, the more solid your safety record will be. But even more so for John Bender Inc., by giving your employees a voice, they feel more valuable themselves, and, in turn, that feeling of belonging and self-worth will translate to greater safety and productivity across the board.
Finally, of course, John Bender Inc. believes you should reward employees for their successful safety efforts. You must always hold individuals accountable for their actions—or for their inactions—but acknowledge their proactive safety efforts at every turn. As this company says, “The more consistent you are with acknowledgement and accountability with your employees, the more consistent their behavior will be when it comes time to making safe decisions.”
For this company, safety isn’t just a priority on a list. Safety is a value, and values don’t change. And so, for creating and nurturing their quantifiably successful culture of safety, AWCI awarded John Bender Inc. with this year’s Excellence in Construction Safety Award for companies with between 500,000 and one million man-hours.
Category
Fewer Than 500,000 Man-Hours in 2009
Winner
Innovative Drywall Systems Inc. DBA Alta Drywall, Carlsbad, California
For Innovative Drywall Systems, Inc. DBA Alta Drywall in Carlsbad, Calif., safety begins the minute a new face walks through the door. And after 33 years in the business, the company’s president, Doug Bellamy, proves that they’re serious about safety.
“We’re committed to improving the caliber of our work force,” Bellamy says in a video posted on the company’s Web site. “We do so by new-hire orientation, language training, quality control training and many other forms of training.”
And how have they lowered their EMR year after year over the past five years? They offer three main tips.
It all starts with new hire orientation. Here they find the best opportunity for an employer not only to clarify company goals and rules of the road, but also to define expectations regarding safety. But with 55 employees, some who have been with the company almost 25 years, safety reviews can’t stop with orientation.
Weekly safety meetings are absolutely needed, to reiterate the safety rules and review any issues employees may have encountered during the week.
As for regular on-site safety inspections, Bellamy says to “inspect what you expect.” This entails making sure that foremen and supervisors check the job sites every day and fill out their safety inspection form accurately and on a timely basis.
New hire orientation, weekly safety meetings and regular safety inspections cook up this company’s recipe for success. And that’s probably why they’re still here after 33 years.
For their dedication to safety, from hiring to job completion, AWCI presented an Excellence in Construction Safety Award to Innovative Drywall Systems, Inc. DBA Alta Drywall.
