Archive for April, 2020

BUILDING READINESS AS RESTRICTIONS SLOWLY LIFT

Wednesday, April 29th, 2020

Building readiness and reducing touch-points for occupants has become a growing area of interest among many facility owners and managers. As our communities experience the beginning stages of stability, how should we prepare buildings? The answer to this question will look different for every organization, facility, and occupant. To help you through unfamiliar territory, we’ve assembled a list of hot topics for consideration in adding further safety precautions in your space or for its occupants.

Building Readiness

  • Inspections and/or repairs
  • Readying mechanical, HVAC, and changing air filters
  • Readying Fire/Life Safety systems

Occupied Space and Reducing Touch-Points for Occupants

  • Installing low-touch or no-touch fixtures, switches/motion sensors, doors, drawers, ADA door operators
  • Integrating temperature screening or body thermal technology
  • Installing plexiglass shields where social distancing is a challenge
  • Disabling touchscreens and considering other remote access solutions

Real estate organizations such as Cushman & Wakefield have also developed best practices to prepare workplaces for post-COVID-19 recovery. See its guide and checklist on the “Safe Six”: preparing the building, preparing the workforce, controlling access, social distancing, reducing touch-points, and communicating for confidence.

If there’s anything we can do to support your plans, contact your Egan resource or send a message.

OUTLOOK AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: CONTINUED SAFETY AND OPERATIONS

Monday, April 27th, 2020

Over the last several weeks, we’ve had to quickly adjust to changes in all areas of our lives in support of one priority: the safety and well-being of our employees, our customers, and our communities. 

For over 75 years, the core of our business has been to provide skilled trades, professional services, and 24/7 response under all circumstances. Egan Company continues to operate daily, ensuring your needs are met. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, the Task Force team at Egan has also continued to evolve prevention, preparedness, and response plans.

The thoughtful and decisive action we’ve taken over the last two months remains in-place

Here’s a quick summary of what is active, in response to COVID-19: 

  • Business continuity – maintaining operations and minimizing disruptions in our shops, the field, and the office, disinfecting equipment and tools before delivery, and closely monitoring potential impacts in the supply chain.
  • Shop work area adjustments – employing practices that will help prevent the spread of germs and creating multiple and separate work areas in our shops and on the jobsite.
  • Precautions and key actions – following CDC guidance for precautionary measures, daily self-monitoring and screening protocol, social distancing, instituting field safety guides for jobsite and shop practices, supplying disinfectant/sanitizer/masks, practicing good hygiene, and cancelling nonessential meetings.
  • Team support – providing direct support for COVID-19 questions/concerns from employees and preparing in the case of potential exposure.
  • Industry relations – remaining connected with many organizations and suppliers to keep apprised of movements that could affect our work.

Reach out at any time – we’re here to support you with unwavering service

There is no doubt this pandemic has presented new challenges for everyone. As government officials begin to lift “Stay at Home” Executive Orders, Egan is here to help transition facilities to ensure all sites are operational. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do for you.

Thank you for working alongside us through this unprecedented time. We’ll continue to assess our plans and adopt new methodologies based on guidance from national and local governments and health authorities—and ask you to do the same.

Employee wins first place at IDEAL National Championship

Friday, April 24th, 2020

The IDEAL National Championship is a high-charged competition to determine the best electricians in North America. More than 58,000 participants across the country compete in over 1,500 qualifying events vying to punch their ticket to the championship. 

Among the 162 competitors of whom made it to the championship last November in Lake Buena Vista, FL was electrician, Angela Bissonnette-Penna who proudly represented Egan Company and the Minneapolis Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) in the North American School Challenge. 

The competitors demonstrated problem-solving and physical skills involving cutting, stripping, crimping, and terminating and were judged for their workmanship, safety, and time.

Being a female in a male-dominated trade has many challenges. Bissonnette-Penna shared some of her experiences, “The past few years of my apprenticeship have been a struggle.  There were many moments I wanted to back down and quit. The words spoken from a previous general foreman still resonates through my head, ‘You are a woman, you can’t do this’.” Bissonnette-Penna continued, “But I persevered, started talking to other women in the trade, and realized I can make a difference.”

Not only did Bissonnette-Penna walk away victorious by earning first place in the School Challenge, she was the only female competitor to place in the year’s event. 

“Winning the IDEAL National Championship strengthened my confidence in knowing I could make that difference, to show women that it is possible to achieve, overcome and rise,” said Bissonnette-Penna.

Along with a cash prize to the winner, as a result of her win, five scholarships and $10,000 in IDEAL cash were donated to the Minneapolis JATC.

Congratulations to one of our own on her great accomplishment and for representing women in construction!