Archive for the ‘Safety Spotlight’ Category

Recognizing the Safety of Mental Health During Suicide Prevention Month

Monday, September 30th, 2024

During the month of September, Egan Company joined industry peers throughout the country to recognize National Suicide Prevention Month. As an increased effort to prioritize safety everywhere we go, Egan has acknowledged the role our mental health and well-being plays in the way we show up to work and how we go home safely every day. 

BY THE NUMBERS

The construction industry sees high rates of physical injuries, which have been found to be preventable through daily safety plans, active stretching, and wearing PPE. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and OSHA, the industry also sees high rates of mental illness and death by suicide. 

  • In the construction industry, the rate of death by suicide in the U.S. is four times higher than the general population.
  • These rates of suicide in the U.S. are five times greater than all other construction fatalities combined.
  • The construction industry was the number one occupational group with male suicides in 2022.
  • Approximately 123 suicides occur every day in the U.S.
  • 1 in 5 adults are living with a diagnosed mental illness.

STAYING SAFE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY

Leading with our primary core value of “Stay Safe,” Egan approaches everything we do from the perspective of going home without injury or incident every day. From stretching to prevent physical injuries, to going over daily safety plans, to considering the effects of mental health on our overall well-being, staying safe encompasses a wide range of considerations. Egan Company continues to emphasize and prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of its employees and everyone on job sites. Understanding the risks, as well as the resources available, can help create a safer environment for everyone. 

Egan Company Earns Governor’s Safety Awards

Wednesday, July 24th, 2024

Every year, the Minnesota Safety Council recognizes top organizations who display excellence in occupational injury prevention. These Governor’s Safety Awards were announced at a ceremony on April 30 and recognized a number of Egan Company teams who achieved success in maintaining low incident rates in 2023. 

Egan’s teams recognized at the 2024 Governor’s Safety Awards ceremony included: 

  • Automation, Technology, and Service – Diamond Award
  • Mechanical – Diamond Award
  • Industrial Controls – Gold Award
  • Electrical Special Projects – Silver Award
  • Egan Company – Silver Award

In 2023, Egan Company achieved its lowest recordable incident rate in company history: 1.27. Every day, Egan employees show up to work dedicated to the task at-hand and the safety of themselves, their colleagues, and their environment. By taking time to put safety first, we were able to do better work and go home safely.

Celebrating Safety Month in June

Thursday, June 27th, 2024

The safety of everyone and everything Egan works with is our number one priority. National Safety Month is an opportunity for Egan to recommit to maintaining high safety standards in the office, on the jobsite, and everywhere we work. By focusing on the safety of self, others, and the property with which we work, we can contribute to a culture and environment of safety that helps everyone go home without injury at the end of the day. 

HOW WE STAY SAFE

During Safety Month, Egan participated in the National Safety Council’s campaign to promote key safety messages each week. These included:

  • Safety Engagement
  • Roadway Safety
  • Risk Reduction
  • Slips, Trips, and Falls

In addition, field leaders and safety team members at Egan promoted Egan’s first value of Stay Safe on the jobsite through Toolbox Talks and Daily Safety Plans. Safety is all-encompassing, starting with how we show up to work everyday. By preparing our bodies and minds for the work ahead, we can ensure that we are in the right physical and mental state to work safely. 

During Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Egan emphasized the importance of mental well-being and how it relates to safety on the jobsite and at home. Just as physical safety precautions need to be taken at the start of every day, mental preparedness and well-being is equally important for the health and safety of everyone at work. Everything on the jobsite needs to be taken into consideration in order to create a safe work environment where everyone can go home without injuries every day. 

National Safety Month takes place in June, but safety at Egan happens all year round. As one of America’s Safest Companies, we are committed to a culture that prioritizes the safety and well-being of everyone.

Prioritizing Mental Health at Egan Company

Thursday, May 30th, 2024

During Mental Health Awareness month in May, Egan Company is taking the opportunity to relate mental health to safety, on and off the jobsite. Aligning the body and mind is essential for safe operations and effective work days. Ahead of National Safety Month in June, Egan is finding new ways to promote safety in the field, in the office, and wherever else we may work. This includes focusing on our mental presence and wellbeing. 

RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT

Working in the construction industry is  demanding physically and mentally. The high-stress environments can add up and take a toll on trades and administrative professionals who are working hard to ensure projects are done safely,  on-time, and with the highest quality. After work, many go home to their families and friends, which can offer a great way to decompress, but can also create additional stress or mental distractions. Over time, the stress continues to build up and can lead to mistakes and potentially harmful injuries. 

Recognizing the impact of mental health on job performance and safety is the first step towards creating a supportive work environment. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately 1 in 5 adults will experience a mental illness each year. The need for recognition, support, and resources is prevalent, which is why Mental Health Awareness Month is a great opportunity to help everyone recognize the importance of mental health and its connection to safety in the construction industry. 

PROMOTING SAFETY THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH

Mental Health Awareness Month provides an opportunity to promote safety in the construction industry and ensure individuals have access to resources. On the jobsite, Egan teams conduct daily safety plans and active stretching to acknowledge and prepare for the risks associated with the work ahead of them that day. Just as physical risks are present, there are risks that can arise as a result of not being mentally prepared, as well. Taking time ahead of the work day to ensure individuals are able to focus on their work with minimal distractions or mental blockages is essential for safe jobsites and the wellbeing of the people and property with which we are working. 

MENTAL HEALTH AFFECTS EVERYONE

Ending the stigma of talking about mental health is our goal during Mental Health Awareness Month. Everyone has mental health, and everyone can be impacted by it as well. Safety on the jobsite is not limited to physical precautions, but it extends to mental wellbeing and preparedness. By prioritizing mental health in tandem with Egan’s existing safety initiatives, we are able to create safer work environments, wherever we are working.

How We Stay Safe: Safety Absolutes

Wednesday, February 14th, 2024

There is one topic of conversation at Egan Company that every employee can join in on: safety. Every day, conversations around safety are held to ensure jobsites, offices, and every employee is following safe practices and goes home without  injury. While every conversation around safety is different, there are 11 recurring themes that are often at the center of safety discussions. 

Egan’s Safety Absolutes are guiding principles that are designed to reduce incidents and keep our employees, our customers, and our environment safe. The Absolutes were created to reiterate baseline expectations for performing work safely and have been a foundational part of Egan’s Safety Program. They are shared at orientation and posted on jobsites, in shops, around the office, and online to keep them fresh in everyone’s mind. These Safety Absolutes are just part of our company-wide initiatives to prioritize safety everywhere we work. This vigilance on safety resulted in a record-low 1.27 incident rate in 2023, and our Safety Absolutes will contribute to our future efforts of achieving zero incidents. 

EGAN COMPANY’S SAFETY ABSOLUTES

Stop Work Expectation: All employees are expected to stop work if an unsafe condition exists.

Fall Protection: Proper fall protection will be used when working at heights at or above 6 feet. Some customers require fall protection at or above 4 feet.

Preventing Utility Hits: Prior to beginning any work activity that could damage an underground utility, there will be active locate tickets, and pre-dig photos or videos captured. Safe digging practices within 2 feet of locate marks will be used.

Excavation / Trenching: Excavations will be properly sloped, benched, and/or protected from cave-in.

Lockout / Tagout: All sources of energy will be properly isolated using locks and tags.

Energized Work: Equipment will be de-energized, unless deemed infeasible (troubleshooting, certain life critical equipment) to turn off by all parties. Workers must be trained and authorized to perform this work using PPE, a signed permit, and approval from Egan Company management. First choice must always be to de-energize.

Hoisting And Rigging: Only authorized employees and proper equipment will be involved in all hoisting and rigging operations.

Confined Space: Confined space work will have documented training, air monitoring, permits, and rescue plans in place.

Operating Vehicles And Equipment: Vehicles and equipment will only be operated by trained and authorized employees.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Egan’s baseline minimum PPE must be worn, including hard hat, safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves, and proper footwear. The task or customer may require additional PPE such as a face shield or high-visibility vest.

Daily Safety Planning: Daily Safety Plans and Weekly Toolbox Talks will be completed daily/weekly and Egan’s Active Stretching will be completed daily.

SAFETY FIRST. SAFETY ALWAYS.

These 11 Safety Absolutes aren’t just guidelines; they are essential focus points for every Egan employee to keep in mind every time they begin work. With these principles at the forefront of the work we do, we can continue to promote safety in the office and on the jobsite, and we can help keep ourselves, our colleagues, and our environment as safe as possible. Everything adds up to ensure we can go home to our families every day. 

Safety Measures Add Up

Wednesday, January 31st, 2024

“Safety first” is more than just a saying at Egan Company. It is a foundational belief that paves the way for great work, successful projects, and most importantly, the health and safety of our team. In 2023, Egan renewed our commitment to safety by prioritizing the core value and putting it first each and every day. 

This enhanced focus on safety resulted in our lowest recordable incident rate in Egan history: 1.27 (down from 1.95 in 2022). We are proud to be significantly below the industry average, thanks to the hard work of our employees. This number represents a number of things: the amount of injuries recorded throughout the year, the impact of incidents per hours worked, and of course, the hard work that goes into minimizing risks on the job site and reducing workplace injuries. Achieving a record-low incident rate required a daily commitment by every team and every individual, whether they were working from home, in the office, or on job sites. This number shows that our efforts pay off, and a future with zero workplace incidents is possible. 

HOW WE PUT SAFETY FIRST

Every day, Egan employees show up to work dedicated to the task at-hand and the safety of themselves, their colleagues, and their environment. By taking time to put safety first, we were able to do better work and go home safely.

This was done in a number of ways:

Daily Safety Planning – Before beginning work each morning on job sites, our crews participated in Daily Safety Planning, which outlined the day ahead and discussed potential hazards, risks, and considerations for teams to be aware of. Starting the day with a focus on safety helps set the tone and establish expectations on the job site.  

Toolbox Talks – Each week, Egan field leaders conduct “Toolbox Talks,” sharing important company updates and messages to their teams. Included in these weekly updates are important safety reminders and focuses, which often center around specific safety tips, equipment handling, or other necessary safety messaging.

Safety Lunches – Hard work does not go unrewarded. Teams who went injury free in a month during 2023 were recognized with a lunch. This helped reinforce our initiatives and reward the efforts made by each team throughout the year. 

Safety Absolutes – Through 11 specific messages, Egan has established non-negotiable safety expectations for every employee to follow. These absolutes are guiding principles for how we can ensure safety in everything that we do.

Individual and Team Efforts – Each team member, whether they work in the field, in the office, at home, or anywhere in between, plays a part in creating a safe work environment. We all contribute to a culture of safety and teamwork everywhere we go. 

STRIVING FOR ZERO INJURIES

While Egan achieved a record-low incident rate in 2023, our goal is zero injuries. We are continuing to work together to meet that goal and ensure every team member can go home at the end of the work day without injuries or near-misses. Everything adds up on the jobsite and in the office to lead to zero injuries and a safe work environment. 

“It’s inspiring to reflect on our achievements throughout 2023,” said Reid Romer, Egan Company Safety Director. “For the past 18 months, we’ve shifted our mindset to integrate safety and risk assessment into how we pursue, plan, and execute work. When we  manage our risk well on the front end, the results will follow. The result is a signal that we are building a strong balance between safety, quality, and production. This is important because safety is our leading core value. Our industry and customers are elevating their standards, so leading with safety is necessary to be sustainable. We’re on the cusp of what we’d consider best-in-class performance within our industry. It is the leadership within our organization, from our CEO to field leaders, that contribute to our culture of safety and instill that value in everyone who wears an Egan hard hat.” 

Egan Joins the CHASE Program

Thursday, March 23rd, 2023

Safety first, safety always! Egan joined the Construction Health and Safety Excellence (CHASE) program along with 42 other Associated General Contractor (AGC) members. 

The CHASE program is a partnership with Minnesota OSHA and AGC of Minnesota. The program is designed to recognize contractors for their superior safety programs and safety performance, while providing incentives for the partnership. The incentives include:

  •  Receive written recognition by AGC and MNOSHA
  •  No penalty for non-serious violations
  •  Increased communication with MNOSHA
  •  Receive maximum good faith penalty reduction
  •  Possible consideration as “best value” contractor

AGC Director of Safety and Education Development Matt Semerad stated, “Egan Company has always been a progressive leader in safety and a mentor to many within the industry.  AGC and CHASE are excited to have Egan Company as a member, but more importantly, a contributor in thought and action.”

For more information on the CHASE Program, click here.

Protecting Our Industry’s Future: Apprentice Safety

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021

If you know Egan Company, you know we are committed to promoting teamwork, embracing innovation, acting with integrity, pursuing growth, and staying safe – every day on every job site. With these promises and values in mind, it’s clear why we care deeply about our apprentices and their safety. Across our Egan job sites today, we have approximately 126 apprentices.

We talked to Tony Leither, Egan Field Leader, about the importance of apprentice safety. “Apprentice safety is important [to me] because I was an apprentice at one time. I was taken care of and made sure to work safe. We need to take care of the future of our industry,” said Leither.

EGAN APPRENTICE SAFETY EXPERIENCE

When an apprentice arrives at an Egan jobsite, they are given new-to-site orientation by their field leader. By doing this, the site leaders are able to reiterate instructions and directions given from office orientation and ensure everyone is on the same page. 

Leither adds, “We, as field leaders, need to be sure that we don’t assume anything when it comes to the safety of our apprentices on our job sites. It is our responsibility to give the proper instruction, and clear direction as to the safety expectations we have on our job sites.”

Working with apprentices regularly, Leither is currently working on the Southwest Light Rail Transit METRO Green Line Extension project. He would like all apprentices to know that “we care about their safety from the top down in this company. At Egan, we pride ourselves on practicing what we preach when it comes to safety.” Doing so, we are able to send each of our employees (apprentices included!) home, safe and healthy, at the end of every day. Safety first, safety always. Learn more about why safety is the foundation of Egan Company, by watching this short video .

ACTIVE STRETCHING VS PASSIVE STRETCHING

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021

Active stretching is an integral part of every day at Egan Company. Although a seemingly simple task, stretching does more than just warm your muscles up, it also promotes a healthy lifestyle, increases range-of-motion, balance, heart rate, and engages muscles.

An Egan Company crew starting their day with active stretching

The reason active stretching takes place at the start of each day on every Egan jobsite is because it improves muscle function and releases tension; what better way to start the work day than with fully relaxed muscles. Unlike other types of stretching, active stretching only uses one’s own muscle contractions.

Taking the time to do a few simple exercises greatly decreases the rate of workplace injuries. Often implementing the smallest steps makes the biggest impact. We believe time spent stretching is time spent valuing the safety and lives of our employees.

For a video demonstration, view our active stretching training video. Over the course of the video, 12 active stretching exercises are demonstrated by Egan employees. Safety is a large part of our culture and our Active Stretching Program is just one aspect of the Safety Brings You Home initiative, which seeks to bring all employees home at the end of the day. For more about our commitment to safety and the lives of our team, check out our safety video.

America’s Safest Companies Distinction

Friday, December 18th, 2020

Recognized for its ongoing commitment to worker safety and health, comprehensive training programs and risk management efforts, and a lower than industry average injury and illness rate, Egan Company has once again been named one of America’s Safest Companies.

EHS Today named 10 organizations to the 2020 list of America’s Safest Companies, including firms with a few dozen employees to multinational corporations with tens of thousands of employees. Together, these organizations all have one thing in common: to provide a safe working environment for their employees.

Being named one of America’s Safest Companies is a tremendous honor!” said Reid Romer, Egan Company Safety Director. “When I think about safety at Egan, I think about our people.  Our dedicated teams enable us to progress along our journey to safety excellence and to continue to grow, evolve, and excel safely within our organization.  I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I believe the best is still to come.

Within Egan, a safety department was first established in 1986. Having been founded in 1945, it may surprise some that Egan had gone over forty years without a dedicated safety program. Today, Egan maintains an ongoing, aggressive commitment to provide all employees with a safe and healthy place of employment. 

“We have a true ‘Safety Culture’ at Egan Company. Everyone believes in our safety programs and is acting and responding to do our work in the safest way possible,” said Duane Hendricks, Egan Company President & CEO. “We have good safety results because of our many safety initiatives and the involvement of everyone. This sets us apart and keeps our people focused and safe.”

Egan continues to move forward in the belief that work-related injuries are preventable, but we can never claim to control all the variables. What we can control is how we collectively work together and support each other to promote safety.

“We do not focus on our safety for an award, we focus on safety to keep our people safe. But it is exciting to know Egan is recognized for safety once again!” Hendricks adds.

All award recipients were honored at EHS Today’s Virtual Safety Leadership Conference on November 10. A feature was published in a special section in the November issue of EHS Today magazine (read more here).