Safety is truly a team effort. Research indicates that the worker’s perceptions of how well safety policies, procedures, and practices are implemented on the job site, or the safety climate, is key to improving safety outcomes. Leadership is essential to ensure the team values safety. Mike Kaminsky, Company Superintendent and Safety Leader, believes that ‘safety is a very important part of the job for everyone at Shannon. We are always looking for improvements and that’s another reason we have the Safety Committee.’
At Shannon Construction we strive to maintain safety for our workers, jobs, and community; not simply a priority but a core value. With top-down leadership, our President, Ken Schultz; EVP, Rich Amberson; and Company Superintendent, Mike Kaminsky ensure our foremen have the safety skills and tools necessary to be the field leaders that will maintain the safest possible worksites.
Shannon Construction’s Safety Committee has been established to assure key field team employees help create an environment that ensures safety for all. Interestingly, the committee is filled with volunteers. Our field and office employees understand the importance of maintaining safe practices and each committee member is elected to participate on the team. Here are some thoughts from our safety team:
- Matt Smith, Shannon Foreman, decided to join the committee to 'do [his] part to make the job sites safer and to make sure the workers are aware of safety and how we prevent accidents'.
- Sean Miller, Shannon Foreman, insists on solid safety practices on his projects, specifically housekeeping. 'I just feel like it is an accident waiting to happen if there is debris all over the floor where you can trip or can't even push a cart. It also looks bad to have garbage lying around everywhere.' Using your best and most sound judgment leads to more safe practices.
- According to Joe Thompson, Carpenter Journeyman, '…safety, in most situations, is common sense'.
- Brandon Livsey, a Laborer, agrees, stating that his greatest safety pet peeves are unnecessary tripping hazards. 'Just try to make sure you address something you see that is unsafe'.
With safety at the forefront of Shannon, it made us wonder if these practices roll from the job site to home. The answer, a resounding ‘yes!’ They’ve learned from multiple training sessions that safety is not just on the job site, but everywhere you go. Staying hydrated in the summer months topped the list of at-home practices and they make certain the entire family is actively drinking water while having fun on a hot day.
Ken, Rich, Mike, and the Safety Committee thank our employees and subs who ensure we continue on our mission to elevate safety awareness every day.
