Safety
HCG "TOTAL SAFETY" CONCEPT
Harrell Contracting Group (HCG) believes that “TOTAL SAFETY”, a program that integrates accident prevention into all activities of the company and all activities of its people, is essential. In this concept we recognize the interdependence of occupational safety with traffic, home, recreational, and public safety. All of these safety activities are necessary to help us in reaching our fundamental objective to advance the well being of our people and associates. Thus, it is the policy of Harrell Contracting Group to promote safe living by an effective accident prevention program in all phases of our company’s activities.
This program utilizes the best principles of Safety Engineering and education to reduce both the industrial and off the job accidents, and to advance the morale of our personnel. In each department of this company, it is the responsibility of supervisors and managers to make this safety policy effective. Each member of management is responsible for applying the safety engineering and safety education principles to the employees who work within his jurisdiction. It is the responsibility of each employee to participate in the safety program by observing in his daily work, all safety practices, policies, and standards. Additionally, each employee has the responsibility to call to the attention of his supervisor any hazard in need of correction and to suggest safety improvements.
Harrell Contracting Group is committed to the safety of all employees working on our construction projects. The executive management of the Company fully supports our safety program and recognizes it is the foundation and framework which guides our construction activities and decisions concerning the safety and well-being of our employees.
Steps to Promote Safety
The following are Harrell Contracting Group’s Management Safety Objectives and steps that promote safety during the construction of our projects:
• The company’s prompt action to eliminate unsafe conditions.
• Acceptance of the employee’s right to expect a safe, clean, and healthy work environment.
• The provisions of effective and practicable mechanical safeguards.
• The provisions of personal protective equipment.
• The observance of all applicable laws, standards, codes, and ordinances as minimum requirements to safety.
• Delineation of responsibilities for management, employees, and safety personnel.
• Recognition of the need for trained safety personnel.
• Written safety practices and instructions for each job.
• Indoctrination of new employees in the company’s policy for accident prevention.
• Special effort to train all employees in the company’s safety program.
• Active participation of employees in the company’s safety program.
The single most important aspect of Harrell Contracting Group’s safety program is training. All project managers, superintendents, foremen, and safety coordinators are required to successfully complete a current OSHA 30-hour Construction & Health Course. Weekly safety training meetings are required on each project for Harrell Contracting Group personnel and all subcontractors.
Harrell Contracting Group has an extensive project inspection program. In addition to daily inspections by the project superintendent and safety coordinator, the Harrell Contracting Group Safety Compliance Officer performs independent weekly inspections on each project. Discrepancies, when noted, become part of the written inspection report, which not only documents standards violations and the corrective action taken, but points out areas of strengths and exceptional safety awareness as well. Project safety inspection reports are distributed within 24 hours of the inspection.
A drug free project is conducive to a safe workplace. Pre-employment drug screen testing is required for all Harrell Contracting Group employees, with random employee drug screening conducted on an ongoing basis, including office personnel.
Additionally, Harrell Contracting Group has obtained the Platinum Level of Achievement for the STEP Awards given by the Associated Builders and Contractors. The Platinum category is open to those companies whose achievements in the area of work site safety are, certifiably, the “best of the best”. There is only 10 Platinum Level companies in Mississippi and only 240 in the United States.
Safety Incentive Program
We further enhanced our safety program by introducing a “Safety Hour” program to reward those employees who have a good safety record. This program provides the opportunity to all employees to accumulate Safety Hours to redeem for gifts. Since the inception of this program, we have had great response from all employees, resulting in a lower accident rate.
Conclusion
Harrell Contracting Group believes in the following essential ingredients for a successful Safety Program:
• Management must sincerely believe that injuries can and must be prevented.
• Management must sincerely desire to prevent all injuries.
• The success or failure of a Safety Program depends on front line supervision.
• The nature of the work has little to do with safety performance.
• A few of the employees have most of the injuries.
• Employees must accept responsibility for their own safety.
• Effective discipline promotes the organization’s health.
• Use proactive prevention instead of reactive correction.
