Wausau, WI – January 15, 2007 – Wausau-based general contracting firm, The Samuels Group, recently hit its newest safety milestone of four years.
January 13 marked four years that The Samuels Group employees have worked without a lost time accident. This safety record is factored through the collection of all personnel’s hours without an accident that would cause an employee to miss work the next day.
“We create an environment on each and every job site where safety is everyone’s number one priority,” said Kurt Berner, vice president of The Samuels Group. “We hold pre-planning meetings with the owner to understand their daily operations and use of the current facility. We phase the construction process in order to minimize any effects on their daily operations.”
Larry Fesenfeld, AIA Senior Project Architect for Mudrovich Architects, worked with The Samuels Group on a recent project at Integrity First Bank and commented on The Samuels Group’s safety processes.
“While visiting the site, I noticed the dust containment/collector and vacuum system they had built for the miter saw,” said Fesenfeld. “I have been a licensed architect overseeing projects for more than 25 years and this was the first time I’ve ever seen a system like that used to control the amount of dust that is put into the air of an occupied building.”
Berner explained that installing the system was a proactive step taken in order to maintain proper air quality for the bank staff working during the construction.
The Samuels Group takes additional proactive measures by starting each day with pre-task planning checks and stretching exercises. This ensures that employees recognize a hazard before it could cause an accident while having their bodies physically ready for all tasks.
"We feel this accomplishment was achieved because our employees maintain a safe attitude each and every day,” said Berner. “Our current EMR is 0.58 which is indicative of our daily practices.” EMR (experience modification rate) is a figure associated with workers compensation insurance and it has a direct impact on our clients because it reduces our insurance related expenditures.
John Guerndt, vice president of Compass Insurance shares, “The Samuels Group has one of the lowest EMR’s in their industry which is especially commendable with the type of work they perform on a daily basis. It’s very refreshing to see an entire organization with such a core value committed to safety. This conscious daily attentiveness ultimately keeps their premiums manageable enough to pass the cost savings through to the end consumer - giving a very competitive edge to The Samuels Group. When Safety is focused on as intensely as they do, it predominately reflects in the product they produce.”
The Samuels Group uses a two-fold safety program. The first part of the program focuses on the pre-hire qualification process including, a pre-employment drug screening, physical examination, and a simulation to ensure the employee’s qualifications align with that of the project environment the employee will be placed in. Employees are required to complete a 10-hour OSHA course while superintendents and foremen are required to complete a 30-hour OSHA program. Furthermore, weekly safety meetings are held to address requirements specific to each project.
The second part of the safety program relates to the hiring of sub-contractors. Each sub-contractor is pre-qualified by identifying its daily safety practices. They must submit a hazard specific work plan, the sub-contractor’s injury log, which contains the sub-contractor’s safety record for the previous three years, along with the sub-contractor’s EMR. These are investigated to ensure their performance meets that of The Samuels Group’s standards. This gives The Samuels Group the opportunity to establish site-specific guidelines which provides the team with a clear understanding of the safety goals. Because a sub-contractor’s safety procedures can have a direct impact on the safety of The Samuels Group’s employees, only those meeting all safety criteria are considered for hire. Once hired, the sub-contractor is required to attend all applicable construction related meetings.
About The Samuels Group
The Samuels Group is recognized as central Wisconsin’s preferred construction specialist. Our team of experienced and enthusiastic professionals provides a true turn-key approach to construction including Design/Build, Construction Management, and General Construction Solutions. Countless organizations ranging in size and industry have come to rely upon The Samuels Group’s expertise and commitment to quality.
Posted By:Samuels Group
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