The Samuels Group recently celebrated two major safety milestones.  On the week of November 20, 2011, The Samuels Group recorded 900,000 hours without a lost time accident and on January 13, 2012, they surpassed 9 years without a lost time accident.  The Samuels Group continues to exceed their safety records and anticipates recording 1 million man hours with no lost time near the end of 2012.  A lost time accident is defined as an accident in which a Samuels Group employee is injured during work hours and cannot return to work the next day.  These milestones were achieved through management commitment, employee involvement and an innovative safety program.

Samuels Group Safety Director, Tim Vick, attributes The Samuels Group’s success to the company’s safety program and to the dedication of the company’s employees.  The safety program begins with employees taking proactive measures to avoid accidents 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 and prepares their bodies physically for all tasks.

“Safety is priority number one at The Samuels Group,” said Vick. “A safety record like this does not come by chance.  It takes a great effort by everyone to ensure that it continues year after year.” The Samuels Group’s safety program is taught to every associate working in the field or office, and all subcontractors working at every job site.  The firm is committed to having every individual return home at the end of the day in the same shape they left that morning.

Employees and the construction team are not the only ones to benefit from The Samuels Group’s safety record. A safe work environment during the construction of the Green Lake County Justice Center paid off big for Green Lake County.  On November 8, 2011, the county was presented with a $291,904 dividend check from the county’s insurer, for having a reduced number of lost-time accidents during the construction of the Green Lake County Justice Center.  The Samuels Group, Inc., the construction manager for the project, had 590 days without any lost time due to injuries.

“The Samuels Group has one of the lowest Experience Modification Rates (EMR) in their industry,” said John Guerndt, owner/president of Compass Insurance. “A lower number will have a positive impact on their clients because it reduces insurance related expenditures which can save their clients money.” EMR is a discount associated with workers compensation insurance premiums.