Our Commitment to Safety
There is more to worksite safety than just wearing a hard hat. Since the beginning of our business in 1969, Madison Concrete Construction has placed a strong focus on safety and has set the standard for the construction industry. Madison does not look at safety as a goal, but as a way of conducting business and protecting our greatest resource, our employees.
Through the employment of a corporate safety director, the implementation and enforcement of a comprehensive safety policy and the in-house production of an Employee Safety Orientation program and video, Madison is recognized in the local construction industry as a contractor that strives to provide a safe working environment for its employees and the employees of other trades who may be working in close proximity to us.
Our superintendents are our leaders in the field and receive extensive training including the 30-hour OSHA course. They are personally accountable for the safety of each employee. The superintendent is also charged with inspecting scaffolding, shoring and formwork periodically. They enforce Madison's safety policies, while encouraging employees to complete each task using safe work practices. In Nov 2017, Madison’s John Jakimowicz received the Mid-Atlantic Construction Safety Council's (MACSC) Annual Safety Professional of the Year Award.
Our employees are quality union craftsmen who are trained in union safety procedures. All new employees are required to attend Madison's orientation, so they are aware of our expectations when it comes to working safely. All employees are trained and provided with personal protection equipment (PPE) to comply with our 100 percent Fall Protection Policy as well as our 100 percent eye protection policy. Safety doesn't stop in the field. Office and field employees are also encouraged to report unsafe conditions and take action to prevent injuries.
The Kairos Safety Program
Although we have a corporate safety program, site-specific project safety plans are developed in conjunction with our clients to carefully evaluate any hazards our employees may encounter on the job. Partnering with our insurance provider, The Graham Company, we implemented the Kairos safety program with two key goals:
-
Zero injuries at any given job.
-
Make safety an intrinsic part of what we do and who we are.
Building on the success of our long-time approach, this program incorporates safety procedures into our company's culture so that they become a natural part of our daily activities. This is done through teamwork, collaborative evaluation of incidents to determine measures that reduce risk, and teaching employees to proactively identify and mitigate risks.
Participation is expected at every level of the organization. Our 30-person safety team includes staff from executive managers, project managers, superintendents, foremen, journeymen, and other field staff. This team meets every 6 to 8 weeks. New employees are routinely cycled into the committee as part of their training, and to reinforce our commitment to safety at every level of the company.
We are proud of the commitment and dedication of every member of the safety committee. Their meetings generate open discussion and continue to find areas where we can improve.