We are safety fanatics.
The North Carolina Department of Labor continues to validate what we have known for some time, McDonald York’s safety program is one the finest in the Triangle. For the third straight year, we have received the North Carolina Department of Labor Building STAR which recognizes contractors that display outstanding performance in combination with management’s commitment to establish and maintain a safe workplace. McDonald York is one of only 19 Building STAR companies across the state. McDonald York recordable incident rates, lost workday incident rates and experience modification rates are well below the industry average.
Perhaps it is because we are family owned, but safety is the most important thing we do every day. Our safety programs are designed to assist employees, trade partners and project site visitors in incident and injury prevention. At McDonald York, each employee brings a deep level of personal commitment for ensuring the safety of all those directly and indirectly associated with our projects.
Our approach encourages a shared sense of responsibility for one another to ensure safe conditions and work practices are being observed. This "safety sense" is a basic ingredient in our corporate culture, in how we think, in how we work, in how we deal with our colleagues, partners and clients; in essence, safety is ingrained in our corporate DNA.
Safety GoalsApproach to Safety
Our goal is zero injuries and incidents on every project, every day. We strive for every employee to apply our safety practices not just on the construction site but in the office, at home and on the road. Our safety approach is characterized by the following tenets:
- Employee Involvement. Our safety program is designed, monitored and enhanced by people performing the work in the field.
- Subcontractor Engagement and Ownership. We view our subcontractors as our partners and active participants in achieving our safety successes.
- Preliminary Hazard Analysis. Prior to performing any work task or project phase, our project team and subcontractors initiate a preliminary hazard analysis to identify potential hazards or sources of injury associated with the work to be performed, thus enabling preventive measures to be proactively enacted.
- Accountability. We set goals, observe and document conditions/behaviors in the field, and report results company-wide. We tie safety results to individual performance metrics and compensation for employees.
- Safety Measures and Hazard Prevention Activities. Project site safety orientation is conducted for all workers. Weekly subcontractor safety discussions are held. There are periodic safety walks with documented safety inspections, reporting, and analysis. Third-party and insurance safety inspectors visit our sites. Project staff first aid/CPR/AED and OSHA 10/30 hour training is provided. All participate in occasional safety stand-downs.
The McDonald York approach to safety is managed through parallel programs that support and reinforce each other including:
- A Site Conditions Program
- A Project-Specific Steering Committee
- Learning and Innovation Program for training
- Safety Director leadership
- Project Superintendents on the "front line"
- Mandatory "All Call" safety meetings
- A Corporate Crisis Management Plan
- Subcontractor prequalification and involvement
In addition to the mandatory weekly "Tool Box" safety meetings for all workers, McDonald York requires daily and pre-task STA's (Safety Task Assignments). Each subcontractor is required to provide a representative in formal, weekly progress meetings that has the authority to respond to safety concerns.
