Earlier this month, Walbridge’s Boydton, Virginia team heard about a need in the community.
As the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department ended budget reviews, they discovered the need for more funding a K-9 unit. WIth $11,500 needed to help support the purchase and training for the new member of the police, it was uncertain the sheriff’s department would get the new K-9.
After hearing the news, the local Walbridge team stepped into action – Walbridge Senior Project Manager Kirk Schwab immediately sent a note to the sheriff’s department with a pledge to support the newest officer on the force.
A few messages later and a little bit of work to get a check together and the department was ready to not only purchase the K-9 but the money also helped provide training for the dog.
Just last week, representatives of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department stopped by the project team’s job site to thank them for the donation and the team got to meet Bak, Mecklenberg County’s newest K-9 unit.
Two Mikes and a Mark
Build a Culture of Safety
Mike Palazzola, Mark LaClair and Mike Dawson
The definition of workplace safety is; Actions described by policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety and health of employees within a workplace. Involves hazard identification and control according to government standards and ongoing safety training and education for employees.
One of the most critical aspects missing from this definition is “culture.”
Culture plays a much bigger part in sustaining workplace safety, certainly more than governmental standards.
You see…culture can be defined as; the social behaviors and norms found in human societies.
To have a workplace safety culture the policies, procedures, and behaviors of those at our sites must be synonymous with the norms displayed at any jobsite and must be socially supported, encouraged, and recognized.
In other words, it should be normal to hear workers say things like, “don’t forget to tie off,” when their partner is getting into an aerial lift. Or maybe “Did you grab your face shield?” when another worker pulls an angle grinder out of the gang box.
When you are auditing a project, do not forget to audit the culture.
Recognizing and incentivizing these behaviors will strengthen the safety culture of those individuals and ultimately the workplace safety of everyone onsite.
– Two Mikes and a Mark is a series of articles related to safety from Assistant Vice President of Corporate Health, Safety, & Environmental Mark LaClair, Corporate Health, Safety, & Environmental Director Mike Palazzola and Corporate Health, Safety, & Environmental Manager Mike Dawson.
Walbridge Celebrates 103 Anniversary of Founding
March 11, 1916.
It was 103 years ago that George Walbridge and Albert Aldinger, along with investors William Carter and Frank Halls, founded Walbridge Aldinger Co.
While many things have changed over the last century, one thing hasn’t: The continued commitment our employees give to safe, smart construction.
See a few pictures of our teams in the office and on-site as we celebrate 103 and look to 104!
The Detroit Cristo Rey High School Kinematic Wolves had their first competition of the season over the weekend of March 15.
Though the team didn’t finish exactly as it had hoped, there were great takeaways, lessons learned and growth from the weekend.
However, in a great showcase of the team growth, the Kinematic Wolves were given the Entrepreneurship Award, highlighting their sponsor retention, risk analysis, comprehensive business plan, strategic growth and focus on both business and safety, including their campaign to stop texting and driving.
Earlier this month, Walbridge’s Boydton, Virginia team heard about a need in the community.
