DETROIT, Mich. – Work a full 90 days without a recordable hand injury.
That was the proactive challenge handed to employees on 47 Walbridge Industrial Process project sites throughout 11 states.
The period of June through August typically yields the highest rate of hand injuries on construction sites.
More than 400 workers rose to the challenge with more than 115,000 man hours completed on those sites – all with no recordable hand injury. Safety teams heightened awareness on site with signage and special safety cards were mailed to employees with a focus on preventing hand injuries.
As of Sept. 28, the sites that were challenged have gone 120 days without a recordable hand injury.
“The results are a testament to the hard-working teams Walbridge has working world-wide,” said John Rakolta III, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. “They rose to the challenge and continue to make safety our No. 1 priority.”
Walbridge’s first core value is to “Think, demand and deliver safety in all aspects of our business.”
“Typically, 40 percent of all injuries are hand-related,” Walbridge Assistant Vice President Mark LaClair said. “The Summer of Safety challenge improved safety metrics and was extremely successful.”
As part of the challenge, several site leaders will get ice water dumped on them at various locations.
Walbridge has received numerous awards for safety, including receiving a World Excellence Award for demonstration of safety leadership by Ford in May.
Walbridge (www.walbridge.com) is an Engineering News-Record “Top 50” construction company. Founded in 1916, Walbridge is headquartered in Detroit and has more than a dozen offices located across the United States and conducts international operations in Canada, Mexico and South America.