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Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010

938,000 Hours of Work With No Accidents Or Injuries

lThe Construction Safety Team, sub-contractors and craft persons celebrated 2 years of construction work without any accidents or injuries.

Jean Myers, leader of the Construction Team, attributes no accidents or injuries to a thorough project evaluation process. Before the project starts, Myers and her team meet with the sub-contractors’ safety coordinators and project supervisors to discuss the scope of work to be performed, the potential hazards, and controls to the most detailed level. Afterwards, step-by-step written procedures are developed. The result is 938,000 hours with no accidents or injuries. Information gained from each of these projects is incorporated, to the extent possible, in future projects.

One example of this process is removal of fume hoods during the current remodeling of labs and offices in Building 62. Disconnecting and removing of gas and water lines, removing the hood, cleaning and salvaging the fume hoods for recycling to another lab or for disposal all have written procedures for sub-contractors and craft persons to follow.

“The ultimate goal of every contractor” says Myers, is “no accidents and injuries, on time performance, and staying within budget.” By providing an up-front analysis of the hazards, controls, and following the work closely, all three elements have contributed to the goal. To celebrate this accomplishment, the Construction Team hosted its first annual ‘Subs for Subs’ luncheon last September to honor the subcontractors’ safe work.

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