What if a contractor runs a smaller outlet, without the means
to employee safety professionals? Lynn's advice: "They
key is in the attitude and approach by management. Everyone
from the company owner to the president and down. Staffed
safety persons cannot make it happen without line management
making it happen." The company's safety policy helps
to promote this attitude.
HBG's approach has demonstrated its success through a recent
award from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of California.
FCI Constructors/Cleveland Bridge California received the
Safety Excellence on a High-Hazard Job Award for construction
of the Carquinez Strait Bridge, which has had an outstanding
safety record since breaking ground in January 2000. As of
Dec. 31, 2000, the team had worked 197,000 hours with zero
serious injuries and no lost-time accidents, according to
AGC. To achieve this success, the companies developed a safety
program that includes new-employee orientation via CD-ROM,
as well as written tests.
A second major component is weekly management meetings. For
complex and/or high-risk activities, such as critical lifts
or deep pile work, a formal safety review process takes place
with the management team beforehand.
Words of wisdom
It has been said that the key to happiness is to love what
you do. When asked what his favorite bridge job is, Lynn says
that HBG blends high-profile with standard highway construction,
but that doesn't answer the question. The way his voice excites
when talking about the cable spinning methods at Carquinez
Strait does, however.
The project is the first U.S. suspension bridge built in 35
years. Unlike the Golden Gate's free-hanging method, crews
are using a controlled-tension method that keeps wires at
a continuous tension during the spinning process. Lynn sums
it up when he says, "This stuff is exciting to bridge
guys like me."
At press time, cable spinning had just been completed on the
Carquinez Strait on-site, and crews were starting compaction.
The next major step is next year when the steel decks will
be placed.
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