safety

United Contractors Midwest launched a new comprehensive safety program in the fall of 2001 that brought together the best resources from each of our individual operating entities. As a result of this move, a Risk Management Department was formed integrating all of the loss control functions into one area managed by a staff of qualified professionals with several years of experience in the environmental, safety and health field. UCM is proud of the progress that has been made in recent years by creating a safety culture that reinforces the emphasis placed on identifying and correcting hazards before they become losses.

UCM Safety & Health Manual

UCM has adopted a safety program which requires involvement at all levels of our organization. The UCM Safety & Health Manual outlines and defines management’s commitment and leadership as well as assignment of responsibilities for each employee’s job description. Our program also sets performance expectations for subcontractors and trucking companies requiring them to comply with the UCM
safety program specific to the hazards for their type of work operations.

” …to provide a safe and healthy work environment, free from recognized hazards, for all employees.”

Training and Education is a significant aspect of our safety program, further enabling and equipping our management employees to be able to identify and correct hazards encountered on each of our job sites. Each year, all supervisory personnel and field support staff are required to attend a 2-3 day comprehensive safety training session that has been choreographed to reflect the specific nature of the hazards encountered on heavy & highway construction sites. The UCM Risk Management team has three OSHA Authorized 10 Hour & 30 Hour Construction Industry outreach trainers. Topics covered in a typical training session include:

• OSHA ACT & General Overview
• Trenching & Excavation
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Occupational Noise Exposure
• Hand & Power Tools
• Bloodborne Pathogens
• Concrete & Masonry
• Silica Exposure and Protection of Employees
• Hazard Communications
• Material Handling and Back Safety
• Respiratory Protection Program
• Fall Protection/Ladders & Walkways
• Crane Safety
• Confined Spaces
• Work Zone Traffic Control
• Drug Testing

Upon successful completion of training, employees are given a wallet size “UCM Safety Training Identification Card” which lists all of the topics covered for that particular session.

S.I.T.E. ON SAFETY
ON TARGET FOR A SAFE WORK SITE
Stop – Identify – Think – Engage

United Contractors Midwest continues to promote the proactive philosophy of identifying hazards through the use of our new S.I.T.E. Program – Stop, Identify, Think, Engage – On Target For A Safe Work Site. This program rewards employees for identifying hazards and correcting or making recommendations for their correction or elimination. In addition, employees are given additional credits for conducting on-site Toolbox Talks on a weekly basis, performing Job Hazard Analyses, and for exemplary job site conditions as determined by the Risk Management team.

As an additional step to thwart unsafe behavior and prevent accidents, UCM enforces a Substance Abuse Policy and adheres to a belief that a drug-free workplace is a safe workplace. Any employee that is under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol is endangering himself or herself and is also putting co-workers, customers, and the general public at risk. Policy violations result in the immediate suspension of employees and their removal from the job site.

UCM’s safety program embraces high expectations of all of its employees and reinforces this concept by requiring the use of Personal Protective Equipment throughout the organization. Most of the equipment was selected by listening to employee feedback and recommendations regarding comfort, style, and reliability. At a minimum, all employees are required to wear high visibility clothing and safety glasses on all job sites. Often times, PPE is identified with our company logo creating ownership and pride among employees.

UCM Pride...