Archive for the ‘Safety Spotlight’ Category

ORGANIZATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH STATE SAFETY AWARDS

Wednesday, June 10th, 2020

The Minnesota Safety Council has awarded three Governor’s Safety Awards to Egan Company for excellence in safety. 

Egan is amongst a very small group of companies to receive an Award of Honor; recipients of this award have incident rates at least 91% better than the industry average and a score between 91 and 100 on the safety program evaluation scale. Egan received the Award of Honor in 2014 as well. 

Two Meritorious Achievement Awards were also earned, recognizing an outstanding record and incident rates better than the industry average for at least three years, respectively.

Traditionally, The Minnesota Safety Council honors award winners at its Governor’s Safety Awards Ceremony at its annual conference; however, due to COVID-19 developments, this event has been postponed until Fall 2020.

To read more about the scorecard and award categories, visit The Minnesota Safety Council website.

About Minnesota Safety Council

The Minnesota Safety Council, founded in 1928, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Minnesota by preventing unintentional injuries (“accidents”). Since 1934, the annual Governor’s Safety Awards program has honored Minnesota employers with exceptional safety performance. Applicants are judged on several years of injury data as it compares with their industry’s national statistics, and on their progress in implementing a comprehensive safety program.

OUTLOOK AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: CONTINUED SAFETY AND OPERATIONS

Monday, April 27th, 2020

Over the last several weeks, we’ve had to quickly adjust to changes in all areas of our lives in support of one priority: the safety and well-being of our employees, our customers, and our communities. 

For over 75 years, the core of our business has been to provide skilled trades, professional services, and 24/7 response under all circumstances. Egan Company continues to operate daily, ensuring your needs are met. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, the Task Force team at Egan has also continued to evolve prevention, preparedness, and response plans.

The thoughtful and decisive action we’ve taken over the last two months remains in-place

Here’s a quick summary of what is active, in response to COVID-19: 

  • Business continuity – maintaining operations and minimizing disruptions in our shops, the field, and the office, disinfecting equipment and tools before delivery, and closely monitoring potential impacts in the supply chain.
  • Shop work area adjustments – employing practices that will help prevent the spread of germs and creating multiple and separate work areas in our shops and on the jobsite.
  • Precautions and key actions – following CDC guidance for precautionary measures, daily self-monitoring and screening protocol, social distancing, instituting field safety guides for jobsite and shop practices, supplying disinfectant/sanitizer/masks, practicing good hygiene, and cancelling nonessential meetings.
  • Team support – providing direct support for COVID-19 questions/concerns from employees and preparing in the case of potential exposure.
  • Industry relations – remaining connected with many organizations and suppliers to keep apprised of movements that could affect our work.

Reach out at any time – we’re here to support you with unwavering service

There is no doubt this pandemic has presented new challenges for everyone. As government officials begin to lift “Stay at Home” Executive Orders, Egan is here to help transition facilities to ensure all sites are operational. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do for you.

Thank you for working alongside us through this unprecedented time. We’ll continue to assess our plans and adopt new methodologies based on guidance from national and local governments and health authorities—and ask you to do the same.

AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING SAFETY PERFORMANCE AND EXCELLENCE IN PROJECT EXECUTION

Saturday, February 1st, 2020

Every day, on every job, safety remains the highest priority. This culture of safety didn’t happen overnight, on one project, or in one year. It’s been built on a commitment spanning across decades. A commitment we are proud to share with other industry leaders who value safety as much as we do.

January 31 not only marked the grand opening of Cargill’s GEOS R&D facility, but also a key safety milestone. Along with Terra Construction, we extend congratulations to Egan’s Electrical Special Projects team for being recognized for Outstanding Safety Performance and Excellence in Project Execution.

Operations Manager Jason Rosati shared an inspiring message from Cargill: “this project came in two weeks ahead of schedule, under budget and with no injuries. Safety, quality, and productivity is very much achievable.”  

We’re proud of our team for living Egan Company’s values and delivering a high performance result! It is a privilege to work alongside Terra and Cargill who both have unyielding commitments to safety.

Thank you to the following Egan contributors to this project:

  • John Kolb
  • Dan Bednar
  • Martine Hofseth
  • Herb Loeffler
  • Tim Horazuk
  • Dave Horazuk
  • Todd Voth
  • Luke Piram
  • Jason Rosati

Chase Partnership Spotlights Safety

Monday, December 2nd, 2019

The role safety plays – both in our work and at home – is an imperative piece to our success at Egan. Our goal every day is to keep our most valuable resource, our employees, safe. From the equipment, tools, and protective gear we use to the external safety classes and partnerships we provide, it is our mission to achieve zero injuries.

This Fall, Egan officially added another safety partnership to its list with the acceptance into the Construction Health and Safety Excellence (CHASE) program.

CHASE is an exclusive program created by the Associated General Contractors of Minnesota (AGC of MN) and the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“Congratulations to Egan Company on becoming a CHASE Level 2 participant this October and for earning this recognition with its comprehensive safety program,” said Doug Swenson, Director of Safety and Field Training with AGC. 

The ultimate goal of this partnership with Minnesota contractors is to reduce and eliminate jobsite injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. With the addition of Egan, it currently has 42 member contractors across the state. 

Elected participants are those that implement effective safety and health programs and provide effective safety health training for management, supervisors, and employees. The program also recognizes those that go beyond basic compliance with OSHA standards and have an overall effective, long-term safety program. With this partnership, Egan must continually meet and maintain yearly safety requirements. 

“Our goal for every project we’re involved with is for it to be safer because Egan’s team is there,” said Reid Romer, Safety Director at Egan. “The CHASE partnership gives us, as well as our customers, a reassurance that Egan’s safety efforts are being applied and continuing to move forward as an organization.”

Safety Training Saves a Life

Wednesday, July 31st, 2019

Being prepared when opportunity strikes can yield powerful results. When it comes to safety at Egan Company, the same notion rings true – we prepare our employees for any safety situation. Recently at a customer jobsite, the preparation and heroics of Tanner Knutson, Egan Electrical Field Leader, and Ray Turner, Egan Electrical Journeyman, led to the ultimate result – a saved life.

A Quick and Selfless Response

An average Monday took an unexpected turn when another contractor onsite went into cardiac arrest on the job of Knutson, Turner, and the Egan crew. Reacting immediately to their safety training, Knutson and Turner initiated CPR along with an employee from the other contractor within moments of the collapse. Conrad King, Egan Electrical Field Leader, called 911 while the remainder of the Egan crew assisted EMS arrival and clearing the area.

It has been confirmed that undoubtedly the CPR onsite is what saved our employee’s life. We would like to give a special thanks to Egan’s crew for their selfless assistance in performing CPR,” said a representative of the contractor. “It was truly amazing to see the training these employees have been through come to light and be performed just like textbook. Our employee is now recovering at home and is extremely thankful to the crew who saved his life.

Training for Life

Safety is a core value we believe in and invest resources to continue building on its success. As a company, we encourage both office and field employees to further their safety education through online training programs and classes (like CPR and First-Aid), and onsite trainings because, just like Knutson and Turner, we need to always be prepared. Whether it’s at work or at the family cabin, our goal is for all employees to have the confidence to take action.

2019 June Safety Month: Accountability

Thursday, June 27th, 2019

It’s National Safety Month and we’re focusing on three key areas that help us work safe at Egan: Awareness, Action, and Accountability.

This week our attention is on Accountability. Two Egan team members share their insight on holding each other accountable when it comes to working safely.


Q: How can we better hold each other accountable to achieve zero injuries?

“Always say something if you see a co-worker performing a task unsafe. We can learn from each other by speaking up and demonstrating the correct, safe way to do things. This way we keep each other accountable and get to go home injury-free.” – Tony Klema, Egan Project Manager

Q: What would achieving zero injuries mean to Egan?

“Achieving zero injuries means Egan could approach all of our projects with even more confidence. A high emphasis on safety speaks volumes to new and existing customers and being able to demonstrate stability and trust with them is important. Also, zero injuries keeps my coworkers and I coming home at the end of the day to our families.” – Terry Fredericks, Egan Panel Shop Field Leader

2019 June Safety Month: Action

Thursday, June 20th, 2019

It’s National Safety Month and we’re focusing on three key areas that help us work safe at Egan: Awareness, Action, and Accountability.

This week our attention is on Action. Two Egan team members share their insight on taking action in order to stay safe.


Q: As a Field Leader, how do you continuously maintain safety on the jobsite?

We maintain safety on the job by emphasizing that the crew speaks up. Whether they see something they feel is unsafe or see another trade working unsafe, they should always make the superintendent or myself aware so immediate action can be taken. – Mark Hoffman, Egan Glazier Field Leader

Q: How do you empower your crew to speak up if they see unsafe work happening?

“Having open discussions every day gives the crew an opportunity to voice their safety concerns and builds trust among the group. I try to reiterate that any safety issue that arises should be brought to my attention and I make sure to address or act on their concerns immediately, regardless of its severity, so they always feel comfortable speaking up.” – Ben Tronson, Egan Pipefitter Field Leader

2019 June Safety Month: Awareness

Thursday, June 13th, 2019

It’s National Safety Month and we’re focusing on three key areas that help us work safe at Egan: Awareness, Action, and Accountability.

This week our attention is on Awareness. Two Egan team members share their insight on workplace awareness and safety culture.


Q: How do you make sure all employees on your jobsite are aware of the importance of our safety culture?

Understanding the importance of our safety culture starts in the morning as we go through our Daily Safety Plan and morning stretching. Additionally, we always stress the importance of wearing full PPE. I also constantly try to encourage the crew to not be afraid to speak up if there is a tool or equipment that could make the job easier or safer.” – Anthony Sailer, Egan Electrical Field Leader

Q: What is one way every Egan employee can contribute toward achieving zero injuries?

Staying aware of everything happening around the jobsite should always be top priority. Conditions on any site can change rapidly, both on inside or outside jobs, constant awareness will help us be alert to identify potential hazards and prevent injuries. – Todd Hemstock, Egan Limited Energy Technician

Strong Safety Performance Earns Governor’s Safety Awards

Wednesday, June 5th, 2019
Pictured above is Egan's Safety Committee.

Since 1934, the annual Governor’s Safety Awards program has honored Minnesota employers that are committed to workplace health and safety.

During this Spring’s 85th Annual Minnesota Safety & Health Conference, Egan Company received seven Governor’s Safety Awards for exceptional safety performance in 2018. This marks the 12th year Egan has been awarded multiple Governor’s Safety Awards.

Overall, Egan was one of approximately 294 employers to be honored through the awards program and one of 170 winners of the Meritorious Achievement award. Meritorious Achievement recognizes companies with incidence rates that are better than the industry average for at least three years, and a score between 50 and 74 on a 100-point safety program evaluation scale.

To read more about the evaluation scorecard and award categories visit Minnesota Safety Council’s website.

Pictured above is Egan’s Safety Committee.

Safe by Choice: Construction Safety Week Recap

Friday, May 10th, 2019

In recognition of Construction Safety Week, we highlighted a few topics that inspire, educate, and shape us to Stay Safe in all that we do.

A Strong Culture of Safety

We’re eager to showcase why ensuring the highest standard of safety on every jobsite and within our shops and offices is our number one priority. Check out this cool video (1 min.)!

Educating for Safer Roads

While driving may be perceived as a routine activity, attentive driving is critical to your safety, the safety of other drivers, and personnel who work on our roadways.

PPE – what is it and why do we wear it?

With the potential hazards of a construction site, personal protection equipment (PPE) is considered a primary line of defense when it comes to crew safety. Each item is designed to minimize exposure to certain risks of injury or illness, and the damage caused by those hazards in the event of a mishap.

Egan upholds a 100% PPE policy on all of our jobsites.

Why We Work Safe

Often times, taking shortcuts on the job can have ripple-like consequences, which is why making safe choices every day is essential. Choosing to work safe benefits everyone. We all want to go home at the end of the day to see the people that matter most and do the things we love.