Mowat workers have the option to reject unsafe conditions as part of the firm’s safety program. Photo courtesy of Mowat Construction

Mowat says no other aspect of its work has greater priority than safety. With that in mind, the company’s goal is to have a 100 percent incident-free workplace.

The company protects its workers and property, along with the environment and the public, through its comprehensive written construction incident prevention program. The program not only complies with mandated federal, state and local regulations, it goes beyond the law to do whatever it takes to establish injury free working conditions.

Mowat employees begin their involvement with the company safety program by receiving medical monitoring, new employee safety orientations and project specific hazard awareness training. Mowat attempts to foster employee participation through the team approach by allowing employees to contribute their knowledge and experience in hazard recognition and control.

Four specific programs have been designed and implemented to ensure Mowat employees and subcontractors don’t jeopardize themselves, other workers or the public. These are the medical monitoring program, the material and personnel hoisting program, safety and health bulletins, and the subcontractor oversight program.

The medical monitoring program includes five potential elements which each new employee may be evaluated on. At a minimum, each employee is evaluated for substance abuse before they start working. In addition, employees involved in an incident are subject to testing for substance abuse. Once past this phase of evaluation, audiometric testing, blood lead testing, respirator clearance, and commercial drivers medical evaluations are performed when required.

The material and personnel hoisting program is required for Mowat or subcontractor employees operating Mowat-owned equipment such as cranes, forklifts and aerial lifts. Requirements include passing written exams and demonstrating abilities to designated competent persons prior to on-the-job operation. In addition, personnel performing rigging operations receive training and take a knowledge exam. Those who meet the requirements are issued a wallet card of certification designating the equipment and operations authorized to operate.

The Mowat personnel report is used to track and communicate safety and health training, completion and expiration dates, records of job safety surveys and job safety meetings. The report is generated every 60 days and looks 60 days into the future to ensure that all Mowat field personnel are up to date on all required training.

Under the subcontractor oversight program, subs are required to submit prior to project start-up the following: a safety data sheet (safety and health history); company accident prevention program; project specific accident prevention program, complete with pre-hazard analysis; and a list of anticipated chemicals and their associated material safety data sheets. Also, a subcontractor representative is required to participate in a pre-construction meeting where project specific production and safety issues are addressed.

Mowat’s safety efforts have paid off. From 1997 through 2000, the company saw its experience modification rate drop from 1.05 to .38, the number of total recordable cases drop from 44 to five, the injury/illness recordable incident rate drop from 17.7 to 9.56, lost workdays drop from 576 days to one day, and restricted workdays drop from 643 days to 245 days.