orkplace injuries have direct and indirect costs. Worker time off, costs for surgery, medication and treatment, case management time, ancillary aids, and the like are direct costs; indirect costs include lost productivity, additional overtime pay for other workers to fill in, potential penalties if safety violations are found, or time to interview, onboard, and train a new employee.
The National Safety Council, or NSC, states that these cost estimates can be compared to other measures, such as gross domestic product and per capita income. According to 2021 NSC data (the most current year published), the council estimates the true cost to the United States, employers, and individuals of work-related deaths and injuries represented $167 billion.
In short, there is real economic value in having a safe work environment. But maintaining a safe workplace is about so much more than the bottom line; it demonstrates care for the employees who work there and generally is an indication of open communication between all levels of management.
Associated General Contractors, or AGC, of Alaska and ConocoPhillips recognized four companies and one individual for outstanding commitments to safety at the ConocoPhillips Excellence in Safety luncheon November 9, part of the 2023 AGC of Alaska Annual Convention.
– Jessica Tramp, Davis Constructors
Davis leaders say they were chosen, in part, because safety is part of the company’s guiding principle—at Davis, things are done the “Davis Way,” and according to the company “Success is no accident, and through commitment, consistency, and communication we strive to send everyone home each day healthy and safe.”
“At Davis, safety is our number-one priority. We are no stranger to the unique safety challenges Alaska has to offer, so from our inception, we’ve taken safety seriously and embedded it into our guiding principles,” says Davis Marketing Manager Jessica Tramp. “Getting recognition for our efforts always feels great and is truly special.”
Davis is an active member of the AGC Safety Committee and a gold member in the Alaska Construction Health and Safety Excellence, or AK CHASE, program.
“We consider the Alaska Occupational Safety and Health, or AKOSH, a partner in our safety program, and welcome independent inspections from our insurance risk manager,” Davis leaders stated in a safety narrative submitted as part of the award competition.
Another key factor in making safety central: communication and transparency.
“At Davis, we consider everything a learning opportunity, which is why transparency is incredibly important in not only keeping everyone on the same page but also in ensuring growth. If we do not acknowledge near misses, then we cannot prevent them from evolving into potential accidents,” Tramp says. “Safety is also a collaborative endeavor at Davis. If a problem arises at a jobsite, our safety coordinator sits down with the project team and works with them to figure out a solution.”
– Tim Finnigan, Ahtna
Ahtna leadership says the award underscores its unwavering commitment to prioritizing the well-being of Ahtna employees, subcontractors, and stakeholders both on and off the jobsite.
“We have worked hard to instill a culture of safety in all of our work, from our offices to the project sites we lead,” says Tim Finnigan, president of Ahtna Diversified Holdings, LLC. “Safety is a value at Ahtna and this award is validation that our project leaders are working hard every day to make sure that everyone on an Ahtna site is able to do their work without injury.”
Ahtna leaders say the recognition signifies that Ahtna has upheld its responsibility that everyone goes home at the end of the workday.
How did they get there? By consistent attention to making safe operations a way of doing business, a top-to-bottom commitment to running safe jobs, Ahtna leaders say.
“A culture of safety is the most powerful armor we can provide in the workplace. It’s not just about compliance; it’s about caring for each other and fostering an environment where everyone can thrive,” says Dan Caldwell, civil infrastructure division manager of Ahtna Infrastructure & Technologies, LLC. “Investing in safety is an investment in our people. It’s a commitment to their well-being, a promise that resonates through every corner of our workplace.”
Caldwell encourages that all field representatives, managers, and supervisors start every meeting with a safety moment. Ahtna ensures that its managers, supervisors, and field representatives are engaged and set a positive example for workplace safety. From the top down, all of Ahtna’s employees are expected to participate in corporate sponsored safety programs that encourage proactive safety involvement. The company’s goal is to achieve “Target Zero”—zero incidents on all contracts performed by the company.
“Winning this safety award is a testament to our commitment to excellence,” says Kevin Bergt, director of special projects for Ahtna Diversified Holdings, LLC. “To Ahtna, it’s not just a trophy; it’s a roadmap to a future where safety is not just a goal but an ingrained part of our organizational DNA.”
– Chris Rodriguez, Granite Alaska
Granite employs 150 to 200 employees each construction season. The company specializes in complex infrastructure projects and performs all heavy civil construction elements, including clearing, grubbing, earthmoving, pipe, culvert installation, drilling and shooting, rock excavation, grading, asphalt paving, and production of crushed and screened aggregate products. It’s work that includes significant danger and potential for harm. But in 2022, Granite’s Alaska Region marked an outstanding safety record: zero recordable injuries in that year. More notably, the company has had zero recordable injuries in the past two out of three years.
“Our Alaska Region Managers set high standards for how we conduct all our business, and they lead the way by promoting safety from start to finish in all operations across the organization,” says Chris Rodriguez, Alaska region safety manager.
Rodriguez notes that Granite Alaska is dedicated to “Safety by Choice,” which is the understanding that safety comes down to people, not projects, and a speak-up mentality that drives a behavior-based safety culture to ensure its employees make it home safely at the end of the day.
“Our job sites are safer and more productive when our employees are knowledgeable and engaged in hazard recognition and implementing controls during every stage of the work to ultimately achieve an injury free career with us,” Rodriguez says.
– Randy Beltz, NSTS
North Star Terminal & Stevedore, or NSTS, operating in Alaska since 1950, specializes in loading and unloading barges and ships supplying goods to all areas of Alaska. North Star Equipment Services is a new division of NSTS, launched in 2006, that focuses on off-dock equipment services.
North Star leaders credit the company’s 266-page safety manual and leadership by Safety Manager Nick Danger as the backbone of its safety success.
“Our safety manual should be the bible for all safety programs,” North Star leaders stated in the award application. “Our president was instrumental in its development, working on it directly during his tenure as operations manager, which is not something you are likely to see in many other companies.”
Vice President Randy Beltz says North Star’s culture of safety starts with its safety mantra: “Hooked on Safety,” a play off a crane hook.
“We promote being hooked on safety in what we do, from our toolbox meetings discussing JHAs [job hazard analyses], to our weekly safety topics that are sent out to the team, to our job walkdowns by safety and management to inspect what we expect, always reviewing and adapting our safety plan and manual to fit changing conditions,” Beltz says. “A good safety culture is something a company always needs to continue to look at and make improvements to. We always must strive to be better each day.”
Beltz says winning the AGC Excellence in Safety Award underscores the company’s hard work and demonstrates that commitment publicly.
“Being recognized by AGC with this prestigious honor carries weight when we can point to the award as a kind of endorsement of our team and our safety culture,” he says.
“Andy joined our team as an operator grade checker in 2004 and worked his way through the ranks to become a Superintendent in 2011. Throughout his career, Andy has prioritized, and demonstrated, the ability to send crews home safely every day. He has been asked to lead some of the most challenging jobs because he brings his ‘A’ game to every jobsite. He holds subcontractors accountable and demands excellence,” Mass Excavation leaders stated in the award application.
“This award was definitely a surprise. It is really special, and I am honored to receive it. I think this award proves that success is no accident and that it is a group effort,” Davidson says.
Davidson says he tries to keep workers engaged by focusing on the safety concerns they’ll be working with each day.
“Safety meetings often involve the same person saying the same things. I keep everyone engaged during our safety meetings by keeping topics on task and developing activities. We discuss any job site’s potential risks before we perform them. Everyone’s point of view on situations is important,” Davidson says. “It is also important to manage workloads. We work a lot of hours, so I’ve found that occasionally getting off early on a Friday or Saturday keeps crews motivated.”
Ultimately, he said he hopes the award helps others working with Mass Excavation take note of the importance of jobsite safety.
“We hold our program to a high safety standard, and receiving this award helps send a message to those within our company, and to newcomers, that safety is very important to us,” Davidson says.