MANCHESTER, New Hampshire, May 26, 2016 — Terracon, a leading national engineering consulting firm with a personal and uncompromising commitment to everyone going home safe to their family each and every day, has adopted changes to its Safety Rules and Practices reflecting a commitment to an Incident and Injury-Free (IIF) workplace. As a member of the Construction Industry Safety Initiative (CISI), and together with their 40 partner groups and sponsors, Terracon announced the updates in conjunction with Safety Week, celebrated May 2 - 6.
The most significant change is a total prohibition of cellphone use while driving on company business. Terracon’s previous rule allowed for using a hands-free cellphone function. With a nationwide fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles and more than 3,500 employees with the potential to drive personal vehicles for company business, this rule is a considerable change to business operations and requires significant employee education. Employees are allowed to use cellphones for navigation, which must be programmed before driving.
“For drivers using cellphones, even a hands-free device, the rate of collisions is four times higher than for drivers not using cellphones,” said David Gaboury, Terracon president and CEO. “If Terracon did not adopt this rule change, it would simply not be consistent with our uncompromising commitment to everyone going home safe every day. We’re doing this to protect our employees and their families.”
Terracon’s core Safety Rules and Practices are a set of 13 specific activities, common to all employees, with a focus on avoiding accidents and preventing injuries. The updates reflect Terracon as a growing company that continues to evaluate and evolve in light of new research, technological advances in the industry, and internal safety metrics. Employee leaders from across the company created and maintain the Rules and Practices. Terracon originally developed the Rules and Practices in 2014 and has since documented that this commitment to care and concern has reduced employee injuries by more than two-thirds.
As part of its Rules and Practices updates, Terracon employees are also actively warming-up for work. “Warm-Up for Work” encourages employees to stretch and use proper lifting techniques; activities that can greatly reduce the potential for and severity of back strains and soft tissue injuries.
Terracon also recently added a Safety Check-In program intended to increase engagement and collaboration between managers and field employees to assure these Terracon employees are working safely and have a voice in sharing safety ideas. More than 350 Safety Check-Ins are occurring each month, reinforcing positive work practices and correcting less-safe work. Additionally, Safety Spot Bonuses encourage employees to recognize co-workers who demonstrate safe choices while at work, and award cash bonuses.
“Terracon has reduced our Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) by 250 percent since 2012,” said Jim Wright, Terracon director of safety and health. “Our leading indicators of Near-Miss Reporting and Safety Spot Bonuses awarded both increased more than 250 percent as well. This data shows that Terracon team members are proactively seeking out opportunities to identify and correct safety concerns, with successful results.”
Safety Week focuses on inspiring everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety. For more information visit www.safetyweek2016.com.
Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with more than 3,500 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 130 offices with services available in all 50 states. Terracon currently ranks 32nd on Engineering News-Record’s list of Top 500 Design Firms. For additional information about Terracon, visit www.terracon.com.
