Safety

Safety is a key factor in the success of any construction company. GBI regards safety as one of its core values and emphasizes its importance throughout the ranks. However, safety has become even more critical as the skyrocketing costs of medical care and worker’s compensation premiums have had a tremendous impact on businesses, especially those with a manual-intensive workforce.

To combat the higher rates and an ever-changing workforce, GBI has re-focused its efforts and implemented multiple strategies. We have re-established safety as a top management priority. We have formed the GBI Safety Committee, comprised of craftspeople, supervisors and senior management. This committee meets monthly to implement new ideas, monitor safety results, and continue promoting a company culture to overcome the challenges associated with the workers’ comp crisis in California.

GBI was one of the first construction companies in Northern California to implement pre-hire substance abuse testing in the early 90’s and, when approved by the unions, moved to full scale random testing in the subsequent years, including post-accident and reasonable suspicion testing.

GBI also promotes an early return to work program, so that employees can benefit from contributing to the workplace and also receive their full wages while working through the injuries.

GBI emphasizes safety with its new employees and provides training to them. GBI also trains its supervisors with important safety information, so they maintain a safe jobsite. Supervisors are trained in CPR and first aid for emergency care. Many have received specialized training in hazmat, confined space, and trenching and excavation safety. All of GBI’s supervisors, Project Managers, Project Engineers and senior Operations management have also been through a special 10-hour OSHA certification course for construction.

GBI also conducts random jobsite inspections to ensure the safety of the workers on each project. Supervisors inspect daily; project managers, senior operations management and company owners visit each job on a weekly basis; and, GBI utilizes its resources by partnering with loss control consultants to also randomly visit jobsites on a monthly basis. Managing the jobsite through inspections aids in sustaining a safe atmosphere for everyone, as GBI prides itself on having a professional worksite.

Safety strategies implemented by the GBI Safety Committee include implementing a safety recognition program to reward those employees with a safe track record. Employees receive special company safety clothing for consecutive hours worked injury free. They also receive safety points which can be redeemed for goods and services through a catalog or from the GBI clothing store.

GBI stresses the importance of safety to the employees through its quarterly safety barbecues held in the yard where all can enjoy the rewards of having a safe jobsite. At these safety barbecues, employees without injuries are given the opportunity to spin the GBI safety wheel for a prize. The safety wheel has been a huge hit, attracting more of the workforce to our backyard barbecues. At each and every barbecue, GBI’s President, Mike Ghilotti, speaks and stresses the importance of maintaining a safe work environment.

GBI continues to highlight safety by discussing safety-related issues at monthly supervisors’ meetings, publishing a safety article in our company newsletter and sharing other important safety information with our employees.

With these continued efforts, GBI’s rating through the workers’ comp system dropped over 61% over three (3) years, and premiums cut in half. GBI is confident that as we continue to make safety a priority, as it always has been, not only will the project and the client benefit from better efficiency and a safer environment, GBI’s employees and the traveling public will return home safely at the end of each day.