Fall/Winter 2017
Building Healthy Communities
INTERVIEW:
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital’s
Don Katz
talks about the future of healthcare
is a publication of
The subject of healthcare tends to come up a lot at TDIndustries. It’s no secret that a substantial percentage of our construction and renovation work, as well as service and facilities projects, are from healthcare providers across Texas and Arizona. We like it that way. TD focuses on healthcare often because the demand is high and it fits our expertise. And TD is particularly well-suited for healthcare projects because we believe in serving others. Our servant leadership philosophy emphasizes involvement in the communities where we live and work, and our TDPartners are always up for helping someone in need. You’ll see stories throughout this issue that reflect our commitment to the values of servant leadership, and how we live out those values. The healthcare industry is entering a new phase of development that is beginning to change how we look at wellness. Specialized elder care, micro-hospitals, increased behavioral health options, extended preventative care, emergency department modernization, and heightened infectious disease control are some of the many trends that are likely to impact the industry and transform the way that individuals interact with healthcare organizations. In your own communities, what healthcare changes are taking place? Are the facilities becoming more technically advanced? Are there enough accessible locations for you to see a doctor quickly? Has your local hospital kept up with best practices in the industry? We hope this issue of TDSpirit will give you some insight into how relationships with healthcare organizations are changing for contractors, and how those relationships can impact the quality of care for the people in your communities. Enjoy! La cuestión de la atención médica surge con mucha frecuencia en TDIndustries. No es ningún secreto que un gran porcentaje de nuestro trabajo de construcción y renovación, así como los proyectos de servicios e instalaciones, proviene de proveedores de atención médica en Texas y Arizona, y nos complace que sea así. TD se concentra en el sector de la atención médica porque la demanda es alta y se ajusta a nuestros conocimientos. Además, TD es particularmente indicada para proyectos del sector de la atención médica porque creemos en servir a los demás. Nuestra filosofía de liderazgo de servicio hace hincapié en el compromiso con las comunidades en las que vivimos y trabajamos, y nuestros socios de TD siempre están dispuestos a ayudar a quien lo necesite. En este número, encontrarás historias que reflejan nuestro compromiso con los valores de liderazgo de servicio y el modo en que vivimos según estos valores. El sector de la atención médica entra en una nueva etapa de desarrollo que comienza a cambiar la manera en la que vemos a la salud y el bienestar. La atención especializada para adultos mayores, los microhospitales, las mayores opciones sobre salud conductual y atención preventiva, la modernización del departamento de emergencias y el control mejorado de las enfermedades infecciosas son solo algunas de las tendencias que probablemente afecten el sector y transformen la manera en que las personas interactúan con las organizaciones de atención médica. ¿Qué cambios están ocurriendo en el sector de la atención médica en nuestras propias comunidades? ¿La tecnología de los centros de atención es cada vez más avanzada? ¿Se dispone de suficientes lugares accesibles para que pueda ver a un médico sin demora? ¿Su hospital local sigue las buenas prácticas del sector? Esperamos que este número de TDSpirit le brinde una perspectiva sobre la forma en que están cambiando las relaciones con las organizaciones de atención médica para los contratistas, y cómo esas relaciones pueden afectar la calidad de la atención que reciben las personas de su comunidad. Esperamos que lo disfrute.
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TDSpirit • • • Fall/Winter 2017
Austin
2701 Gattis School Road Building “A” Suite 101 Round Rock, TX 78664 512-310-5050
Dallas
13850 Diplomat Drive Dallas, TX 75234 972-888-9500
Fort Worth
2601 Northern Cross Blvd. Suite 201 Fort Worth, TX 76137 817-306-6500
Houston
9525 Derrington Road Houston, TX 77064 713-939-1986
Phoenix Metro Area
1888 East Broadway Road Tempe, AZ 85282 480-449-7690
Richardson
Process Solutions 1400 S. Sherman Street Richardson, TX 75081 972-888-9500
San Antonio
12700 O’Connor Road San Antonio, TX 78233 210-646-8476
Tucson
3820 East 44th Street, #416 Tucson, AZ 85713 800-864-7717 Please report any change of address, contact name, or additions to MarketingTeam@TDIndustries.com
We want to thank the Partners of TDIndustries who contributed to this issue of TDSpirit
Building Healthy 4 Communities
4 6
Hurricane Harvey Relief 6
14
University Health System 8 Career Milestones 10 Children’s Medical Center 14 Solterra Midtown 16 Hand Safety 18 Interview with Don Katz, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital 20
8
Silica Pocket Guide 22
23
Torch Award for Ethics 23
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Building Healthy Communities How demand is changing the way we approach healthcare construction and community wellness
The healthcare industry could be at a major crossroads – as communities grow and insurance coverage is challenged, how do healthcare organizations best invest their resources? Where and how do patient needs have to be addressed? And what should communities be doing to ensure that people who need assistance get it? Currently there are nearly 900,000 staffed hospital beds in America’s more than 5,500 registered hospitals. And healthcare design and construction professionals are looking at ways to make the most out of their money with each project.
boomers are requiring more and more services as they age, and the industry will have to keep up with demand. Last year, healthcare construction increased 2.2%, and is expected to double that growth in 2017. According to a recent report from real estate firm Revista, the state of Texas, in particular, is faring well in medical real estate projects (with $15.8 billion in pending Rising trends in the or ongoing projects), second healthcare market are only to California. “There is a lot of construction and being explored and demographic growth in general executed – everything in Texas, and healthcare real estate goes along with that,” says from patient-driven Mike Hargrave, an author of the design to “microreport. “It’s a vibrant economy.”
hospitals” – all with the in mind.
The possible repeal of the end user Affordable Care Act (ACA) is on everyone’s mind, as it could functionally and financially impact healthcare from admission processes to construction methods. In the long run, healthcare construction has a bright forecast – baby 4
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At TDIndustries, the needs of general contractors and healthcare clients are supported by teams throughout Texas and Arizona. The rising trends in the medical market are being explored and executed – everything from patient-
driven design to “micro-hospitals” – all with the end-user experience in mind. A 2017 construction survey from Healthcare Facilities Management (HFM) and the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) found that 86% of facility managers believe that patient satisfaction is critical in design and service processes. This belief is showing up in the form of aesthetic improvements, facility openings to increase convenience in smaller communities, development of air and plumbing systems that address the emergence of “supergerms,” and a focus on practices and equipment that improve patient safety.
The overall “health” of a community is greatly improved with better access and increased quality of healthcare facilities, and TD works with some of the best owners, architects, engineers, general contractors, and subcontractors to build some of the finest facilities in the country. But a community’s health reaches far beyond medical facilities – it’s found in the wellness programs, the community clean-up efforts, the clothing drives, the Meals on Wheels for seniors, the Neighborhood Watch groups – all of the things we do to help those in need.
Rapid changes in technology and equipment, as well as increasing industry competition, will drive continual updates to ensure facilities and care are meeting patient expectations. That translates to more specialized training for the trades and a larger emphasis on how architects, engineers, and contractors approach design. On the flip side of these fast-paced industry changes, healthcare organizations are also seeking economies of scale with construction and renovation. The HFM/ASHE study also revealed that 65% of healthcare organizations are adopting construction standardization in their facilities.
At TDIndustries, we’re fortunate to have a culture that bolsters the health of communities. In 1972, our founder, Jack Lowe, Sr. adopted the concept of servant leadership, which focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. Servant leadership fosters our partnerships with vendors, fellow contractors, business owners, and organizations to work toward bettering our communities. With every person who is impacted by community service, we’re contributing not only to the person, but to the communities in which we live.
Austin Partners Honor Colleague at Komen Race for the Cure TDPartners took part in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Sunday, September 24, 2017 in memory of Partner Pam Trottier. Pam, who passed away in 2016, was a dedicated account manager in TD’s Austin office. “Team Trottier” included TDPartners from Austin who welcomed Pam’s husband Gary, son Ryan, and daughter Samantha as honored guests at the event. The Komen Race is held in different communities across the country to raise awareness of breast cancer and to raise funds toward the group’s goal of reducing the current number of breast cancer deaths by 50% by 2026. To date, Austin Race for the Cure has raised more than $218,000 of its $300,000 goal.
“Team Trottier” gathers for Austin’s “Race for the Cure”
JX Nippon Stays Cool with Help from TD
TDPartners in the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX
One Company, One Family: TDPartners Band Together for Hurricane Relief Everyday heroism is the backbone of TDIndustries. Our TDPartners often work in dangerous environments, performing tasks that require hundreds of hours of training. They dutifully serve our customers, building and maintaining some of the world’s most complex critical systems. When Hurricane Harvey made landfall in late August, it put the entire TDIndustries family to the test. TDIndustries has a major presence in the Greater Houston area with 370 TDPartners calling our Derrington Road location their home office. And while our office fared well (being located on the northern edge of Houston), about 10% of our workforce was left with significant damage to their homes and vehicles. Thirty-two of our TDPartners turned their focus to our customers. These brave people remained downtown for five consecutive days, to keep open many facilities considered crucial to the relief efforts and emergency response. Those buildings included the 911 Call Center, Police Command Center, and the George R. Brown Convention Center, the temporary home of 10,000 storm refugees. Although our TDPartners were unable to travel home for days, they stayed safe in the convention center and in downtown hotel rooms. In their hearts, the purpose was too great; outside, the roads were too perilous to navigate. 6
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The storm’s devastation sprung the entire company into action. Immediately, TDPartners in Houston began reaching out to their teams and co-workers. Social media, email, and phone calls were critical, and all Partners were accounted for within the first 48 hours. Leadership across the organization headed relief efforts to determine temporary housing and gather donated supplies. Families with extra rooms or trailers began offering beds and shelter. Within a couple of days, offices across TD were sending pallets full of first aid supplies, clothing, baby supplies, drinking water, generators, and more. A small “shop” was then set up in our Houston office for TDPartners to pick up necessary supplies. On August 30 (the Wednesday after the storm), our truck-based service team began assisting customers where it was safe to venture. Technicians from other offices were deployed to help as well. TDPartners who could were encouraged to donate cash or paid personal time (PPT) to our internal relief fund, TDCares. The entire workforce in Houston was paid for the week of the hurricane, the
donated time off and cash were used afterward. Our Houston TDPartners who were not deeply affected by the storm helped others with clean up, offering temporary housing, assisting with rescue operations, volunteering in the community, and aiding customers with their facilities. With hospitals, schools, major corporations, and mission critical buildings in TD’s Houston customer
base, we have been on a mission to get our community and the local economy thriving again. The outpouring of generosity has drawn TDIndustries closer. Our Partners have banded together as an extended family, helping our Houston family members in a time of need. There’s a long road ahead for many as the recovery and rebuilding efforts continue, but no one will do it alone at TDIndustries.
TD On the Move TDIndustries had a busy spring and summer, marked by promotions, hirings, and office relocations: Bob Wilken has been promoted to President of Select Markets and Acquisitions. A 24-year TDPartner, Bob has led and transitioned several business units into new leadership, and has been influential in the growth and development of many Partners. Amy Messersmith, former Chief People Officer at Pizza Hut, has been hired as TDIndustries’ Chief People Officer. In her role, she will manage the People Department’s efforts throughout the company and will oversee employment, training, benefits, safety, and risk management. Carson Montgomery has been promoted to Senior Vice President of the Multifamily team. A 17-year TDPartner, Carson joined TD just after his graduation from Ole Miss. He has served as Vice President of Multifamily for the past two years.
Bob Wilken
Amy Messersmith
Hattie Peterson has been named Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications. Hattie joined TD in 2014 and has grown the marketing and communications team extensively over the past three years. The Fort Worth office has moved to its new location:
Carson Montomery
2601 Northern Cross Blvd. Suite 201 Fort Worth, TX 76137 817-306-6500 The Arizona office (Phoenix) has moved to its new location: 1888 East Broadway Tempe, AZ 85282 480-449-7690
Hattie Peterson
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Renovations and Relationships in San Antonio University Hospital, the flagship facility of UHS, has served the San Antonio area for nearly half a century, and has maintained a service relationship with TDIndustries for years. “About 18 months ago this particular group of TDPartners started construction work at University Hospital,” says Project Manager Stephen Oakes. “We’ve had service agreements there in planning goes the past, so when we started into [a shutdown]. There’s handling renovation projects not a lot of room for error, in May 2016, we weren’t brand new to the site.” so you have to be very
University Hospital in San Antonio has earned quite a reputation. A nationally-recognized teaching hospital, the facility is home to the most experienced emergency department in the region, as well as the highest designated pediatric trauma center in South Texas. Its credentials have led to the facility being named as the best hospital in San Antonio by U.S. News & World Report for “A lot of the past seven years in a row.
The hospital is part of University Health System (UHS), a healthcare certain that things are Currently, the TD team is organization that provides going to go according working on two special services to patients across to plan.” – Jay Gerber, projects at the University South Texas through its more Hospital campus. “We’re in than two dozen primary care, Project Manager the punch list phase of the specialty, preventive, and first project – the Endoscopy school-based health centers. Suite renovation,” says Project UHS is one of the largest Manager Jay Gerber. “We installed a new AHU, employers in South Texas with more than 7,000 piped a steam humidifier, chilled water, and heating employees, 800 physicians, and an operating budget hot water to it, and ran all the ductwork – supply, in excess of $1.5 billion. return, and outside air to the unit. There were also five patient head walls with a new zone valve box and med gas connections.”
The second project, says Jay, is another renovation – the Inpatient Dialysis Center. Work began on the project in August and includes med gas, sheetmetal, HVAC, and plumbing responsibilities. The Dialysis Center is set for completion at the end of 2017.
University Hospital is home to a Level One pediatric trauma center
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The University Hospital campus has different towers that were constructed in years from 1968 to 2014, giving construction and service teams a range of different challenges along the way. “Hospital renovation work is complicated,” notes Jay.
University Hospital, San Antonio, TX
“Particularly when you’re looking at a facility that’s more than 30 years old. There are a lot of unforeseen issues that can arise from piping, old med gas lines, even glass piping that’s in there.” “When we’re getting new systems installed in an existing facility, it’s difficult because when we get in there for a shutdown, we’re going to impact the hospital while we’re doing it,” he continues. “A lot of planning goes into that. There’s not a lot of room for error, so you have to be very certain that things are going to go according to plan.” A critical component of TD’s success with multiple projects on the University Hospital campus has been its long-term relationship with general contractor SpawGlass, and a growing relationship with UHS that has been fostered by Superintendent Perry Sullivan.
“He’s well-known to all of the folks at UHS and they ask for him by name on any project we do,” says Stephen. “The very first project we did on the site really solidified that relationship almost immediately.” The project was a collaboration between University Hospital’s facilities and engineering departments to replace a piece of equipment for the OB/GYN Labor and Delivery Ward in the course of one weekend. All of the other contractors UHS had contacted told them that it couldn’t be done in that amount of time. “We worked together to make sure that it got done in that weekend so that Labor and Delivery would only be down for a short amount of time,” continues Stephen. “That situation built a foundation of trust between UHS and TD that continues to lead to more successful projects.”
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TDPartners celebrating anniversaries
January - June 2017
40
35 Tim Feeley Dallas Service
John Hogan Dallas Construction
30
Jim Whetstone Dallas Service
Loren Dylla Dallas Service
Craig Hardy Dallas Service
25 Gary Barr Dallas Construction
Dave Youden Dallas Construction
Bruce Lane Dallas Service
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Mark Jackson Dallas Construction
Roberta Adams Corporate
Terry Baker Dallas Construction
Jim Brock Multifamily
Carl Easy Houston Service
Kevin Gray Dallas Service
Joe Krupovage Dallas Construction
Mike Murphy Information Technology
Bert Newton Dallas Construction
Ruben Ortiz Multifamily
Debbie Stephens Houston Construction
Jim Artis Dallas Facilities
John Baker Dallas Service
Hollis Bearden Fort Worth Construction
Stacey Brown Dallas Construction
Norman Cox Houston Facilities
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Brian Craddock Process Solutions
Brian Cunningham Dallas Service
Jeff Farley Engineering
Alberto Jandres Houston Construction
Wayne McLemore Process Solutions
Ricardo Mendoza San Antonio Construction
Rodney Palmore Dallas Service
Shaun Price Dallas Construction
Jose Rodriguez Dallas Construction
Jaime Rojas Fort Worth Service
Jody Stallcup Dallas Construction
Tommy Tubb Dallas Facilities
Antonio Adame Dallas Construction
Rodolfo Alfaro-Herrera Dallas Manufacturing
Cruz Arroyo Fort Worth Construction
Jose Arvizu Dallas Construction
10 Jerry Williamson Dallas Service
Eddy Boch Process Solutions
Chris Brown Arizona Special Projects
Harley Burchard III San Antonio Construction
Jim Butler Dallas Service
Rigoberto Cano Dallas Service
Sue Carmack Austin Construction
Dency Castro Dallas Construction
Mike Cates Dallas Manufacturing
Richard Covey Process Solutions
Douglas Edrington Fort Worth Construction
Mario Flores Dallas Construction
Guadalupe Garza San Antonio Construction
Randall Glass Dallas Construction
Carlos Hernandez Dallas Construction
Jeremy Huff Dallas Construction
David Hurtado Dallas Construction
Jana Lindsey Process Solutions
Guillermo Lopez Fort Worth Construction
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Genaro Martinez Dallas Construction
Rick Mata Dallas Construction
Heather Minyard Dallas Service
Victor Navarro Process Solutions
Richard Ortega Dallas Construction
Jose Palau Houston Service
Abram Perez Dallas Service
Casey Perkins Dallas Service
Ryan Poindexter Process Solutions
Tom Putman Houston Service
Jorge Rodriguez Dallas Construction
Bob Rose Dallas Facilities
Homero Sanchez Process Solutions
James Shaw Austin Construction
Terry Shiflet Houston Facilities
Brent Smith Dallas Construction
David Smith Austin Construction
Kevin Stacy Dallas Construction
Edward Tijerina Process Solutions
Kristian Vazquez Dallas Construction
Ricardo Villanueva Houston Service
Emilio Villarreal Austin Service
Sean Vincent Dallas Construction
Paul Williams Dallas Manufacturing
5 John Abbey Arizona Service
Brett Beavers Dallas Construction
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Travis Butler Dallas Construction
Chase Baugh Dallas Manufacturing
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Kelly Allred Arizona Construction
Greg Canter Engineering
Fausto Amaya Dallas Construction
David Davidson San Antonio Service
Kathy Ayers Dallas Construction
Wesley Baker San Antonio Construction
Todd Ellis Houston Service
Aner Ferrari-Castillo Arizona Special Projects
Chuck Gilbert Houston Service
David Gutierrez San Antonio Service
Jacob Heinikel Information Technology
Peyton Hill Houston Construction
Blake Hoppenrath Fort Worth Service
John Johnson San Antonio Service
Mallory Kellermeier Dallas Construction
Harold Kempf Dallas Service
Keith Kuchar Arizona Service
David Larson Houston Construction
Daniel Lopez Dallas Construction
Martin Montgomery Houston Construction
Chase Morris Houston Construction
Rafael Mosqueda Houston Construction
Michael Norton Arizona Construction
Jose Pedraza Dallas Construction
Kristo Perez Houston Facilities
Roberto Perez Arizona Construction
Tony Pritchard Fort Worth Construction
Ram Rincon Arizona Construction
Andy Robinson Dallas Construction
Marc Robinson Information Technology
Maria Sandoval Dallas Manufacturing
Miguel Sesma Arizona Construction
Casey Singleton Dallas Construction
Pamela Stewart Austin Service
Debra Strickland Dallas Construction
Nathan Van Cleve Arizona Construction
Getsy Vazquez Engineering
Robert Ventura Houston Construction
Kenneth Verkuilen Arizona Construction
Maurice Walton Arizona Construction
Dennis Washington Marketing
James White Houston Construction
Jose Zarate Dallas Construction
John Gonzalez Manufacturing 25 years
Randall Krebs Dallas Construction 35 Years
Tommy Stone Dallas Service 23 Years
Paul Wiggins Dallas Construction 36 Years
Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, TX
At the Heart (and Mind) of a Building North Texas. It’s the 7th largest pediatric hospital “Each one of our team members knows that it could in the country and is a Level One trauma center be their child or grandchild on the other side of – the highest level of trauma that wall at Children’s Medical care. TD has a long-standing Center,” says Superintendent relationship with Children’s and Jimmy Teague. “Many Partners maintains a construction and on the team have worked there “Each one of our team service presence on the campus for a long time, and they take members... takes the throughout the year. the safety and quality of the work seriously, knowing that it safety and quality of the The work on Children’s Medical can impact the kids.” Jimmy is work seriously, knowing Center is complex, with 15 speaking specifically about the that it can impact the current ongoing projects at the current Emergency Department Dallas campus alone. At any renovation project, but the kids.” – Jimmy Teague, given time, TD works with two same can be said about all of Superintendent or more general contractors and TDIndustries’ projects for the also handles direct work from hospital – past, present, the owner. The team includes and future. Jimmy Teague and Project Manager TJ Ellison, as well as an experienced and Children’s Medical Center in Dallas is the main accomplished group of foremen and field leaders. campus of Children’s Health, a system of hospitals, These foremen and leads attend meetings and handle specialty centers, and pediatric clinics across 14
TDSpirit • • • Fall/Winter 2017
onsite issues as they arise, sometimes switching between different projects on the campus in order to meet the need. Not unexpectedly, TD is often scheduled for multiple meetings at the same time. They manage the complex schedule through “a lot of very good, clear communication between the PM, superintendent, foremen, and lead men,” says Jimmy. “They attend meetings and proactively see what needs to be done in the changing schedules. It’s not just a foreman and superintendent sitting in a meeting – we have multiple people in meetings out there to make sure we’re covered.”
Interior of Children’s Health Specialty Center, Dallas
“It’s not uncommon for there to be three or four meetings going on at the same time,” TJ agrees. “It’s a trust thing. All of the general contractors trust that we have the best interests of the hospital in mind. Regardless of who we send to a meeting, they know that the information is going to be communicated to the people who need it.” At present, TD is handling the make-ready work for the hospital’s Emergency Department renovation,
which is set to begin in the first few months of 2018 and is scheduled for a two-year, four-phase construction timeline. The department will remain open throughout the renovation. The project will upgrade all of their mechanical systems – including adding new air handling units, reworking med gas, and clearing and rerouting their domestic water system to allow the department to be supplied by its own water system. With its own system, the Emergency Department won’t be forced to shut down for repairs, saving time and money, as well as frustration for staff and patients alike. With the team’s 15 current projects and more to come in the near future, TDIndustries’ relationship with Children’s Health seems to be stronger than ever. “Our connection with Children’s Healthcare is continuing to grow,” says TD Special Projects Operations Manager Keith Smith. “We’ve begun work on the Plano campus for its Interventional Radiology suite, and our Service group has branched out to Children’s locations in and around DFW. It’s an exciting time for all of us.”
Children’s Medical Center Plano
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Rendering of Solterra Midtown, Phoenix, AZ
Solterra Midtown Offers Affordable Assisted Living for Phoenix Seniors The largest segment of our population is quickly making its way into retirement by the millions. Now 53 to 71 years old, Baby Boomers are 76 million strong, and are driving the assisted living business toward a “boom” of its own. Currently there are more than 31,000 of such senior housing facilities, and more are popping up throughout the U.S., competing for the business of seniors who come from a broad cross-section of financial, health, and community demographics. Along with having a comfortable and relaxing environment, these facilities are also expected to offer a range of amenities and reliable medical support. Solterra Senior Living is a privately-held, self-managed owner/operator of four communities in Arizona and Colorado that is currently building Solterra Midtown, an affordable assisted living facility in Phoenix. The Midtown facility is one of three projects in Arizona that Solterra is building with reasonable pricing in mind.
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TDIndustries was brought in by general contractor Kitchell Contractors to handle the HVAC and plumbing scope of the project, joining a team that included Orcutt | Winslow (architect) and Kraemer (engineer). The project completion date is set for November 2017.
Aerial Rendering of Solterra Midtown
The seven-story Solterra Midtown facility is 116,000 sf that required 250 tons of cooling. TDPartners were challenged with an aggressive eight-month construction timeline, as well as limited laydown space and a tight budget. According to Project Manager David Allen, existing systems also presented challenges to the team. “We had an elevation issue of exiting waste, vent, and storm piping compared to the city sewer,” he says. “So the team developed work-arounds to test the systems.” To date, the Midtown project has required more than 42,000 lbs of HVAC duct, more than 6,550 ft of HVAC piping, and about 37,000 ft of plumbing. “We used TD’s Dallas Manufacturing Shop to prefab
sanitary waste and vent underground and stackout,” says David. “We were also able to use prefab for storm underground and domestic water racks.” The prefabricated materials helped TD save time and money, while ensuring that the materials met the necessary specifications. Keeping costs down while providing efficient and reliable plumbing and HVAC systems resulted in TD staying on-time and on-budget. The savings will help Solterra manage costs to offer affordable room and board, meals, housekeeping, and support services, as well as a memory care unit to aid those with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or related conditions.
In Memorium In September, TDIndustries lost long-time retired Partner Billy Edwards. Billy’s career with TD spanned 30 years, most of which he spent with our Truck Based Service Group (aka TDService). He served on TD’s Board of Directors for several years and is the father of 41-year TDPartner Tim Edwards. Rick Pulliam, a former long-time TDPartner, passed away on May 23, 2017. During his career with TD, Rick was a Pipefitter Foreman and CAD Coordinator in our Arizona office. Recently, he had returned to work with our Arizona Partners and was in the process of returning to TD full-time. TDPartners are mourning the loss of Alex Calvillo, who passed away in Houston on June 9, 2017. In his 29 years with TD, Alex grew with the company, starting as a sheet metal mechanic and eventually becoming an integral part of the Preconstruction team. Remembered as a true servant leader, he is survived by his wife Doris, three siblings, and family and friends. On August 20, 2017, Dave Peysen passed away in San Antonio. Known as a dedicated TDPartner and father, Dave spent 17 years with TD, holding leadership roles at the Rio Grande Valley and Corpus Christi offices prior to being named Service Operations Manager at the San Antonio location. To the Partners we have lost, we sincerely thank you for being part of the TD Family. You will be greatly missed.
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Hand Safety: Four Common Myths Worth Forgetting By Cameron Williams, Fort Worth Safety Manager
Myth: “When it comes to hand safety, I only need to worry about cuts.” Fact: There’s more to hand injury prevention than just laceration protection.
Why is hand safety important? Human hands are the ultimate tools, capable of intricate and detailed work. But human stubbornness and resistance to change frequently get in the way of protecting our hands. Even when we think we’re being careful, Even for the smallest we often make decisions based on poor or incomplete information. types of hand
Cuts are a huge portion of reported industrial injuries every year, but they’re not the only hazard to mitigate when it comes to our hands. Depending on what your work day involves, and what injuries, proper first As with most industrial safety environment you find yourself in, topics, education is a key aid will prevent you can also experience fractures, component in hand injury chemical burns, crushing, animal costly and painful prevention. And education is, or insect bites, harmful vibrations, as often as not, a process of complications. sprains, abrasions, or frostbite. The unlearning bad information list isn’t to scare anyone, but to as much as learning good give a clearer picture of all the information. Looking for a place risks; hand injury prevention goes beyond how to to start? Let’s try laying to rest these common prevent cuts. myths about hand safety in the workplace. 18
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Myth: “I’m only in danger while I’m using a dangerous tool.” Fact: There are many types of hand injuries. Of course, we need to be careful whenever we use tools, particularly when they’re known to be dangerous. But many hand injuries are caused by tools that aren’t typically considered dangerous, especially when the tool is the wrong size for the user, or it’s used incorrectly. For example, a knife used as a screwdriver is an accident waiting to happen. Many hand and finger injuries in the workplace aren’t caused by tools at all, but by poor housekeeping. Chemical containers that are poorly sealed can open unexpectedly, sharp metal shavings can cut, and even tripping over debris can injure the hands, which are often used to break a fall. Other than using tools properly and keeping the work environment tidy, there are a few other measures to consider in hand safety training. It’s important for everyone to keep tetanus shots up to date and for healthcare workers to have Hepatitis C shots. And even for the smallest types of hand injuries, proper first aid will prevent costly and painful complications. Myth: “Safety gloves will protect me.” Fact: Nothing can protect you all the time, and safety gloves will only help if they’re used properly.
Proper use of gloves can decrease the likelihood of injury
protection glove can cause more damage than no glove if even a pinhole allows the dangerous material to enter the glove undetected and stay against the skin. As with tools, gloves need to fit the user. If they’re too small, they may be ineffective as protection and if they’re too big, they increase the risk of getting caught in rotating machinery. Myth: “Hand safety training is unnecessary. Everyone knows how to prevent hand injuries in the workplace.” Fact: Most people know the basics, but being open to reminders and new ideas can help you save your livelihood.
There’s a lot to know about safety gloves that will increase their effectiveness. Always start with what protection you need from your gloves. Are they meant to prevent vibration injuries, lacerations, chemical burns, electrical burns or injuries from temperature extremes? Each of these applications requires a different set of features.
“Wear your gloves” isn’t a comprehensive training strategy. It ignores hand safety tips that many people don’t consider, like keeping their hands visible at all times, using push sticks to feed circular saws, and poles to grab items that are out of safe reach. It also ignores how to use gloves properly, when to use gloves, and which gloves to use.
Remember to balance protection with dexterity. For example, a higher-level cut protection might not be warranted all the time. As cut protection levels go up, the gloves become more rigid. The risk here is that if you can’t move properly, you might mishandle a tool and cause an injury. For specialty applications, it might make sense to find gloves that have higher coverage only on some areas of the hand, allowing the rest of your hand to move better. All gloves need regular maintenance. Fabric and leather gloves must be cleaned, and all gloves must be checked for deterioration and tears. A chemical
Hand safety training reiterates the importance of regular safety inspections, including inspecting equipment guards and reporting any damage immediately. It teaches workers to remove rings and bracelets, how to properly remove and dispose of contaminated gloves, and why working at a safe pace can save your hands. Good safety training breaks through our “just this once” thought patterns. It also teaches prevention strategies, like tendon stretches and strengthening exercises, as well as when to report sore hands so adjustments can be made before longterm strain injuries set in. TDSpirit • • • Fall/Winter 2017
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Rendering of the North Campus of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Frisco, TX
Focusing on the Future: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital’s North Campus A Q&A with Don Katz, Vice President of Facilities and Process Design On a plot of 40 acres in Frisco, work is underway on the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children’s North Campus. The five-story, 345,000 sf building will be an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) offering extensive orthopedic care to children across north Texas.
for those seeking our services to be seen closer to home. After understanding the types of services our patients from these counties were accessing on our Dallas campus, we aimed to design a building that would be ideally suited to meet those specific patient needs.
We recently sat down with Scottish Rite’s Vice President of Facilities and Process Design, Don Katz, to discuss the new facility and how healthcare construction is changing.
What have been the biggest challenges with the construction?
I’ll start by stating what hasn’t been a challenge is coming together as a design/construction team to develop a very special place to serve children TDSpirit: What are your top with pediatric orthopedic and sports considerations in construction of the medicine needs. We have benefited so new facility? greatly by working with an amazing team of individuals that are familiar Don Katz: Our primary considerations with the unique culture we embrace at were location and how best to Scottish Rite Hospital. So, our primary determine the most strategic scope of challenge has been to develop a the project itself. Texas Scottish Rite Don Katz, VP of Facilities and building that can serve as an ambulatory Process Design Hospital for Children has always existed surgery center (ASC) with robust on the same campus located just north outpatient clinic and therapy services, of downtown Dallas, and the range which can also be transformed into a of patient care services offered to those requiring hospital in the event we want to introduce inpatient pediatric orthopedic care has grown increasingly beds in the future. The design and construction diversified. We were able to determine that a requirements for a hospital can differ significantly growing percentage of patient referrals to our Dallas from an ASC, but we were committed to develop a campus were coming from a number of north Texas building that could make this transition, if required. counties and we felt an obligation to make it easier 20
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What will the new facility bring to the community? The new facility will be anchored by the hospital’s Center for Excellence in Sports Medicine, while still offering a wide range of expert services to meet the needs of children and adolescents with a pediatric orthopedic condition. There will be extensive physical therapy and sports-related rehabilitation services, as well as other medical subspecialties offered, such as pediatric rheumatology. In keeping with Scottish Rite Hospital’s commitment to medical education and research, the site will include a revolutionary movement science lab that will use 3-D motion capture technology to analyze complex musculoskeletal movements and help evaluate the efficacy of treatments is planned, as well as a conference center and state of the art classroom to host lectures and medical seminars. The meeting rooms will also be a resource to the community, as will a series of walking trails throughout the 40-acre campus. What Lean processes are being used to decrease costs and increase efficiency? The primary Lean principle we’ve adopted is through an integrated project delivery, or IPD approach. This is where the primary subcontractors for the job, such as TDIndustries, were selected early in the design of the new building so that we could tap into their expertise prior to the start of actual construction. The intent is to reduce the frequency and magnitude of requests for information (RFIs) or architect’s supplemental instructions (ASIs) after construction begins, because early engagement of companies that handle major aspects of the project can solve many design issues beforehand. By doing so, the process of construction should have fewer instances of starts and stops, as well as potential instances of rework – a common form of waste in Lean terms. How much does patient feedback affect design? Scottish Rite Hospital has always been extremely focused on the patient and the patient family’s experience. It starts with offering the highest quality of care that can be provided anywhere in the world, within a child and adolescent-friendly atmosphere. The quality of the building’s design and construction should mirror the high quality of care that’s being provided by the hospital’s medical experts. We frequently survey our patient families and always play close attention to any feedback that may relate to the environment of care, all to ensure a safe and most pleasant experience possible for their visit.
Aerial Rendering of Scottish Rite’s Frisco Campus
Possible changes to healthcare options have been a major focus in the U.S. for the past year. Has that affected your funding or strategies? If so, how? Scottish Rite Hospital has a long history of being blessed by the generous support of countless individuals over the years, and the organization is as committed as ever to honor that support by employing a razor-sharp focus on being good stewards of the resources required for providing high quality patient care. With an ever-changing healthcare environment, that commitment is as unwavering as ever. That said, we’re equally mindful of the importance of making the best use of any capital improvements, such as a new ASC as our initial second campus. With this in mind, while we think we have a good understanding of some of our current patient needs and a building that’s designed to serve those needs, we also made sure we had a good amount of “shell space” available that should give us the flexibility that may be required to respond to any unforeseen needs for the care we provide. What trends do you see in the industry that will likely continue in the next few years? Probably the greatest trend is an increasing focus on outpatient services rather than inpatient admissions. Scottish Rite Hospital has Project Details: a long history of being focused on this General Contractor: particular The Beck Group patient care paradigm, but it appears this Architect: will continue to be an HKS Inc. important element Engineer: for future patient care WSP needs.
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Silica Safety:
Taking the Lead for Healthier Work Environments
In late September 2017, the Occupational Safety TDIndustries began planning for the upcoming and Health Administration (OSHA) began silica regulations early in 2017 by researching enforcing standards for a long-time safety issue in best practices for silica safety in a construction the construction industry: silica. Crystalline silica environment. To better prepare TDPartners is a common mineral (found in materials like sand, for the changes, Production Specialist Dennis stone, concrete, and mortar) that can be dangerous Washington and Director of Safety Jamie Dabbs if inhaled. Workers exposed to silica dust without joined forces to develop the “OSHA Silica Standard proper protective gear have an increased risk of Pocket Guide” as a quick reference tool for our developing debilitating illnesses including silicosis field Partners. The guide is available in English (an incurable lung disease), lung cancer, kidney and Spanish to ensure that disease, and chronic obstructive safety standards are being pulmonary disease (COPD). In an effort to better protect workers communicated effectively to from respirable crystalline silica, everyone at TDIndustries. In Workers exposed to OSHA is now implementing most addition to the Guide, there are provisions of the standards for silica dust without proper plans for development of a Silica the construction industry. The Box for jobsites that will provide protective gear have standards for general industry and easy access to materials needed maritime will go into effect an increased risk of to limit silica exposure. in June 2018.
developing debilitating illnesses.
Many “typical” construction activities produce silica dust, including sawing, cutting, grinding, or drilling stone, concrete, brick, and mortar. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and foundry work using industrial sand are also sources of possible exposure. Currently, about 2.3 million people in the U.S. are exposed to silica at work.
“We saw the damage that respirable materials can have on workers back when the effects of aesbestos became clear,” says Dennis. “As leaders in the industry, TD wants to address silica issues right away and help set the tone for others.” The new standards for construction will specify exposure control methods, require a designation for a “silica competent person” to oversee exposure situations, direct employers to offer chest x-rays and lung function tests every three years for workers who wear respirators on the job, obligate organizations to keep exposure data, and require training of employees on how to limit silica exposure. Industry peers are taking advantage of TD’s silica safety materials by ordering copies of the OSHA Silica Standard Pocket Guide for use with their own field workers. Because of the initial interest, TD is making the Guide available for purchase to companies that would like to make the information available in their own organization. The guides feature water-resistant paper and a pocket-sized (iPhone 7 size) format for convenience. For more information on the OSHA Silica Standard Pocket Guide, contact Jamie Dabbs at 972-888-9576.
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TD Recognized with Torch Award for Ethics TDIndustries has been named a winner of the inaugural Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Ethics. The awards are presented in six categories to North Texas organizations that are evaluated on the integrity and ethics behind their business dealings as demonstrated by their policies, education, business-to-business recommendations, customer reviews, and financial track record, among other criteria. The awards are presented in five separate employeesize categories (extra-small, small, medium, large, and extra-large), and a sixth award is presented to a non-profit organization. At this year’s ceremony, TD took home the trophy for the extra-large company category. TD was acknowledged specifically for its defining core values of building and maintaining trusting relationships, fiercely protecting the safety of all Partners, leading with a servant’s heart, passionately pursuing excellence, and celebrating the power of individual differences. “We have, through our core values, a very clear roadmap for how we go about our ethics, our character, and our integrity as a company,” said Chief People Officer Amy Messersmith, who accepted the award on behalf of TD.
Chief People Officer Amy Messersmith (center) with Phylissia Clark and Jay Newman of the Better Business Bureau
The Torch Award for Ethics is presented by the Dallas Business Journal for the Better Business Bureau, and is part of a larger ethics program across the globe. Winners of the local awards will go on to compete at an international level in the greater Better Business Bureau’s Torch Awards for Ethics.
Austin TDPartners Honored with United Way Volunteer of the Year Award TDPartners in Austin recently received the United Way of Williamson County’s (UWWC) Volunteer Partner of the Year Award. The award is given annually to the partner corporation that has shown the greatest commitment to employees volunteering in the community.
Partners Sandra Sullivan, Pamela Stewart, Billy Moorman, and Melissa Mendiola attended the United Way of Williamson County 2017 Leadership Breakfast to accept the award on behalf of TDIndustries.
Primary criteria for the award-winning company is based on the number of employees that participate in events including Day of Caring, Day of Service, or other volunteer opportunities coordinated by UWWC. Our Partners were recognized for their participation throughout 2016 and 2017 in United Way’s Day of Caring events and for volunteer efforts at the AGE of Central Texas and Hernandez Middle School in Round Rock ISD. TDSpirit • • • Fall/Winter 2017
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PREFAB CORNER MODULAR VS. TRADITIONAL TD is putting bathroom construction methods to the test on two projects with the HCA hospital system and general contractor JEDunn. The two projects, HCA Medical City Alliance in Fort Worth and HCA Pearland 2nd Floor Buildout in Houston are identical in the number of beds and layout of floors. Having used modular bathroom pods in the past, HCA seeks data about the pods (BLOX systems) to see if they truly save time and money. The challenge will compare outcomes for the Fort Worth project team (using modular pods) and the Houston project team (installing with traditional methods). Stay tuned as we watch these two exciting projects come to fruition!