4 minute read
Construction Safety & Compliance
Construction Safety & Compliance: An Interview with Erik Haruch
UCANE’s Construction Outlook editors recently caught up with Erik Haruch at a busy construction site in Boston. Erik is the Vice President of Environmental Health, Safety, and Quality with UCANE member firm Jay Cashman, Inc. based in Quincy. We were able to get a few minutes of Erik’s time to talk about the importance of safety in today’s heavy construction industry.
What is your background in Construction
Safety, and how long have you been with Jay Cashman, Inc.?
I graduated from Illinois State in 1997 with a BS in Environmental Health and Safety. I worked for over 20 years for several large contractors including Mortenson Construction, Lend-Lease, and Massman Construction. I’ve had experience with vertical construction, but most of the projects where I have been responsible for project safety have been in heavy horizontal work; like bridges, highways, and marine projects. After living and working most of my career in the Mid-West, I was looking to relocate to the East Coast and an opportunity with Cashman came along. I’ve been with Jay since 2019.
Tell us about the culture of safety that exists at Jay Cashman, Inc.
The culture at Cashman can be summed up with two words: Safe Production. We are a family of companies that strives to end the divide between production and safety, creating a workplace where safety and production become one, “Safe Production.” In doing this we are creating a culture where safety is at the forefront of every part of the operation and not an afterthought or separate secondary task.
What are some of the greatest challenges you face as a Safety Director?
The biggest challenge I have been faced with over the years has been getting the craft employees to believe in, and comply with the company’s safety philosophy and getting them to understand that our commitment to their safety is personal; and that both I and the company care about each of them like family. Telling a veteran tradesman to change or modify a work method or technique that he has been doing for years, because there is a safer way to do it, is often met initially with resentment. Over the years I have found that by taking a little more time to explain to them the “why” instead of just the “how,” there will be a better buy-in by the employee and respect for your decisions will grow stronger over time. continued on page 57
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The COVID-19 pandemic required contractors and their safety professionals to react quickly to an uncharted array of safety protocols in order to protect employees. How did you and your company adapt to this unique situation and what have you learned from the experience?
As it has been for everyone in the construction industry, the COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges for our company and definitely slowed us down, but it did not stop us. We moved quickly to adapt to new procedures and protocols mandated by federal agencies like the CDC. We also had to comply with new State regulations and sometimes even City regulations, which often varied by state and sometimes were in conflict with each other. Protecting our employee’s health and wellness was paramount for Cashman. We implemented many new daily procedures including pre-job temperature screening and health surveys, pre-boarding COVID testing for our live-aboard dredge employees, and restrictions on everything from lunch room procedures to commuting in company pickups. We learned that no matter how dire the situation gets, like in everything else we do, if we take the time to properly vet the situation and hold people accountable, we can continue to work through a pandemic or any other difficult situation.
Do you think contractors, as well as their employees, can benefit from participating in organized and OSHA endorsed events like Safety Week and the National Safety Stand-Downs?
Participating in organized events like Safety Week and National Safety Stand-Downs, is a tremendous way to further foster a safety culture. Participation in these types of events demonstrates our commitment to our employee’s safety and shows we are willing to take the time and spend the money on safety training and safety events. Each year we have been involved in and/or sponsors of events such as Construction Safety Week, and each year we are better for it. n
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