Santa Clara, Calif. (November 5, 2013) – On November 1, Blach Construction Company received the First Place Construction Safety Excellence Award (CSEA) from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of California in its size category (201,000-500,000 man hours).
The awards, which are divided into 11 size and construction type categories, recognize the safest construction companies in California. As a result of winning this award, Blach will be nominated to vie for a top spot at the national AGC safety awards in 2014.
Blach also won this award in 2009 and 2010, and in 2010 went on to be recognized by the AGC of America as the third safest contractor in the nation in its size category.
The purpose of the CSEA is to recognize those construction companies who excel at safety performance. AGC of California announced this year’s list on Friday at its annual conference in Palm Springs, California. Competing against approximately 50 applicants across the state, Blach Construction participated in a rigorous selection process, which included two rounds of judging: a comprehensive award submission and a panel of outside experts from Cal/OSHA, Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board, UC Berkeley, CSU Sacramento, California Professional Association of Specialty Contractors and insurance company representatives.
“I am excited to see our safety program being recognized among the top programs in California,” said Mike Holland, Blach’s Director of Environmental Health & Safety. “This is a true testament to how completely our operations group—from executives to carpenters—embraces safety at every level.”
CSEA closely examined each candidate’s commitment to safety and occupational health management and risk control. Criteria included evidence of company management commitment, active employee participation, safety training, work site hazard identification & control and safety program innovation. Judges also took into account companies’ experience modification rates (EMR), a number used by insurance companies to gauge both past cost of injuries and future chances of risk. Blach’s EMR has been steadily decreasing over the past five years and is currently at 0.53, compared to an industry average of 1.0.
Blach’s application was further strengthened by its pursuit of Cal/OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) status, the highest safety status available in the industry. In the VPP, management, labor and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system. Approval into VPP is OSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health.
Photo credit – AGC of California
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