SAPULPA, Okla. - Bennett Steel, an Oklahoma steel erector and fabricator, is proud to announce a new push to complete a combined one million injury-free construction man-hours on its projects.
As a large builder of both Federal and municipal projects, Bennett’s commitment to safety will benefit not only its employees and their families, but also pay dividends to local taxpayers. “Our commitment to a true culture of safety at Bennett Steel will have multiple positive effects,” said Dave Bennett, the company founder and president. “A safe workplace brings down workers’ compensation costs and reduces workers’ compensation claims, but there are also more indirect benefits, including a reduction in lost time and fewer delays—all of which save the people money.” According to Bennett, these indirect benefits are numerous and include items that one may not immediately associate with construction. For example, stringent safety protocol reduces injuries that may require a worker to be transported to a hospital. Eliminating these incidents also lessens greenhouse gas emissions into the community.
Bennett stresses that his goal is not based on a lackluster safety record—in fact, Bennett Steel has one of the best safety records of any construction contractor in the country—but stems from an understanding that “it is truly everyone’s goal to be safe each and every minute of each and every day.”
“It’s the right thing to do for the company, for their fellow employee and for themselves and their families,” Bennett said.
To launch the program, Bennett recently distributed an internal memo, encouraging managers to check in with workers weekly to ensure that safety remains a company-wide priority.
“The amount of teamwork that goes into a project like this spurs team-building, which I think is wonderful for worker morale,” said Harvey Swift, a field operations manager for Bennett Steel. “It gives us a common sense of purpose.”
Bennett has promised to recognize one employee from each department to honor their efforts to make Bennett a safer workplace and benefit the community.
But the awards won’t stop once Bennett has reached one-million injury-free hours. “At that point, we’ll just make a more ambitious goal,” Bennett said.
Bennett Steel employs men and women from across the region who contribute to building and repairing the cities and towns. Bennett’s current projects include the Chesapeake Energy building in Oklahoma City, Highland Park Elementary in Stillwater, Rogers County Courthouse in Claremore, the Tulsa Cancer Center in Tulsa and Oklahoma Gas & Electric in Muskogee.
Bennett Steel has been active in the Tulsa, Okla., area since 1980 and has worked on numerous high-profile local projects, including area public schools and medical facilities.
About Bennett Steel: Founded in 1980, Bennett Steel is a steel fabricator and erector employing more than 150 construction professionals in the Tulsa, Okla., area. Learn more at http://www.bennettsteel.com/index.asp.