Marina's safety director Dennis Alfaro.
	Dennis Alfaro congratulates apprentice Dan Bloduc for bringing a safety  issue to management's attention.
	Each month the field employees come in for intensive safety training.

It takes everybody to make it work ... 

Marina Launches a First Class Safety Program

Marina Safety Director Dennis Alfaro looked Dan Bolduc in the eye and said, “Call me if you ever have a safety problem you can’t solve yourself.”

Dan, a brand new apprentice looked straight back at Dennis and replied, “OK.” He meant what he said and would soon prove it.

This was during Dan’s rigorous safety orientation. Dennis, a former accountant, is not one to leave things to chance. They had reviewed the safety manual together. Then Dan had to pass a series of graded safety tests.

In January 2003 Dennis Alfaro was hand picked by management to implement an independent, proactive and extensive safety program. Each month the field employees come in for intensive safety training. Dennis took to the task with enthusiasm and follow-through. We have become a safer company because of it. “The key is to have a person who sits where I sit who is interested in input and feedback,” Dennis says. “I get input at every Monday staff meeting. We decide on the spot or think it through. It never goes away until a decision is made.”

Dan’s safety orientation was followed by weekly tailgate meetings and monthly safety classes. “At each monthly safety meeting we cover one topic,” Dennis explains. “I then give a ten-question quiz on the main topic from the meeting before. You pass or you retake the quiz. For these meetings and our weekly 10-15 minute tailgate meetings participation is dated and recorded.” Employees enjoy the meetings, and safety is becoming a daily focus.

Marina’s foremen have a reputation for taking the lead in creating a positive atmosphere on the job site. We are influential in creating a safe atmosphere for everyone. Sometimes this can mean intervening with other parties on the project. For example we might ask to see the license of an erratic forklift driver. Dennis explains that sometimes strong action must be taken. “Not long ago we instructed our crew not to work on scaffolding that was not tied down,” he explains. “The wind blew it down over the weekend.”

The foreman is focused on safe practices within his crew. One day our apprentice Dan was working at the top of a ladder when his drill came crashing down on the concrete three floors below. The foreman reacted strongly, “Never leave a drill on the top of a ladder.”

“Now, what am I supposed to do?” Dan thought .“I can’t climb up and down the ladder every time I need to use my drill!” Then he remembered Dennis’ words, “Call me if you ever have a safety problem you can’t solve yourself.” That’s exactly what Dan did. Dennis brought it up with our Vice President of Construction, Carl Koos, who immediately issued drill holsters to our installation personnel.

The story of Dan illustrates how our safety program works though teamwork and participation from everyone. Our workers get off on the right foot with the employee orientation and ongoing safety training. Monitoring and corrective action at every level keeps it in tune.

As one of our foremen Justin Nowak puts it, “Only when preventing accidents at all costs becomes a part of you does construction work become safe.”

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