HAYNES Highlights Spring 2017

HAYNES HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2017
As I look back on the last two years, I see great progress in our ESOP teamwork. The walls
of the silos separating us may not be gone, but they are lower and have windows and doors
now. We get phone calls and emails daily from customers who have been WOWed by you.
We’re living our mission of “making a long-term positive impact” in several areas.
As I look forward, we have a new priority. We need to change our safety culture drastically. We have regressed
since becoming an ESOP. Instead of where we are today, I want to see us progress to being the safest contractor
in the Southeast! Our utility customers will be amazed that our crews are safer than theirs. Industrial customers
will be surprised by how our folks exceed their safety requirements. Other construction crews will be amazed by
how productive we are because we are performing difficult tasks safely and with appropriate PPE. Our courteous,
defensive driving and consistent CDL practices will make our vehicle fleet stand out in a good way. We can stand
out in the crowd of undisciplined construction workers as the highest example of safety.
Regrettably, we have a long way to go to be able to say these things. Primarily because of the frequency of
accidents, our Workers’ Compensation Insurance Employer’s Modification Rate (EMR) will be increasing from 0.72
to 0.79. We just moved 10% in the wrong direction! Now is the time to start turning things around. We will work
toward training all foremen in OSHA 30, in addition to First Aid and CPR. All employees beyond 90 days will be
trained in OSHA 10. We will begin pre-task planning and documenting how we are avoiding risks. In addition to
meeting certain customers’ safety criteria, these initiatives will reduce the number of accidents because much of
the training is awareness and hazard avoidance.
In the past 15 months, our people have suffered 19 strains and sprains. Some might think that’s to be expected
of an aging workforce but, except for four, all were under age 40. Excellent OSHA 10 training will raise hazard
awareness. In the same period, nine HAYNES employees experienced hand lacerations. Surprisingly, two were cut
by metal studs that they grabbed, as they lost their balance. To prevent similar injuries, we will soon adopt a 99%
glove policy. We will wear appropriate gloves except when we can’t. There will be a few fine terminations, finishes
or fine tunings that we just can’t do with gloves on, but very few. Any HAYNES employee who walks onto your job
site should expect to see you in a hard hat, safety glasses (on your face, not around your neck) and gloves on,
not hanging at your side.
Another clarification is that even though Pat Hefner and Lee Southard are divisional safety trainers, we expect
them to inspect and help all HAYNES employees, no matter what division. We encourage them to stop by any site
to see how they can help us be safer. If that means writing a safety violation for a different division, that’s what
we expect them to do to make us better. If it’s on your job, the correct response is “thank you for helping us be
safe”.
Finally, we’ve put a root cause analysis policy in place for accidents. Your safety is important to me. When
someone in our HAYNES family gets hurt, I take it personally. Until further notice, I will be involved in every injury
root cause analysis. After each accident, the injured, their supervisor(s), project manager, operations manager
and division head will meet with Bill Toms and me, to review why the accident happened and how to keep it from
happening again. As an ESOP, I usually use words like “we” and “our”, but safety has to start somewhere. I am
adamant that whatever else I do, it is my top priority to ensure our people are safe. I can’t make us the safest
contractor in the southeast by myself. I need your help and cooperation. I ask you to please join me in making a
personal commitment to reverse the direction of our safety trend. We have been on a scary path in 2016 and
2017. Let’s make the rest of the year SAFE and accident free!
-Fred
QUALITY COMMITMENT CHARACTER
2