On April 1, 2012, after months of planning with nationally recognized safety experts and our insurance carriers, Froehling & Robertson, Inc. rolled out a new safety program that will define how we approach worksite safety for decades to come. This new program enhances procedures that F&R already has in place and increases the aggressiveness with which company personnel evaluate the relative safety of their jobsite.
Under the new program, company personnel will participate in enhanced training programs aimed at increasing their awareness of the work environment and identifying potential hazards before work even begins – thus significantly reducing the likelihood of an accident occurring. For management, new procedures have been put in place that will maximize the efficiency with which accidents are addressed. As part of this effort, a more robust ”Return to Work” program has been developed which will help employees get back on the job as quickly and safely as possible.
The new program involves the following elements:
- Management commitment to employee health and safety;
- Dedicated corporate health and safety managers;
- Increased emphasis and proactive approach on planning for safe execution of projects;
- Increased employee emphasis on hazard recognition;
- Increased employee awareness of reporting near misses;
- Increased focus on safety training - especially for new employees
- Improvement of the site safety audit system; and
- Progressive discipline system designed to increase safety awareness and reduce safety related incidents.
“This new program will significantly enhance the welfare of our employees and the efficiency of our workforce,” said Sam Kirby, PE, President of F&R. "However, this strong commitment to safety is more than just good business – it is a moral imperative. Simply stated, safety trumps operations. We must do what we can to ensure that our employees remain in good health and can continue to actively engage with their family, friends, and outside interests."
One of the key elements of this new program is F&R’s “Hazard Hunt,” which requires personnel to complete daily worksite evaluation forms before they can proceed to their project assignments. Once these evaluations are completed, every employee is empowered to refuse to proceed with their assignment if they determine that an unsafe work condition exists. These forms, and the requirement that employees be proactive in evaluating the safety of their jobsite, form the backbone of F&R’s efforts to guard against unsafe work conditions.
“Westfield Insurance first provided coverage to F&R in 2008 and we knew F&R was a good company that had goals to improve the safety culture,” said Bill Doliber, Senior Risk Control Representative with the Westfield Group. “I work with some fine companies and even one that is has exceeded 3 million work hours without a lost time injury. I believe F&R can get there! It does take time, but we all have confidence that F&R has the right attitude and direction to reduce losses across the board. Training and field reviews are systematically being done throughout the organization and at all levels, and all employees know why it is occurring and why it is important to them and the company.”
Jeff Hudson Named Charlotte Branch Manager
F&R is pleased to announce that Jeff Hudson has been named Manager of the firm’s Charlotte, North Carolina office. Mr. Hudson has held numerous positions with F&R over the past two decades, including the title of Vice President, Environmental – a position he will continue to hold as he undertakes his new duties as the Manager of F&R’s Charlotte office.
Among his other accomplishments, Mr. Hudson also oversaw the establishment of F&R Worldwide, a subsidiary of F&R which, when it opened its doors in January 2006, became one of the first American engineering firms to operate in Romania. Since then, the company has grown rapidly, expanding to 40 employees and generating nearly $4 million in revenue in FY 2012.
“We are looking forward to seeing Jeff apply his entrepreneurial spirit to his management of F&R’s Charlotte office,” said F&R President Samuel Kirby, Jr., PE. “He has a successful track record of managing and expanding operations throughout the company, and we thank him for taking on the role of Manager in one of our most important offices.”