Company Name: TC Construction Company, Inc.
City: Santee, CA
Number of Employees: 230

Nomination Essay:

TC Construction's safety program continues to focus on information as power. Empowerment of employees creates the environment and mindset to do the right thing and creates a safer work environment. Because of the resources in our training department and extensive mentoring program we continue to add to the basic knowledge requirements for our employees and give them the tools to succeed. Bi-Lingual training, in a work force that has a 50% or greater, English as a second language demographic, only drives home the message we are trying to share. We all deserve a safe and healthy work environment. It also shows that the training and understanding to accomplish this environment is available for every employee.

This in-house training department consists of three OSHA Outreach Instructors (One Bi-Lingual), two Mine Safety and Health Administration Trainers, two Heavy Equipment Trainers and a Fleet Trainer. This team also consists of 22 Foreman and 5 Superintendents as well as senior management. During the past 6 years more than 735 employees have completed courses in Trenching/Excavation, Confined Space, OSHA 500, OSHA 30 Hour, OSHA 10 Hour, Construction First Aid and CPR, Flagging, Forklift Operation, New Miner, New Miner Trainer, Highway Safety for Fleet Drivers, Storm Water Pollution and Prevention and Harassment Training for Supervisors.

This "Safety Culture" we instill in our employees begins with their first day and the safety indoctrination program they participate in. Each employee spends time being indoctrinated into the practices and procedures of TC Construction's safety program. In many cases these personnel have never been made aware of their right to know or that their employer has a burden to train them for the environment they will perform in. To teach them the safest way to accomplish a task for example. Indoctrination is only the beginning of a road they will pass down on their way to retirement. Along this road they will be offered classroom and hands-on training to increase their awareness and encourage them to be the best at what they strive to be. Through interaction and training with seasoned employees, Foreman, Superintendents, the Safety Staff and Managers these employees will have the opportunity to learn and perfect their chosen trade safely.

As the seventh largest "Utility Specialty Contractor in the United States" per, "Engineering News-Record Magazine", TC Construction's implemented programs produce results. Making us a very competitive and viable option during biding and contract negotiations. These programs consist of the "Yellow Hard Hat Program", "Stretch and Flex Program", and "Job Safety Analysis Program".

The "Stretch and Flex Program" was adopted from the aerospace industry where it has met with great results in the area of soft tissue injuries. Combined with the use of an outstanding Chiropractic Office this program has seen very positive results. Soft tissue injuries have decreased by seventy five percent and when an injury is incurred it results in less modified duty time and a quicker return to full duty. This provides for a substantial cost reduction in our insurance programs.

Through the "Job Safety Analysis Program" tasks and issues are brought up as well as solutions both mechanical and engineered to resolve them. This helps to re-enforce that safety is first and foremost on the job site. During this time additional programs are discussed such as Storm Water Pollution and Prevention topics, equipment maintenance, and equipment operations to list a few. It opens the stage for seasoned employees to share with employees new to the industry or to the discipline and tasks being discussed.

TC's community involvement continues through the Associated General Contractors San Diego's Safety Committee. TC Construction was pivotal in establishing the "Safety Internship Program" between the AGCSD and Cuyamaca Community College's Environmental, Health and Safety Department. This internship offers paid experience through member companies within the construction community in the field of safety. It offers a hands-on training experience to the students of the program on working job sites throughout San Diego County. This invaluable experience gives the student the broad view of safety in construction taking it and using it in any field they pursue. Through this involvement with the community college system students have garnered hours of situational knowledge creating a more rounded safety professional at the end of their program. TC Construction is very proud of our accomplishments through the involvement in both the AGCSD Safety Committee and the AGC/Cuy amaca Internship Program.

TC Construction is fully committed to safety and invests a great deal of resources and time to this cause. From morning JSA discussions through Safety Committee meetings and all the way to the Senior Managements weekly meetings, safety issues are addressed and resolved

The results of the entirety of these actions has brought accolades in the form of a safer work place, fewer injuries and accidents, zero lost time injuries for 2008 and recognition from within our industry. TC Construction was the winner of the AGC San Diego, "Construction Safety Excellence Award for Heavy Civil 2007 and 2008" and finalist for AGC of America's "Construction Safety Excellence Award" for 2007 and 2008. TC Construction was also a runner up for the SafetyXChange Magazines' Saxcies Award for 2008's Program of the Year.

TC Construction takes great pride in it's people and it's safety program and embodies what the Saxcies represent in the industry.