Texas Projects Stand Up for Safety with an Across-the-State Project Stand Down

Fort Worth, Texas – Nov. 8, 2012  Across the state of Texas, all Yates Construction projects participated in a safety stand down. Safety stand downs are a part of the firm’s operating procedures, but this was the first time the firm held an all project stand down across the State.

Projects across the entire State stopped work to focus on safe work practices, emphasize the importance of safety to craftsman and their families and stress Yates Construction’s commitment to safety as the firm’s top core value.

The idea was spawned by TEXO, the combined organization for the North Texas chapters of Associated Builders and Contractors and Associated General Contractors (www.texoassociation.org). TEXO sponsors periodic, simultaneous safety stand downs for its members in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. “We took TEXO’s idea and applied it division wide – not just to our North Texas projects. Safety is our focus and priority. This was a great way to reinforce to our employees and our partners how much we care about their safety and livelihoods,” explained Randy Powell, vice president of Texas division.

At the Tarrant County Civil Courts project, craftsmen were encouraged to bring pictures of their families to include on a project-wide family board as a part of the safety stand down. The purpose of the family board – a standard on every Yates’ project – is to emphasize that safe work practices are not only for the benefit of jobsite safety, but ultimately are the key to returning home to one’s family at the end of each day. One worker had a picture of his children he wanted to include on the family board, but it is the picture he carries in his wallet. The Civil Courts team made a color copy of the picture so the worker was able to keep his original picture close to heart and have a daily reminder visible on the board of why safe work practices are so personal.