ARC held a program of safety-related presentations and demonstrations on May 13, 2016 for all ARC field and service technicians, estimators and project managers. The full day at the company’s headquarters in Bradford, Vermont, included topics on fall protection, highway safety, fire extinguisher operation, equipment lockout/tagout procedures, accident prevention, and equipment rigging. Taking advantage of the rare opportunity to have all employees in one location, a session to discuss upcoming health insurance changes due to the Affordable Care Act was also provided by our agent.
Norman James, Project RoadSafe, discusses highway safety as Matt Hall, an ARC HVAC installation apprentice, listens.
Safety is a concern for most companies, but it’s particularly important in the construction industry where potential risks abound. According to OSHA, one in five worker deaths in 2014 were in construction. The leading causes of worker deaths on construction sites were falls, followed by electrocution, struck by object, and caught-in-between accidents. ARC is proud of our safety record and our recent Safety Day is just one activity to help us maintain our good record.
The event, organized by ARC’s Safety Committee, took six months of careful planning to create a good mix of relevant topics in a fun atmosphere. The committee developed an agenda which was presented by experienced and knowledgeable instructors including Lonny Wade, Matt Wade, and Carle Underhill (Catamount Safety), Fred Lufigson (Lift-All Company), and Norman James, Project RoadSafe manager with the Associated General Contractors of Vermont.
Jake Rhoades, an ARC master plumber, dons a harness at the fall protection station while the instructor, Lonny Wade, Catamount Safety, discusses the proper way to wear it.
The committee also reached out to our suppliers, distributors, and customers, who generously donated items for a mid-day raffle. F.W. Webb loaned the committee their huge barbeque grill, with full propane tanks, to grill hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch. Raffle items were donated by Catamount Safety (gas grill), Homans Associates (camp chairs and drink coozies), Miles Supply (hats), Everything But Anchovies (gift certificate), F.W. Webb (AC refrigeration test kit for the service department) and Mason Racing (bike helmets and t-shirt). We also held a 50/50 raffle splitting the total from tickets sold between two ARC employees.
Brian Page, an ARC sheetmetal fabricator, listens as Fred Lufigson, Lift-All Company, discusses rigging.
The Safety Committee is comprised of employees from every aspect of ARC’s business and includes Jody Perkins, President/Service Manager, Brenda Oakes, HR Manager, Eric Trojanowski, HVAC Installer/Sheetmetal Foreman, Chris LaCombe, Service Technician, Jesse Webster, Service Technician, James Aseltine, HVAC Installer, and Tad Kingsbury, Fleet Manager. The committee meets monthly to discuss field safety issues.
John Hollinrake, an ARC estimator, puts out the flashpan fire at the fire extinguisher station. The flashpan is connected to a propane tank and sensor, which the instructor, Carle Underhill, Catamount Safety, is holding.
Tara Weatherell, Centurion Insurance, discusses upcoming changes to ARC’s health insurance due to the Affordable Care Act.
Eric Trojanowski, safety committee member (center left), and Tad Kingsbury, safety committee member (center right), grill burgers and hot dogs for lunch. Lisa Pierson, ARC assistant service manager (far left) helps while Norman James, Project RoadSafe project manager, waits for his burger.
A very rare occasion: all ARC employees in one location enjoying lunch together.
