Safety is not an option—it's our priority.
When it comes to safety, we believe a proactive approach is the best approach. Our award-winning safety program sets aggressive standards for employees, and a “safety-first” mindset is a condition for employment. Our high safety expectations, continual training programs and daily inspection requirements have made Rinderknecht Associates a construction industry model in Iowa and beyond.
Safety Awards & Recognition
Iowa OSHA and Master Builders of Iowa (MBI) presented Rinderknecht Associates with the Outstanding Safety Achievement Award at the MBI Winter Conference on February 19, 2013. The award celebrates best practices in accident prevention and safety at all levels.
Rinderknecht Associates was also awarded a safety award for Incident Rate Excellence from the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council in 2011 during their 58th Annual Professional Development Conference and Expo on April 28-29th. We received this honor for acheiving an incident rate well below the national industry average in 2010 and for promoting active safety programs and reducing OSHA recordable injuries among our employees.
Company
Safety Goals:
- No injuries whatsoever
- A drug-free environment
- A responsible team, accountable for the safety of themselves and those around them
- Employees who feel empowered to to recognize and fix unsafe conditions
Safety Communication Channels:
- Frequent safety training at all levels
- Staff and superintendent safety meetings including frequent site safety audits
- Weekly Toolbox Safety Talks cover basic safety rules as well as specific topics like electrical safety and power tool usage
- On-site safety training through videos, demonstrations and hands-on practice
- Safety memos and company newsletter articles
- Incident/injury reviews
- On-site reference materials, including OSHA 1926 Construction Safety Standards, 350-page Company Safety Manual and MSDS book
Comprehensive Safety Requirements:
- Written safety rules and responsibilities
- Full OSHA compliance
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements
- Hazard prevention and control through job safety analysis (JSA)
- Emergency planning/preparation and medical assistance program
- Safety training and education for every employee (Rinderknecht Associates employees average 32 hours of safety training and education each year)
- Specific safety programs for hazard communication, respiratory protection, confined-space entry and lockout/tagout and blood-borne illness protection. Daily site safety inspections
Rinderknecht Associates project superintendents conduct thorough daily site safety inspections and send weekly reports to the company’s safety director. The director performs regular site safety audits and works with superintendents and project managers to address any potential problems in an aggressive, proactive manner.
Rinderknecht Associates complies with all OSHA requirements. We train employees to inspect their tools and equipment before use and we keep detailed records of the inspections we perform on tools, equipment and worksites.
On average, Rinderknecht Associates employees receive 32 hours of safety training a year. Training programs are constantly updated and improved to ensure that we are meeting employee safety needs.
Toolbox Safety Talks, which are offered each week, cover basic safety procedures and specific safety topics, such as electrical safety and power tool usage. Rinderknecht Associates employees conduct the talks and coworkers are urged to participate and share their safety suggestions and concerns. As a result, employees feel a strong sense of ownership in Rinderknecht Associates safety program.
Get to Know Our Safety Director
“Safety” is Dave McInroy’s middle name. In 1993, he joined our team after Rinderknecht Associates created a director-level position to enhance team safety. As our Safety Director, Dave is responsible for developing and implementing the company’s programs for safety and health, environmental compliance and drug testing. In addition to safety and orientation training, he also conducts jobsite safety audits and inspections and is a project safety consultant.
Dave is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, where he earned a BA in Industrial Technology with an emphasis in supervision, management and Industrial Safety—no surprise there.
Dave has served on numerous safety-related committees and task forces, including for the Master Builders of Iowa, where he previously served as chair for the organization’s 49-member Safety Committee.
When he’s not on the job, Dave likes collecting antiques related to safety. His growing collection includes old first aid kits, fire extinguishers and safety glasses.
Dave considers the most satisfying part of the job to be the feeling he gets when his team wraps up another day safely, without injury or incident.
Correction: Safety is his first name. Safety Dave McInroy.