Page 10 - May-Jun 19

Insights MANAGEMENT
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Spenser Villwock, MNM, CAE, Publisher
svillwock@ieci.org Have the “TALK” (about safety)
Melissa Grigsby, Editor-in-Chief
mgrigsby@ieci.org with Your Employees

ADVERTISING Job site safety is constantly on the mind of business leaders and companies especially in the
Rich Ryan electrical industry. This is because there is no way to guarantee complete safety, but there are
(419) 734-5545
rryan@ieci.org a lot of things you can do to prevent major accidents on the job site.
Electrical hazards can be found on nearly every job site. Whether the hazard is posed by
DESIGN/ART DIRECTION damaged or worn power tools or cords, improperly grounded tools, or the power sources
Think Baseline
themselves, it is critical to understand the potential electrical dangers.

PRINTING While many companies put up signs, give a safety talk when on boarding employees, and review
Mount Royal Printing safety once a year, this is not an effective strategy to maintaining a safe job site. Consistently talking
to your employees about safety is one of the best ways to ensure a safe job site for everyone.
2019 IEC NATIONAL OFFICERS Why should you consistently talk to your employees about job site safety?
President
Gary Golka, Mesa, Arizona 1. KEEPS SAFETY TOP OF MIND
Treasurer When you talk to your employees about safety regularly, it keeps safety top of mind. It shows
Candy Branham, Saint Charles, Missouri that job site safety is a serious topic in the company and one that is not to be joked about. It also
Secretary ensures that there are no mental lapses of safety procedures. Whether employees are tired, or
Janet Martin, Frederick, Colorado have other things on their mind (which everyone does), it makes sure that when they walk onto
Vice President the job site they are paying attention and understand the importance of safety.
Troy Corrigan, Louisville, Kentucky
Immediate Past President 2. HOLDS EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE
Lloyd Quinney, San Antonio, Texas Talking to your employees about safety makes sure that everyone is held accountable. Not just the
field electricians, but also the project managers, owners, and company as a whole. Talking about
Insights is published in January/ job site safety shows that everyone is in it together and it’s not just one person taking the lead.
February, March/April, May/June,
July/August, September/October,
and November/December by the 3. EMPLOYEES TAKE OWNERSHIP
Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc. When I say, “talk to your employees” I really mean have a conversation. People take ownership in
things when they feel they’ve had a voice in the conversation/been a part of the decision process.
So, talking to your employees and giving them a voice in the conversation about job site safety
Insights
Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc. will help them feel valued and truly take ownership of it. It will allow them to become leaders and
4401 Ford Ave., Suite 1100 hold themselves, as well as everyone around them, accountable.
Alexandria, VA 22302
Tel: (703) 549-7351 4. BECOMES A PART OF THE CULTURE
Fax: (703) 549-7448 When something in a business is consistent for an extended period of time, sooner or later, it
www.ieci.org becomes a part of the culture. This is obviously the end goal with job site safety. Having a culture
of safety ensures that everyone is holding each other accountable from the top down. If you don’t
consistently talk to your employees about safety it will quickly become something that is not
often thought about.
5. IT SAVES LIVES
Ultimately, the whole reason behind safe practices on the job site is to prevent serious injury or
even worse, death.
As you can see there are a lot of benefits that come from consistently communicating with your
employees about job site safety. It is the most effective way to prevent major accidents and keep
Established in
1957, IEC is a trade employees safe.
association with more
than 3,300 company
members and 50 INDEPENDENT ELECTRICAL
chapters nationwide. CONTRACTORS As a reader, we are interested in hearing from
Headquartered you. If you have a specific topic you would like
in Alexandria, Virginia, IEC is the nation’s to see covered in an upcoming issue or a new
premier trade association representing MELISSA GRIGSBY delivery method, please contact the Insights
America’s independent electrical and systems Editorial Staff at communications@ieci.org.
contractors. IEC National aggressively works Editor-In-Chief, Insights
with the industry to establish a competitive IEC National
environment for the merit shop — a
philosophy that promotes the concept of
free enterprise, open competition, and
economic opportunity for all. 8 Insights Magazine | May/June 2019 | www.ieci.org