Page 8 - May-Jun 19

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Safety: A Critical Component

of Your Companies’ Prosperity

By Gary Golka

his issue of our magazine their specialty? Which company takes the
focuses on safety – please lead on layouts, technology use, and MPE
enjoy it. Jobsite and personal coordination issues? Which company has
safety are critical to the the key to the gate or shared equipment?
T health of your most precious Which company cares about how the
resource, literally the people that make end-use customer will feel about the final both myself and our business. I truly feel
up the organization. Thus safety becomes product that is being created? Which that in our industry there is no place better
critical to the prosperity of people and company has employees that respond to than IEC to find and seize opportunities
the company they operate. IEC has always any and every jobsite accident (hopefully that can make us true professionals.
been a national partner in the safety very rare) or incident and don’t just ignore
of our industry; we are one of the few it or leave the site to stay uninvolved? I hope that everyone from your company
merit-shop organizations and the only who is involved with IEC, (as an owner,
electrical contracting association to be I hope it is your company, the most senior staff, apprentice, journeyman,
a part of the OSHA Safety Alliance. In professional one, that is the answer to or foreman) has received the value I
addition to safety lessons within every those questions. I am reasonably certain feel I have from my membership. If you
training offering we produce, handbooks that it is, since you are a member of aren’t sure about the value and haven’t
for field safety, sessions at convention, IEC and are reading another fine issue attended a National Convention recently
and providing a committee for contractors of Insights. I understand how hard it or ever, please make plans to attend our
to spearhead the Association’s safety- can be to build a company full of true next one in St. Louis in October. Take
related activities; our Association has professionals, because we are still trying advantage of those possibilities for the
a recognized dedication to safety. to do that in our family business. If you future that you will find there. You will
own, operate, or work for a company that leave St. Louis as a little more professional
Safety should not be a competitive issue, is imbued with professionalism and have electrician or contractor, I promise. And
but it is a critical component of a key people that exude that professionalism in if, like me, you are sure there will be
competitive part of the organization, their life and in their work skills and habits, something of professional value there
professionalism. In our field we can choose then congratulations! And if you are trying, for you, make your plans now. Lastly, if
to compete on price, on speed, and on like me, to get yourself and the company you, unlike me, are already the ultimate,
quality. All of us probably have an idea to that next level of professionalism, consummate professional, then please
of where our organizations fit on a Venn keep up the effort as it will pay off. It come and take part of the camaraderie,
diagram with those components as sets. is marketable, it can be a competitive be a mentor and resource, and help
The look, feel, and performance of our edge, it is more easily sustainable, and us make the merit shop contracting
organization is often a result of where we most important – it is satisfying. industry even better than it is today.
position the company in one area, or more
likely, in the overlapping areas of those My membership in IEC has provided me See you in St. Louis!
components. Another differentiator in the with some incredible opportunities to
component mix that can make a difference build and expand that professionalism in
in the perception, the performance, and myself and in our company. Opportunities Gary is the President of Golka Electric, Inc.,
the competitiveness of your company like: Education for myself and for key a family-owned electrical contracting firm
can and should be professionalism. employees, networking with people who located in Mesa, Arizona. Gary has twice
have vastly more skills than I, mentoring served as President of IECA of Arizona. As
This area definitely includes safety, but is from our forum group that is full of the an advocate for electrical education and
not limited to just that. Which company is most exemplary professionals to learn training, Gary has served as a Director
known for cheerfully doing their job the from, access to code panel members, to of the Mountain Southwest Region, and
“right” way? Which company’s people industry technical specialists, safety gurus, as a member and Chairman of the IEC
National A&T Committee. He was elected
on the jobsite have OSHA training, have and to other contractors from around the to the IEC National Executive Committee
been to a code update class, and can country. These all help me work on the in 2016 and now serves as President.
handle questions from other trades about professional substance and appearance of

6 Insights Magazine | May/June 2019 | www.ieci.org