Each year, Construction Safety Week gives us an opportunity to pause, focus, and reinforce the importance of jobsite safety.
Our team at the Buckingham Correctional Facility Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement Project marked the week of May 5–9 with daily Safety Stand-Downs, each highlighting a different safety topic. Through hands-on demonstrations, expert-led discussions, and team engagement, the week was both educational and impactful.
Monday: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & Heat Safety
The team kicked off the week with Matt Dobson of KB Sales Agency/Pyramex Safety Products, who shared valuable insights on PPE, specifically cut and abrasion resistance levels across different glove styles. He also introduced the team to the heat index pyramid and demonstrated the use of misting fans that could be integrated into our cooling stations for the hot months ahead.
Tuesday: Trench Safety
UR representatives Andrew Myers and Jake Nussbaum led a session on trench safety, emphasizing the critical importance of proper sloping, benching, and shoring practices. Their message: understanding and applying these techniques can mean the difference between a safe trench and a potential collapse.
Wednesday: Fall Protection & Rescue
Frank Nemet, MEB’s Regional Safety & Health Manager, conducted a powerful fall protection demonstration, dropping a 200-lb manikin to simulate the consequences of tying off at foot level while working on a leading edge. The session also included a manual hoist rescue exercise, reinforcing both the risks of improper fall arrest use and the importance of being prepared for emergency response.
Thursday: Heavy Equipment Hazards
Ross Johnston, Steve Lamb, and Matt from Carter Machinery addressed the hazards of working around heavy equipment. Their discussion covered a wide range of critical topics, including blind spots, the importance of maintaining eye contact with the operator, avoiding travel paths downhill from equipment, understanding load limits and lift charts, recognizing overhead dangers, ensuring proper maintenance, conducting pre-operation inspections, and performing full 360° walkarounds.
Friday: Fall Impact Awareness
To close out the week, the team viewed an educational video that demonstrated the fall impact on a 240-lb ballistic dummy dropped from 20 feet (representing a MEWP) and 12 feet (representing a ladder). Despite the difference in height, both falls resulted in fatal injuries, highlighting the consequences of falls even from lower elevations.
Thank You
We extend our thanks to KB Sales Agency, Pyramex Safety Products, United Rentals, and Carter Machinery for their time and expertise. Great work to our MEB crews for participating, asking questions, and commitmenting to keeping each other safe. At MEB, Safety Matters is more than a core value, it’s a daily commitment shared by every member of our team.
