Large-scale commercial construction company leads the way in workplace and jobsite safety
Stuart, Fla. – Venture Construction Group of Florida (VCGFL) staff earn multiple advanced Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Awareness Training Certifications. On Sept. 22, VCGFL held an OSHA Awareness Staff Training from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. at their Stuart office located at 2654 SE Willoughby Rd. The OSHA Awareness Training session included fall protection, forklift operations, scaffolding, and flagger operations. All staff were required to attend, from administrative staff to field superintendents to production managers to roofing crews and sales staff.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21% of total worker fatalities in private industry in 2016 were in the construction industry— that equates to one in five worker deaths. The leading causes of worker deaths in the construction industry were falls, followed by struck by object, electrocution, and caught-in/between. These are known as the “Fatal Four” by OSHA, and were responsible for nearly 64 percent of total construction worker deaths in 2016. Eliminating the Fatal Four would save 631 workers’ lives in America every year.
“Safety is our number one priority. As the owner of three construction companies, these statistics are pretty staggering. The numbers don’t lie. Safety is an absolute necessity, every second of every day on every single jobsite. We are committed to achieving the highest OSHA training standards for all of our staff members and having each and every staff member trained on the most advanced safety protocols in the industry. Prevention is key, and that starts with education. This OSHA Awareness training covered mitigation protocols for some of the most cited issues in the construction industry,” says Stephen Shanton, president, Venture Construction Group of Florida.
According to OSHA, four out of the top 10 safety violations in 2017 were in the construction industry. Fall protection ranked 1st; scaffolding ranked 3rd; ladder usage ranked 6th; and fall protection training requirements ranked 9th on the list.
“In the business of construction, it’s essential to meet OSHA standards and continue ongoing training and certification courses. Stephen Shanton is truly committed to safety and really cares about his employees, clients, personnel and total jobsite safety. In addition to the Venture Construction Group OSHA 30 Certification and OSHA Awareness Training Certifications, Steve also added three OSHA Safety Monitors to his staff. That really shows a commitment to safety across the board. Unfortunately, not all construction companies do this,” says Santiago Fayad, CEO & consultant, Industrial Safety Services.
VCGFL recently added three full-time OSHA certified staff to their award-winning team. OSHA Senior Safety Officer, Lou Haddad, joined the team in January. Haddad brings 23 years of experience in critical safety protocols and a career in law enforcement. In May, VCGFL added two OSHA Safety Monitors, Neal Bateman and Larry Ingwell. Bateman was an emergency first responder rescue diver for 5 years and has a passion for safety and risk mitigation. Bateman holds the O2 Provider Certification and expertise in numerous construction jobsite safety hazards. Ingwell possesses over 30 years of experience in safety and previously worked with a consulting firm as a Safety Advisor to major corporations and construction companies throughout the nation. Ingwell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Safety from the University of Wisconsin. Haddad, Ingwell, and Bateman have managed safety personnel and complex processes in numerous scenarios, and possess the high-level detail, skills and expertise paramount for construction industry safety. The VCGFL OSHA Safety Team holds OSHA 10, OSHA 30 Certificates and the OSHA 100 Management Certificate, as well as CPR/ AED Certifications.
“We are revolutionizing the safety of construction by putting safety first and construction second. A delay is better than a disaster,” says Lou Haddad, OSHA senior safety officer, Venture Construction Group of Florida.
In 2017, VCGFL senior staff earned the OSHA 30 Certificate. OSHA 30-Hour Training courses provide advanced tools regarding health and safety awareness and educate supervisors and employees on increased methods to reduce the risk of workplace hazards. Benefits of OSHA 30-Hour Training include safety and risk mitigation, prevention of potential worksite hazards, information on workers’ rights, employer responsibilities and more.
OSHA’s mission is to ensure the protection of workers and prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths by setting and enforcing standards, and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. Many OSHA standards include explicit safety and health training requirements to ensure that workers have the required skills and knowledge to safely do their work. These requirements reflect OSHA’s belief that training is an essential part of every employer’s safety and health program for protecting workers from injuries and illnesses. Researchers conclude that those who are new on the job have a higher rate of injuries and illnesses than more experienced workers.
“We’re committed to safety, every step of the way, every second of the day. We are committed to having each and every staff member OSHA trained and certified,” says Stephen Shanton, CEO and president, Venture Construction Group of Florida.
About Venture Construction Group of Florida
Founded in 1998, Venture Construction Group of Florida (VCGFL) is an award-winning leader in construction, restoration, renovations, roofing, storm damage repairs, and 24/7 emergency services throughout Florida, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bahamas and the Caribbean. Specializing in industrial/ commercial projects, VCGFL assists property managers, condominium boards, homeowner associations, association boards, hotels and business complexes with general contractor services, specialty construction, historical restoration, water and flood mitigation, and property repairs due to fire, flood, water, wind and hurricanes. VCGFL holds leading industry awards including the Coatings Pro Contractor Award, Pro Remodeler Forty Under 40 Award, Qualified Remodeler Top 500 Remodelers Award, Qualified Remodeler Master Design Award, Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association S.T.A.R. Spotlight Trophy for the Advancement of Roofing Awards in Sustainability and Community Service. CEO Stephen Shanton is a proud member of the prestigious Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). Entrepreneur Magazine hails “YEC Consists of Some of the Most Well-Respected Minds in Entrepreneurship.” With offices in Boca Raton, Ft. Myers, Naples, Orlando, Panama City Beach, Stuart, Tampa, San Juan, and Nassau, VCGFL is committed to operational excellence and exceptional customer service. VCGFL takes care of the details every step of the way including roofing, siding, windows, drywall, flooring, paint, gutters to rebuilding properties after major storm events from hurricanes, tornadoes, and hailstorms. VCGFL carries the industry’s leading accreditations and is an exclusive certified National Storm Damage Center Preferred Contractor, Windstorm Insurance Network WIND Certified Umpire®, WIND Certified Appraiser®, WIND Certified Fellow®, Certified Member of the United Association of Storm Restoration Contractors, Platinum Preferred Certified Contractor with the National Insurance Restoration Council. VCGFL is a proud member of Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Association (IAUA), Restoration Industry Association (RIA), Property Liability and Resource Bureau (PLRB), Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA), Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) Industry Members Association (EIMA), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). VCGFL is a registered U.S. Federal Government Contractor and holds leading certifications including Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, Mule-Hide Legacy Contractor, Certified CertainTeed Contractor and Duro-Last Certified Contractor status. VCGFL credentials have been vetted and screened through independent third party Global Risk Management Solutions. For more information call 866-459-8351 or visit us online at www.VCGFL.com.
Media Inquiries:
Angela Delmedico
Elev8 Consulting Group
Ph: 386.243.5388
Em: angela@elev8cg.com
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