Safety Week Archives

Safety Week at Warfel Construction

Posted on May 16, 2024October 16, 2024 by adminwarfelcc

Building a Culture of Safety Through Core Values: Safety Week at Warfel Construction

At Warfel Construction, safety is a holistic priority grounded in our appreciation for each individual. Our safety culture, driven by core values of honesty, integrity, accountability, teamwork, and initiative, focuses on creating work environments that promote physical, mental, and emotional wellness. The agenda for Safety Week is thoughtfully crafted to reflect this culture.

Safety Week Overview

Construction Safety Week is an annual event aimed at raising awareness about our industry’s ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of safety. It provides a platform for sharing best practices, tools, and resources, encouraging people and companies across the industry to come together to celebrate and reaffirm our commitment to sending everyone home safe every day.

“Whether an employee or a visitor, we want to ensure that everyone who steps onto a Warfel job site leaves healthy, safe, and more engaged than ever,” said President Conlan Swope. “This commitment drives us daily, and we recognize that we all play a role in the safety and wellness of others.”

Engagement During Safety Week

Safety Week is a top priority at Warfel, with every employee participating in a variety of educational sessions designed to foster teamwork and camaraderie. A dedicated committee spends months planning the event to ensure that all activities are both productive and relevant.

Each day begins with an opening address from leadership, followed by an interactive stretching session. Morning classes cover Handling Jobsite Emergencies, Power Tool Safety, and Scaffolding. The afternoons include sessions on Food, Nutrition, and Mental Health. This variety is essential for keeping participants engaged and interactive. Law enforcement professionals have also led active shooter training sessions in previous years.

“While Safety Week is a highlight for us, the safety and education of our employees is a daily focus at Warfel,” said Mike Monaco, Director of Risk Management. “We invest significant resources into programs that strengthen our safety culture. These resources include training in stretching and therapy techniques, education on musculoskeletal injuries, mental health crisis support, and physical wellness incentive programs.”

Conclusion

Warfel Construction is fosters a culture of continuous improvement, working collaboratively with employees and partners to ensure a safer and healthier work environment.

About Warfel Construction Company

Established in 1911, Warfel Construction Company provides general construction and construction management services to clients throughout Pennsylvania, Virginia, and surrounding states. Visit Warfel online at warfelcc.com.

National Safety Week: Meet Safety Administrator Kristy Houck

Posted on May 4, 2018 by adminwarfelcc

At Warfel, safety is our top priority. We’re committed to making sure that each employee, subcontractor, consultant and client goes home the same way that he or she came to work that day. Our team of safety professionals works hard to maintain a culture and environment of safe work practices. Today, meet Safety Administrator Kristy Houck.

Kristy-Houck-Bryce — *Safety Administrator Kristy Houck and son Bryce*

Describe what you do at Warfel: I think it would be easier to list what I don’t do! I have my hands in a little bit of everything.

In your words, why is safety so important? I want everyone to go home everyday the same way they came to work.

Where did you go to school? Columbia High School

How long have you worked at Warfel? I have been at Warfel 11 years as of March.

What did you do before you came to Warfel? Before I came to Warfel, I worked for a company that dealt with people that were on workers compensation. We tried to place them in jobs that accommodated their restrictions.

What is your favorite part of your job? I love that everyday is different, and the people I work with

What is your most exciting accomplishment? My son, he has taught me more in life that he will ever know.

What has changed the most since you’ve started your career? I would have to say the procedures of the way we do things. When I started at Warfel we did everything paper copies. Now everything is more streamlined and done electronically.

What’s your favorite part of working in the construction industry? I love the construction industry because it’s never boring and it always changing. I love that every project is different.

If you could switch jobs with someone, who would it be/what would you do? I wouldn’t switch with anyone, I like my job.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Spending time with my son, being active, spending time outdoors, reading, going to the movies and shopping.

You can learn more about National Safety Week here.

National Safety Week: Meet Assistant Safety Director Kevin Stoltzfus

Posted on May 4, 2018 by adminwarfelcc

Describe what you do at Warfel: Educate, teach, enforce and maintain safe work practices for all employees and subcontractors, so they can do their job in a safe and productive manner.

In your words, why is safety so important? A serious workplace injury or death changes lives forever – for families, friends, communities, and co-workers too. Human loss is immeasurable.

Where did you go to school? Manheim Central and Elizabethtown College.

How long have you worked at Warfel? Almost 3 years (August)

What did you do before you came to Warfel? I was employed by Franklin and Marshall College as the Assistant Director of Public Safety.

What is your favorite part of your job? Visiting construction jobsites to talk with all workers about the importance of safe work practices.

What is the worst job you ever had? Insulating walls/ceilings prior to drywall hanging… it was itchy.

What is your most exciting accomplishment? Graduating from college….even though it took me 30 years.

What advice would you give someone applying to Warfel? Learn as much as you can in any task that is given to you.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your career? Perseverance and persistent in creating a better safety culture.

What has changed the most since you’ve started your career? Better safety regulations.

What’s your favorite part of working in the construction industry? Seeing a building being constructed from start to finish.

What do you think is the most challenging part of the construction industry? Coordinating job tasks with other trades during the construction process.

If you could switch jobs with someone, who would it be/what would you do? A fighter pilot so that I can protect United States citizens.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Spending quality time with my family and friends & traveling.

What’s a fun fact about you that we might not know? My older brother and I have a trophy made up that is exchanged each year to the one that picks the best three horses that finish 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd in the Kentucky Derby. This has been our tradition since 1979. I have won more times than he has, which means I am the champion!

Anything else you’d like to add? Please take the time to care for one another. If you see something unsafe, say something.

You can learn more about National Safety Week here.

National Safety Week: Meet Safety Engineer Jason Beiler

Posted on May 4, 2018 by adminwarfelcc

Describe what you do at Warfel: I support our team in the field to ensure jobsite safety and ensure that everyone goes home in the same condition they came to work in and continue to improve safety on every jobsite. We accomplish that through various means of training, jobsite inspections, developing policies & procedures and other means.

In your words, why is safety so important? You’re only given one life to live. Without safety, that life can be taken from you too soon.

Where did you go to school? Lampeter-Strasburg High School, Harrisburg Area Community College

How long have you worked at Warfel? 7 months

What did you do before you came to Warfel? I was a safety specialist and sales manager for a local construction rental and sales company.

What is your favorite part of your job? Getting out to travel to see different job sites, as well as meeting the people who work hard to create and maintain our Clients For Life. Having been a carpenter at one point in the field myself years ago, I can relate to the guys in the field and like to try to bridge the gap between safety and how work is really performed in the field. Everyone knows it’s not always by the textbook – it’s thinking outside the box sometimes to get the job done safely and efficiently. They don’t teach that well in college or trade schools.

What is the worst job you ever had? Working security at an amusement park right after 9/11. After doing thousands of bag searches, you’d be amazed at what some people carry in their purses and bags! Oh, the stories I can tell…

What is your most exciting accomplishment? Being a volunteer firefighter, it’d be saving someone’s life. And being there in the moment to help calm the storm in what may be the worst moment of their life.

What advice would you give someone applying to Warfel? If you have a desire to succeed and are willing to learn, you’ll do well here.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your career? Never stop learning. When you think you know it all, you’re moving backward in your career and in life.

What has changed the most since you’ve started your career? Technology. Technology is changing at breakneck speed and new methods of building continue to be developed. And regulations – some for the better, some not so much, (not just safety regulations) have lengthened and made the building process harder, longer, and more complex than ever.

What’s your favorite part of working in the construction industry? No two jobs are the same or present the same challenges. It’s neat to see a building transformed from the ground up.

What do you think is the most challenging part of the construction industry? Finding people who want to work in the industry and either have experience or are willing to learn. Construction is currently growing at a fast pace with a major labor shortage across all trades at all levels within most companies.

If you could switch jobs with someone, who would it be/what would you do? I wouldn’t switch with anyone specifically, but I would have loved to be an astronaut when NASA had shuttle program.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Spending time with my kids, friends, and family, playing guitar, following Philly sports.

What’s a fun fact about you that we might not know? I originally went to school to be a police officer.

You can learn more about National Safety Week here.

National Safety Week: Meet Safety Director Jeff Pierce

Posted on May 4, 2018 by adminwarfelcc

Jeff-Pierce-Terry — *Jeff Pierce and his wife, Terry, enjoy a crab dinner.*

Describe what you do at Warfel: I oversee the safety and health of our employees and our projects.

In your words, why is safety so important? Preventing accidents, injuries, and illnesses provides benefits for our employees, such as good health, long life, and a rewarding and prosperous career.

Where did you go to school? Lampeter-Strasburg and Millersville University.

How long have you worked at Warfel? 10 years

What did you do before you came to Warfel? Worked for the City of Lancaster Bureau of Fire

What is your favorite part of your job? Seeing our employees succeed at our projects and in their careers.

What is the worst job you ever had? I worked for Mann Tobacco Company as a laborer on North Prince St. during a summer when I was in high school.

What is your most exciting accomplishment? Marrying my wife, Terry and raising our children and enjoying our grandchildren.

What advice would you give someone applying to Warfel? Warfel is a great company. You can go as far as you want to in your career, if you are a team player, hard worker, and have a great attitude.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your career? Put yourself in other people’s shoes. Show empathy, compassion, confidence and have a positive outlook.

What has changed the most since you’ve started your career? The use of technology in the construction industry and the addition of new safety and health regulations.

What’s your favorite part of working in the construction industry? I love to see the skills and talents of our employees and subcontractors when I see the completion of the beautiful buildings.

What do you think is the most challenging part of the construction industry? The ability to provide safety training and education on a regular basis. I see this changing soon with the advancement of technology. The future technology will provide the capability to bring the training and education right to the job sites for all our employees.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Spending time with my family and traveling to new locations.

You can learn more about National Safety Week here.