• June, 2021

Vericon Participates in ACCNJ Safety Day

On May 5th, 2021, Vericon Construction Company participated in the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey’s (ACCNJ) Annual Safety Day with a Safety Stand-Down led by Director of Field Operations, David Mellett, and Safety Officer, Brian Besser. The Stand-Down included company-wide Toolbox Talks with 200+ attendees throughout 35 active jobsites across 10 states. These Toolbox Talks reinforced the importance of keeping jobsites safe, with an emphasis surrounding fall prevention.

At Vericon’s New Jersey Resources active jobsite in Howell, NJ, Vericon’s President, Stephen Mellett, was joined by ACCNJ’s Executive Director of Operations, Jill Schiff, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Compliance Assistance Specialist, Brian Crain, who further elaborated on how pervasive the issue of falls is within the construction industry and what protective methods can be implemented to eliminate this issue.

According to OSHA, fatalities caused by falls from elevation are the leading cause of death for construction employees. These deaths are preventable, making it crucial to take the time as a company to discuss the potential hazards that may be present on a jobsite and how to utilize fall protection methods. A major takeaway from the discussion was the importance of team accountability in ensuring that each person is doing their part to recognize and prevent hazards on the jobsite.

Overall jobsite safety and fall prevention is at the forefront of Vericon’s work, which is represented in their most recent Experience Modification Rate (EMR) of 0.545, well below the industry average of 1.0. Vericon is currently ranked as one of the safest in New Jersey based on their EMR by the New Jersey Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau (NJCRIB). As a direct result of Vericon’s ‘Safety First’ attitude, in 2020 there were a total of 325,292 hours worked with zero lost workdays.