PLH Group interprets these numbers as more than just statistics. They each represent a human life surrounded by a network of family and friends. The company’s eleven geographically diverse utility construction entities– from the Canadian tundra to the swamps of Louisiana and the California desert to the Northeast — encourage, promote, and celebrate safety every day. During the week of August 13-19, 2018, PLH Group and its entities will celebrate occupational health and safety alongside OSHA and other Safe + Sound Week participating companies.

Emphasizing the criticality of successful health and safety programs, OSHA is dedicating August 13-19 as Safe + Sound Week. During this week, all participating companies will focus on promoting successful health and safety programs, which include management involvement, worker participation, and a systematic approach to hazard identification and resolution. PLH Group supports this effort and will continue to encourage workplace safety throughout all levels of the organization to ensure that workers return home safely to their families each day.

Each of PLH Group’s eleven entities has a Safety Director who manages health and safety programs, performance, and needs, including orientation and training and a safety mission specific to the entity. The Safety Director also ensures that all company-specific health and safety goals, missions, and programs align with the overarching PLH Group program.

“Because of the diverse array of work performed throughout our entities and their vast geographical spread, PLH Group needs more than just the standard health and safety program to meet this goal. That is why we have developed a number of strong, successful, and systematic programs to proactively protect the diverse duties, geographies, and needs within our organization,” said Elsie Bentley, Vice President, Safety, Health and Environmental.

These health and safety programs include:

• Stop Work Responsibility is not only given to, but expected of, all PLH Group employees, regardless of experience and knowledge of the task. If as situation appears questionable, the employee has the responsibility to stop the work task until a clearer understanding of the processes are understood.
• PREVENT integrates safe work practices into every step of a task through the latest technology while encouraging a questioning attitude throughout the process.
• Training and orientation must be completed by all employees upon joining the organization. This training is specific to the specialized construction duties to be performed by the worker.
• OSHA Strategic Partnership Program aligns OSHA with a team of electrical transmission and distribution construction contractors, including PLH Group, that identify industry health and safety issues, then develop and apply appropriate preventative measures.
• Safety POSSE (Personal Observation or Safety Suggestion by Employee) encourages employees to submit safety ideas for possible implementation.
• Good Catch is the responsibility to report any event or circumstance that had the potential to cause an accident or incident.
• Safety Excellence Program rewards employees for creating a safer work environment. Employees are eligible for participation by submitting a safety suggestion, reminding a coworker about safe practices, or performing an act of safety that surpasses requirements.

“Every day when I step on the job site, I know I have the responsibility to look out for others. Meanwhile, I am confident they are watching my back, as well. This site-wide safety policy is crucial in the hazardous environments that we often enter,” said Steve Crawford, Power Line Services field employee.

PLH Group and its entities are proud to partner with OSHA and organizations around the country to promote and celebrate successful health and safety programs. Though the company’s programs are positioned with varying goals and tactics for the specific construction tasks, duties, and needs of each entity, all PLH Group companies have one common goal– to safely return employees to their families and friends each and every day.

RESOURCES:
https://www.osha.gov/dsg/InjuryIllnessPreventionProgramsWhitePaper.html