Callahan Construction Managers

By Adam Ringo, CSP, Safety Director, Callahan Construction

This year, Construction Safety Week bears a theme of “All in Together,” which undoubtedly speaks to the need for the entire team – from the building owner to the smallest subcontractor – to have a stake in keeping the project and its people as safe as possible.

However, what if safety could go farther? What if the team can go all-in on technology, communication, and accountability in a way that raises the bar beyond expectations? Oftentimes, when expectations are raised, there’s a reluctance to take on the additional work that goes along with it. But when technology is introduced in a way that makes the quality of the work better without a stiff time or effort penalty, everyone wins.

At Callahan, we’ve found ways to raise the bar that simultaneously increases the quality of our jobsite for our peers and partners, all to the benefit of our valued client base. Below are some of the key ways we’re raising awareness and expectations around construction safety:

1. Culture building:

   The best ways are often the simplest ways. At Callahan, we know the happier people are to work for us, the quality of the work will only improve. Temperature controlled breakrooms, fridges for lunches and energy drinks, places to congregate with fellow subcontractors and team members – those are all standard on Callahan jobsites. It’s a simple first step in driving support for safety initiatives and demonstrates a commitment to being all-in on a collaborative culture, whether a subcontractor or a Callahan superintendent. 
   

2. Mitigating trade stacking:

   On a daily basis, a representative of every trade and team on the jobsite has a 15-minute window to discuss potential trade stacking issues and how to avoid them. From concerns about the staging of materials to maintaining access in heavy work areas, understanding the possible roadblocks and devising a plan to keep different trades working in harmony on the jobsite helps avoid unnecessary delays and safety issues.
   

3. SiteForm integration:

   Technology drives much of the innovation Callahan has introduced on the jobsite, and safety is perhaps one of the most significant ways new software and tools make a difference. SiteForm has enabled Callahan to provide training and site plans in a variety of languages delivered to workers’ mobile devices and dramatically increase accountability by tracking when training tasks remain incomplete. It also makes it far easier to send out warnings and alerts when conditions materialize on the jobsite that impact safety, such as high winds when cranes are active. SiteForm has had a pronounced effect on building an “all in” safety culture at Callahan. 
   

4. Using cmBuilder for safety:

   In addition to investing in new technology, Callahan has also found new uses for platforms already in use. For instance, its pre-construction experts now use cmBuilder to apply the same level of sophisticated planning capabilities used in other phases of work to jobsite safety. By bringing its safety leaders into the pre-con phase as soon as possible, jobsite hazards are engineered around virtually to minimize disruptions and enhance worker wellbeing once ground is broken.

At Callahan, we’re proud to celebrate Construction Safety Week but also recognize our responsibility to constantly enhance our safety strategies through deployment of innovative tools and training – making our team and subcontractors “all in” on safety, all the time. For more information on our safety program, click here.