Double Safety Excellence Awarded – Maryland Division Gaines and Company Site Development

A special announcement of two Maryland Q3 2019 Safety Award Recipients! Julio Lopez & Will Griffin Double the Safety Excellence at Gaines and Company Site Development.

Julio Lopez is one of two Q3 2019 Gaines and Company Site Development Maryland safety recognition recipients. He was presented with the excellence award on Friday for his outstanding safety achievements.

Stands out in safety because: “He ensures safe confined space entry for every crewmember working on underground utility projects and always takes initiative with new employees making sure they understand all aspects of working safely.” Dominic Pope, Safety Director, Gaines and Company.

What he does: Julio is a punch list laborer working with Gaines and Company Site Development for three years. Every day he checks up to 20 manholes with 4-gas monitors making sure everyone on the jobsite understands confined space safety procedures. He has a comprehensive understanding and all required training to work safely in manholes, trenches and other underground utility construction projects.

Training & Certifications:  Julio is certified for Confined Space, OSHA 10-Hour, CPR and First Aid. He has the training to decipher acceptable monitor readings and the ability to understand how gasses can behave differently inside a confined space, such as H₂0 being lighter than air and rising to the top inside a hole.

Dominic says: “Julio is always looking out for the best safety interests for all – company, crew and the public.” Dominic Pope, Safety Director, Gaines and Company Site Development

His foreman says: “Julio is always making sure everything is secure, that everyone is wearing proper PPE and he will immediately point out anything to me that needs attention.” Jose Sorto, Foreman, Gaines and Company.

Sorto highlights a recent exemplary safety observation: Julio suggested how to best organize the placement of a generator and fire extinguisher inside a new field construction truck so that the extinguisher was quickly accessible and not blocked by any other equipment.

Safety values: Julio is a leader in safety. He takes the safety initiative when working with new crews on weekend jobs making sure everyone understands how to remain safe at all times. He has invaluable confined space knowledge and training. He is a safety asset to all crewmembers working for a site development contractor, grading and excavating. He is the first to bring any safety questions to his foreman’s attention.

Safety e-store: Julio received $150 in safety bucks good towards construction safety gear from the online store.

Continuing safety recognition throughout the year and beyond: Julio is now in the running for the 2019 year-end safety excellence grand prize.

Gaines and Company Site Development is a full service site development contractor, offering grading and excavation, underground utility construction and storm water management. Gaines is proud to have a groundbreaking safety excellence program. In both the Maryland and North Carolina divisions, a Safety Excellence Achievement Award is given on a quarterly basis to any employee who goes above and beyond in their dedication to safety.