North Carolina Quarterly Safety Award – Third Quarter 2020

Jorge Ramirez (middle) being recognized for his dedication to safety by Safety Director Dominic Pope (left) and Foreman Darrell Wysk (right)

Gaines and Company – a full-service site development organization – awards the Safety Excellence Achievement Award to one employee at both its Maryland and North Carolina divisions each quarter. Award recipients are nominated due to their unwavering dedication to the Safety Excellence Program, which proactively drives the Gaines and Company safety culture.

Gaines and Company’s North Carolina 2020 third quarter Safety Excellence Achievement Award winner was Jorge Ramirez. Jorge was recognized for his dedication to safe work practices, not only ensuring the safety of himself, but for the safety of everyone on site.

Jorge Ramirez, Safety Excellence Achievement Award recipient, operates safely and diligently

Darrell Wysk, Jorge’s foreman, nominated him for the award for always being safety conscientious and having a proactive and positive attitude.

Darrell said, “He’s a ‘heads-up’ employee who is always paying attention to everybody all the time. When he is needed, he is always there, and constantly aware of his surroundings.”

Jorge began his 10-year career with Gaines and Company as a laborer. His dedication to safe, quality work earned him his current role as senior mainline co-operator.

Jorge Ramirez performing trenching work with precision and diligence, which is crucial for successful site development projects

“Jorge is an all-around good operator,” said Dominic Pope, Safety Director. “He takes his knowledge from working his way up to make sure everyone around him is being safe. When you watch him operate, he’s conscious of everything going on around him all the time. That’s the difference between your average operator and a good, safe operator.”

“His work requires a lot of precision. He is very smooth, and his attention to detail when trenching is what sets him apart,” added Mark Butcher, Jorge’s superintendent. “He always has good comments and suggestions on how we can do things safer. He’s the epitome of a team player.”

Not only has Jorge completed his job-specific training, but he has also successfully completed Competent Person Training, OSHA 10, Confined Space Training, and received his Heavy Equipment Operator certification.

Jorge was presented a Safety Excellence Award certificate, as well as $150 in safety bucks for the Gaines and Company online safety store. His winning nomination enters him into the running for the year-end 2020 Safety Excellence Award.