Above and Beyond: Two Regional Winners at Gaines and Company
North Carolina Awardees for Excellence in Safety
Every year, on a quarterly and annual basis, Gaines and Company recognizes their dedicated employees for the most important aspect of their daily tasks: safety. In 2020, the first quarter winners—one in the truck driver category and one in overall safety—are in! These amazing trailblazers at the Gaines and Company North Carolina offices have consistently turned ‘safety’ into a verb—using it consistently until it became a daily habit of excellence.
Congratulations to Cody Starling (right) – Gaines and Company’s 1 QT Regional Safety Excellence Awardee and truck driver, standing with Keith Burakowski, Foreman (left) at the Gaines North Carolina location.
Congratulations to Alejandro Garcia (right)— Overall Winner of Gaines and Company’s Regional Excellence in Safety Award. Chris Strickland, Safety Manager, (left) stands with Alejandro in the North Carolina location.
Cody Starling was presented the Regional Safety Excellence Award for his outstanding safety record as a driver as well as awareness and attention to safety details overall. According to Keith Burakowski, who nominated Mr. Starling, he always looks ahead to analyze the safety ‘pitfalls’ and does it in a relaxed and confident way, instilling the same in people around him. As a shining example of Gaines and Company’s safety culture, Foreman Burakowski adds that, “Cody has a great attitude overall, and towards creating a safe workplace. He always finds a way to do things more safely and encourages others to follow suit as he wears his own PPE without fail…” Cody, who has been with Gaines for two years, holds several safety certifications including the OSHA 10-HOUR, DOT Training, and Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Awareness. Dominic Pope, Safety Director, says; “Cody is ‘on point’ as a driver, receiving zero negative feedback…”
Regional Safety Excellence Award Winner, Alejandro Garcia, an underground utility pipelayer who has only been with Gaines and Company for a year, has shown remarkable progress and outstanding values around safety. According to Safety Manager Chris Strickland who nominated Mr. Garcia, he accomplishes projects in a safe manner while making sure his crewmembers—especially new hires—are also working safely. “He is an extremely positive worker, in safety and in overall attitude. He takes the time to coach others in safer work habits and is always smiling as he encourages his coworkers to work safer too,” says Strickland.
Both Mr. Starling and Mr. Garcia have received a winner’s certificate and $150.00 credit in “safety bucks” towards gear at the company e-store. There, they can purchase construction site oriented PPE including steel toed boots, high quality work gloves and various PPE. Or they may choose from Gaines and Company logoed items such as coolers and sporting caps. This is all part of an ongoing incentive program to keep safety at the top of the list throughout the year.
Gaines and Company is a full-service site development, underground utility, grading and excavation company with 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.
