Gribbins Insulation

Safety

CSIA Platinum Level Safety Recognition Award

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Safety in the workplace has become an increasingly significant focus for organizations worldwide. In recognition of this paramount importance, the Central States Insulation Association (CSIA) developed the Best Practices in Safety Recognition Program. This program aims to underscore the significance of safety and aid member companies in enhancing their safety programs and practices. Gribbins Insulation, a prominent player in the insulation industry, has recently achieved the prestigious Platinum Level recognition in this esteemed program.

A Program Designed for Improvement:

The CSIA Board of Directors, in collaboration with legal counsel Gary Auman of Auman, Mahan & Furry, meticulously developed the application questions for the program. The applications are evaluated anonymously by legal counsel, ensuring impartiality and fairness. Moreover, each applicant receives a comprehensive written critique of their safety program, enabling them to understand their strengths and areas that need improvement.

Grading and Recognition Levels:

To ascertain the level of safety excellence achieved by each participant, the application questions are graded on a scale of 0 to 10 points. The total score is then calculated and converted into a percentage. Based on these percentages, the CSIA program recognizes companies at different levels. Gribbins Insulation’s remarkable achievement of scoring between 94 and 100 percent secured them the prestigious Platinum Level recognition.

Continuous Improvement and Feedback:

After receiving the award, Gary Auman provides each participant with a detailed, multi-page letter explaining the rationale behind their score. This comprehensive feedback serves as a valuable tool for ongoing safety program improvement. The program’s primary goal is to encourage self-improvement, enabling companies to build upon their successes year after year. Gribbins Insulation, like other participants, is urged to implement as many of the suggestions outlined in the letter as possible to enhance their safety practices further.

Commitment to Excellence:

Gribbins Insulation’s attainment of the Platinum Level recognition underscores their unwavering commitment to safety. This achievement demonstrates their dedication to creating a safe working environment for their employees and highlights their exceptional safety programs and practices.

Building on Success:

The CSIA Best Practices in Safety Recognition Program is designed to foster a culture of continuous improvement. Participants are encouraged to apply again in subsequent years, ensuring the progressive development of their safety programs. Gribbins Insulation’s Platinum Level recognition serves as an inspiration for them to continue refining their safety practices, setting higher benchmarks, and sharing their expertise with the industry.

Conclusion:

Gribbins Insulation’s exemplary accomplishment of winning the CSIA Best Practices in Safety Recognition Program Award at the Platinum Level demonstrates their relentless pursuit of safety excellence. Through their dedication, commitment, and continuous improvement efforts, they have set a remarkable example for the insulation industry. As safety continues to take center stage in workplaces, Gribbins Insulation’s success serves as a testament to the importance of prioritizing and investing in robust safety programs and practices.

Gribbins Insulation Receives Zero Injury Safety Award

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Safety in the workplace is a paramount concern for any organization, and achieving an exemplary safety record is a testament to a company’s commitment to its employees. On October 20th, 2022, Gribbins Insulation received the 22nd Annual Zero Injury Safety Award from the National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee, Inc. Our Calvert City plant (116,690 work hours) and Robinson plant (85,688 work hours) were both honored with this 2021 award. This prestigious recognition highlights Gribbins Insulation’s dedication to maintaining a culture of safety and ensuring the well-being of its workforce. Let’s delve into the significance of this award and explore what sets Gribbins Insulation apart as a safety-driven company.

Promoting a Culture of Safety:

Gribbins Insulation’s accomplishment in winning the Zero Injury Safety Award reflects the company’s unwavering focus on safety throughout its operations. From top-level management to every employee, safety is ingrained in the company’s culture. By fostering a proactive safety mindset, Gribbins Insulation has created an environment where employees are empowered to prioritize safety in their daily tasks.

Implementing Best Practices:

The journey to achieving a commendable safety record involves the adoption of industry best practices and the continuous improvement of safety protocols. Gribbins Insulation has implemented comprehensive safety programs that adhere to rigorous standards, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and guidelines. By regularly updating and enhancing their safety measures, the company demonstrates its commitment to staying ahead of emerging safety challenges.

Employee Training and Engagement:

Gribbins Insulation recognizes that safety is a collective responsibility, and thus, employee training and engagement play vital roles in maintaining a safe work environment. The company invests significantly in training programs, providing employees with the necessary knowledge and skills to identify potential hazards and mitigate risks effectively. By fostering a culture of open communication, Gribbins Insulation encourages its employees to actively participate in safety initiatives, promoting a sense of ownership and accountability.

Embracing Technology:

Innovation plays a significant role in enhancing workplace safety, and Gribbins Insulation embraces technology as a tool to further improve their safety performance. The company has leveraged advanced systems and equipment to enhance safety protocols, streamline processes, and reduce the likelihood of incidents. From implementing digital safety reporting systems to utilizing cutting-edge safety equipment, Gribbins Insulation stays at the forefront of safety technology adoption.

Collaborative Approach:

Gribbins Insulation’s commitment to safety extends beyond its own organization. The company actively collaborates with industry partners, regulatory bodies, and professional associations to exchange knowledge and best practices. By sharing insights and experiences, Gribbins Insulation contributes to the broader industry’s safety advancement and fosters a culture of collective responsibility.

Conclusion:

Gribbins Insulation’s recognition as the recipient of the 23rd Annual Zero Injury Safety Award by the National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee, Inc. underscores their exceptional dedication to safety. Through a robust safety culture, the implementation of best practices, ongoing employee training, and the embrace of technology, Gribbins Insulation has achieved an outstanding safety record that sets them apart in the industry. This well-deserved accolade not only showcases their commitment to the well-being of their workforce but also serves as an inspiration for other organizations striving for excellence in workplace safety. Gribbins Insulation’s achievement stands as a shining example of what can be accomplished when safety takes center stage in an organization’s values and operations.

Link: Zero Injury Safety Awards | NMAPC

Toolbox Talk – Manual Lifting WE 09/03/2022

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Some jobs involve a lot of manual lifting.

  • Back, neck, and shoulder injuries are common.
  • Manual lifting in cramped or awkward conditions increases the risk of injury.

Identify controls

Avoid lifting above shoulder height. This causes your back to arch and puts a lot of stress on your shoulder and on the small joints in your spine. Don’t try to catch falling objects. Your muscles may not have time to coordinate properly to protect your spine. Push rather than pull. Pushing lets you maintain the normal curves in your back and puts less stress on the spine. Safe lifting starts with planning.

  • Size up the load.
  • Make sure the path is clear.
  • Get help if you need it.
  • Use a dolly or other materials handling
  • equipment whenever you can.

Detailed Explanation:

  • Get as close to the load as possible. This is very important. Our lifting capacity is reduced the further away we are from the load.
  • Put yourself in the best possible position for the lift. Try to avoid twisting from the waist, reaching out, and leaning over material or equipment when you lift.
  • Use a well-balanced stance with one foot slightly ahead of the other.
  • Tighten your stomach muscles as you start to lift.
  • Keep your lower back in its normal curved position and use your legs to lift.
  • Pick up your feet and pivot to turn. Don’t twist your back.
  •  Lower the load. Maintain the curve in your lower back. You can hurt your back just as easily lowering a load as lifting it.

Two-person lift

Partners should be roughly the same height. Before the lift, both partners should agree on:

  • The type of lift (waist-high, shoulder-high, etc.)
  • Who will take charge?
  • How they will lower the load.
  • What direction they will be traveling.

 

Toolbox Talk – Fire Protection 08/27/2022

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As you may know, fires are very costly, especially in the construction industry. Fires are usually not caused by an accident but are caused by overlooking potential hazards in the work area that can contribute to a fire. We can all do our part by observing and obeying the rules and regulations to prevent fires. Below are general rules and good practices to prevent fires on the jobsite:

 

  • Good housekeeping
  • Disposing of paper trash, cardboard, and similar combustible materials in appropriate trash bins, and removing these items throughout the work day.
  • Dispose flammable liquids (oils, gases, etc.) in approved containers. This includes rags that have oil, grease, or other flammable contents on them.
  • Proper storage of aerosol cans and flammable liquids in flammable cabinets when not in use.
  • Flames and Sparks
  • Only use flame or spark producing tools in a designated area. These tasks usually required additional approval or permits from safety or management.
  • Fire resistant shields and clothing, spark shields, and fire watches should be used when appropriate.
  • Smoking
  • Smoking is only allowed in designated areas. Smoking is prohibited inside of any building.

Three ingredients are needed to produce a fire, which is also known as the fire triangle.

  1. Heat– This can come from many sources such as welding, grinders, cigarette butts, or equipment being used to perform work.
  2. FUEL–This can be a liquid such as gas, or a solid such as cardboard.
  3. AIR– A critical source which we all depend on is oxygen, which is necessary to sustain a fire. One side of the triangle we cannot do much about.

When you know the ingredients to make a fire, it makes it easier to prevent and control a fire. When you find these three ingredients in the work environment, take action, a fire could be in the making.

Eliminating one of these three items can prevent or extinguish the fire.

 

Toolbox Talk – Waste Hazardous/Non-Hazardous WE 08/13/2022

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Waste Prevention

  • Even better than recycling are the efforts to prevent waste at the source. Some of our efforts include:
  • Reuse wooden pallets
  • Eliminate disposable cups for water and coffee
  • Customers and vendors are encouraged to use email.
  • Directive from executive management to limit printing and use email for all written communication.
  • Utilizing Harness to perform safety documentation electronically.

Non-Hazardous Waste

  • Non-Hazardous waste shall be disposed of at frequent regular intervals in designated disposal areas. Work areas shall maintain good housekeeping throughout all jobs.

Hazardous Waste

  • Hazardous waste must be disposed of in accordance with federal, state and local regulations. Examples of hazardous waste include oils, fuel, paints and solvents, aerosol cans, etc. Other examples include lead and asbestos, in this instance the owner will be responsible for directing waste disposal. All hazardous waste must be handled by trained employees with appropriate PPE and precaution.

Storage

There are special precautions that must be in place for storage of fuel, oils or other hazardous waste. These precautions include:

  • A containment area or container that will contain 110 percent of largest container in the storage area.
  • Must be located away from drains.
  • Elevate off of the ground.
  • Labeled appropriately.
  • All containers must remain closed and be in good condition.

Labeling

  • Containers holding hazardous waste must be labeled with the contents of the container, type of hazard and EPA hazardous waste number.
  • Secondary containers are usually smaller containers, such as spray bottles, jugs, glue guns, or jars that chemicals are transferred to from the primary container once within the workplace.
  • Secondary containers must include at minimum, the full name of chemical, the hazard, the date transferred and expiration date.

 

Toolbox Talk – Injury-Free WE 08/06/2022

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What Injury-Free is NOT:

  • It is not the same as zero injuries
  • It is not a goal, but rather a value
  • It is not a guarantee
  • It is not a prescription
  • It is not the elimination of all risk

What Injury-Free IS:

  • It is about caring for one another, and demonstrating that care on a daily basis.
  • It is about all workers going home safely everyday.
  • It is about a mindset intolerant of any level of injury.
  • Taking responsibility for your own safety and those that work with you and around you.
  • Being proactive and asking questions, such as what is the most dangerous thing that can happen to me while performing this task, and how can I mitigate this risk.
  • Having a positive attitude of choosing to follow the safety rules and procedures.
  • Speaking up and expressing your concern when you see something unsafe.

What our leaders should expect from us!

  • If a task is not safe, do not perform the task or letter other employees perform the task.
  • Speak up immediately if you see something unsafe. Have a voice!
  • If you are unsure of something (gut feeling), stop work and speak up.

What we should expect from our leaders!

  • Support, when someone does “stop work” or speak up.
  • When a safety concern is brought to our attention, it should be addressed, corrected, mitigate, or communicated further up to management or customer.
  • If an injury occurs, it will be investigated in such a way to not blame the injured.

Personal Challenges

  • Individual commitment to safety, and intervene
  • Preventing injury or loss
  • Ignore it and we condone it
  • Lead by example
  • Learn from experience
  • Support each other
  • Drive the organization towards World Class Safety!

 

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