Safety at Steigerwaldt: National Safety Month
Happy June All!
Did you know June is National Safety Month? All forms of safety are important and should not just be taken seriously during the month of June but during all months of the year. This month, we will talk about how Steigerwaldt does just that!
Safety is a topic taken seriously here at Steigerwaldt, and we try our best every day to find new ways to improve our daily safety.
Each day, when we head to the field, we fill out safety awareness forms that are divided into each department so each supervisor can know where their field staff are, what equipment they are using, and what the dangers of the project are for that given day such as heat, cold, snow, wind, waterways, and so on. Another form of safety we perform daily while in the field is checking in with our supervisor at the end of the day via phone call, text message, or a message over an inReach. It is up to both the field staff and the supervisor to make sure they connect before relaxing at the end of the day.
One of the biggest threats to our safety as field staff is Mother Nature herself. During the course of the year, our team will get caught up in all types of weather such as snowstorms, arctic blasts, heat waves, windstorms, hail, downpours, flooding, and even tornados. Due to such types of weather, Steigerwaldt field staff need to be flexible and excellent planners to make sure we meet client deadlines and stand by our purpose of “quality work fast with honesty and integrity” and still remain safe. This leads us to have an honest relationship with our clients so they can better understand what it takes for us to successfully complete their projects in a safe manner.
When unideal weather does happen, such as the potential for tornados or a record-setting hot/cold spell, we will change our daily plans to help avoid hazards. When hazards find us in the field, such as lightning, the field staff will leave the forest and will return to their truck. In an event such as a windy day, it is recommended to wear safety gear such as safety lenses and a helmet while in the forest.
At the end of the day, it is always important to make sure everyone has made it home; even on perfect days, bad things can still happen.
For more information on employee safety, please visit: www.wisafetycouncil.org
– Nate Loeffler, Forester
