The Safest in the West

“The most important part of DPR’s safety program isn’t in the statistics, it’s in the training and safety values instilled in each employee,” said Janet Howe of DPR. But, it was the statistics that allowed the DPR Phoenix office to be named by McGraw-Hill Southwest Contractor magazine as Safest Contractor in the Southwest and Safest Contractor in Arizona. With an Experience Modifier Rate (EMR) of .37, DPR was an easy choice for the top spot on the list; however, it is really the practices that DPR puts into place on each and every jobsite that truly sets it apart from other contractors. DPR’s web-based electronic jobsite safety audit system that feeds information into a database to identify real-time leading indicators allows DPR safety professionals to anticipate potential situations before they arise. In addition, DPR utilizes a project consistency audit scorecard that rates how well its safety plan is being implemented on each project. The scorecard creates accountability as project teams become invested and engaged in the safety of their project through friendly competition between DPR projects within a region.

DPR “Shares the Dream”

Children of all ages are now able to “splish splash” at the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Dieguito, CA, where DPR recently completed construction on the Barbara Harper Branch and Doug and Marianne Pardee Aquatics Center. The new pool and center were part of the first phase of a construction effort that will ultimately encompass a new computer lab, clubhouse, game room, homework room and a renovated gym. Once complete, the expanded facility is expected to serve more than 8,000 youths and also will play host to competitive swim meets and water polo matches. The project, which is being paid for by the ongoing “Share the Dream” campaign, is scheduled for completion in spring 2007.

Summer Sizzle

Record-breaking temperatures around the country have prompted all sorts of methods to stay cool: air conditioning, hitting the coast and jumping in swimming pools to name a few. According to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, the first seven months of this year were the hottest on record since 1934. For many workers who have to endure long hot days in the sun, beating the heat requires adequatehydration and UV protection, but DPR employees also use a little humor to withstand the scorching temperatures. At a southern California jobsite this July, temperatures literally reached egg-frying highs.