Safety & Certification
When Homer Tree Service shows up on your job site, you can be sure you will receive safe, reliable and quality service, at a competitive rate. You will be supplied with a skilled union operator on equipment that has been meticulously inspected and maintained.
At Homer Tree Service, we put Safety first. From the CEO to employees at every job site, safety awareness is an integral component in any endeavor we undertake. Staff members and service partners share a willingness to uphold high safety standards, which helps us provide the safest and healthiest work environment possible. Our insurance experience modifier rate (EMR) has historically been well below the national average and is indicative of our commitment to safety and health in everything we do. This lower EMR allows us a bidding advantage and represents a cost-savings to our clients.
Safety Objectives
- Promoting the safety and well-being of each employee and his/her family.
- Encouraging recommendations for improvements to safety throughout the company and each project.
- Establishing individual responsibility for the safety program on each project that reaches all levels, including the workforce.
Our project managers and superintendents are the leaders of our safety team. They are responsible for accident prevention and reduction of on-the-job injuries. We believe that success in accident reduction lies in planning ahead. We make every effort to cultivate a positive safety attitude at every level. Homer Tree Service’s Safety Program is designed for active participation by the entire project team.
Key Elements of our Safety Program
- Involvement of crew.
- Belief that a safe job is a productive job.
- Use of a full-time Safety Educator to assist the project team.
- Company safety and health manual.
- Drug and alcohol testing program.
- Safety recognition program (Project Superintendent, Field Superintendent, and Foreman levels).
- Supervisor, foreman, and employee training programs
- First Aid
- CPR
- OSHA 10/30-Hour
- Three Rivers
- E-Rail Safe
- Hazwoper
- Contractor Orientation
- New-employee orientation and training.
- Accident and injury reporting system with follow-up corrective measures.
- Jobsite Hazard Analysis (JHA) for all major work phases.
- Site-specific Safety, Health, Injury and Illness Prevention Program.
Reinforcement of Safety
- Frequent safety evaluations of jobs by our Management Team members.
- Documented, weekly tool-box safety meetings.
- Daily pre-work safety meetings to cover the work tasks, associated hazards, work procedures, equipment, and required PPE.
- Safety training provided applicable to the project scope of work.
- Work plans that incorporate safety training and planning.
- Safety Violation/Misconduct Enforcement Program.
- Company-wide project safety award program.
- Extensive use of OSHA Consulting Services to strengthen project safety and health programs.
- Partnering and coordination with the client for job-wide safety and health efforts.
HAZWOPER
The Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER) applies to five distinct groups of employers and their employees. This includes any employees who are exposed or potentially exposed to hazardous substances — including hazardous waste — and who are engaged in one of the following operations.
- clean-up operations — required by a governmental body, whether federal, state, local, or other involving hazardous substances — that are conducted at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites;
- corrective actions involving clean-up operations at sites covered by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) as amended (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.);
- voluntary clean-up operations at sites recognized by federal, state, local, or other governmental body as uncontrolled hazardous waste sites;
- operations involving hazardous wastes that are conducted at treatment, storage, and disposal facilities regulated by Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 264 and 265 pursuant to RCRA, or by agencies under agreement with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement RCRA regulations; and
- emergency response operations for releases of, or substantial threats of releases of, hazardous substances regardless of the location of the hazard.
MSHA
The mission of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is to administer the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) and to enforce compliance with mandatory safety and health standards as a means to eliminate fatal accidents; to reduce the frequency and severity of nonfatal accidents; to minimize health hazards; and to promote improved safety and health conditions in the Nation’s mines. MSHA carries out the mandates of the Mine Act at all mining and mineral processing operations in the United States, regardless of size, number of employees, commodity mined, or method of extraction.
e-RAILSAFE
e-RAILSAFE is the premier Workforce Safety and Security Management program for Class 1 Railroads and the businesses that serve them.
The purpose of the program is to improve the security of railroad employees, operations and facilities. As part of these efforts, designated railroad contractors, vendors and suppliers are required to comply with the program which includes:
- Personnel Screening*
Contractor/Vendor Personnel are required to submit to background investigations. - Compliance Awareness & Testing
Contractor/Vendor Personnel must complete required safety and security awareness tests. - Workplace Credentialing
Contractor/Vendor Personnel are required to wear e-RAILSAFE ID Badges when on railroad property. Badges are issued upon successful completion of background investigation and compliance testing*.
OSHA 10-hour Const.
This training course teaches recognition, avoidance, abatement and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces. This program also provides information regarding workers’ rights, employer responsibilities and how to file a complaint. It was also designed to help individuals stay up-to-date with their OSHA safety requirements.
Course Topics
- Introduction to OSHA
- Contractor’s Safety and Health Program
- Reporting and Record Keeping
- Electrical Hazards
- Fall Protection
- Materials Handling
- Cranes and Rigging
- Motorized Mobile Platforms
- The Competent Person
- Excavations
- Work Zone Traffic Control
- Forklift Hazards
Three Rivers Manufacturers’ Association
Three Rivers Manufacturers’ Association provides quality safety and health training to all contractors and industry personnel. An Advisory Committee, comprised of safety professionals, maintenance supervisors, contractor coordinators and training professionals, monitors the quality of training, ensures continuous improvement and provides input on the daily operations of TRSC.