Staples Recognizes National Safety Month

As June was National Safety Month, Staples Construction reflects on the unique aspects of safety within the field of construction and jobsite preparedness. Safety is vital to our profession as there are multitudes of hazards that can occur on jobsites. In interviewing James Soliz, Safety Manager at Staples, the attentiveness and understanding of safety at Staples is evident. James’s experience in the military medical field and his previous background in the fast-paced retail industry curates a unique perspective on the regulation of safety practices at the company that he uses to influence situations and people in a creative way.

In asking James to elaborate on the importance of safety, he quotes, “safety doesn’t happen by accident, it’s in our culture”. Safety is fundamental to the way Staples views and manages work on and off a jobsite. To embody this idea, he makes a comparison of a jobsite’s safety to the cleanliness of Disneyland. The cleanliness and detail of Disney parks are maintained by way of the company culture, rather than accordance to a passive checklist. Safety is embodied in the culture of a Staples Construction jobsite in the same way through consistent awareness, habit, and forethought of safety practices before, during, and after a work shift. As James says, “keep your head on a swivel”.

Staples exceeds jobsite safety by prioritizing it in partnership with multiple company departments and individuals. It is not uncommon in construction companies for a project manager, superintendent or even the owner to act as a safety manager, but the predominant focus is often on the actual project construction and schedule management. At Staples, there is a true commitment from all stakeholders to the adherence and management of safety with the dedication of time and resources to ensure a safe environment is maintained.  All of this is done in collaboration with and under the guidance of James to ensure a strategic approach.

Staples has safety-focused practices for superintendents on site, including maintaining their certification in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and automated external defibrillator (AED). Additionally, James conducts two audits per month at each jobsite to regulate and ensure safety regulation compliance. Often Staples doesn’t just comply with a regulation, but enforces its own, more stringent arrangement. History has shown that falls are the most common cause of serious injury in construction, making up 35% of all construction accidents. The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) originally  enforced a “trigger height” for a potential injury on a jobsite at 10 feet, meaning fall protection, such as hard hats, harnesses, and lanyards, must be used for any work 10 feet above a solid surface. This requirement was later reduced to 6 feet. At Staples, fall protection has always been regulated at 6 feet, often even lower. Through enforcing a reduced fall protection height, in addition to many other regulations that anyone on site, including our subcontractor community, is expected to maintain, Staples shows an attentiveness to preventing safety hazards and active problem-solving. James reiterates that at Staples, it is evident “the company really believes in safety, from the moment you walk in”. He says, “we take it to the next level to make sure we are a safer company.”

The celebration of National Safety Month this past month spotlights Staples Construction’s continual and excelling dedication to safety endeavors. The safety culture of each jobsite is embedded in the way work is practiced and regarded and James makes it evident that the core principles of Staples Construction shine through its practices of work and safety every day.