Al,

I wanted to share an interesting story with you.

While on a jobsite (SIP homes of course), I had a visit from the state home builders self insurance fund safety guy. He makes rounds ensuring that builders and contractors are following good safety practices. Fortunately we had proper safety gear, proper safety barriers, (railings etc.) and the jobsite was clean and orderly.  All was well until he asked to see my…  UH OH…  Written Safety Program… 

In a rare moment of thinking quick on my feet it hit me that, because the Panelpalooza event in Cancun and your class on safety policies and practices, I had a copy of the Safety Policy in my truck.  I showed it to the inspector and explained how we all met in Cancun. I also explained that several SIP builders were trying to bring the best elements of various policies into a single better policy that could be adopted as a standard. He read over it and was impressed. It satisfied him that I do in fact take steps to ensure a safe worksite for any who may work there or might visit.  He said he was glad to see that I take safety seriously. Having your safety policy on hand saved me from who knows what. In the end the final score was zero infractions and all is well. He commented that PanelStar Custom Homes was far ahead of the average contractor relating to safety policies and practices.  He was impressed that the SIP industry would take steps to create a set of safety practices good for the whole industry. We do something different so the average safety program may not apply to SIP builders.

Thank you for putting the class together in Cancun and for sharing the SIPschool Safety Policy. Turns out that it saved me some sort of fine. Better still, it gained PanelStar Custom Homes a little credibility in the local HBA Self Insurers Fund.  The meetings in Cancun were fun for sure. It turns out that it added tangible value to my business as well.

Regards,
John Stelmack
PanelStar Custom Homes
Salem, AL
www.panelstar.com
706-315-4300