National Guardrail Safety Week Launched by Builders Mutual
Jodi Vedelli
919-227-0295
jvedelli@bmico.com
Raleigh, NC – The inaugural observance of national Guardrail Safety Week was launched October 19-23, 2020. Builders Mutual Insurance Company, a leading writer of commercial insurance for the construction industry in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, joined forces with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Job-Site Safety Institute (JSI) and Safety Maker to launch the initiative. Our collective intent is to raise awareness of the importance of guardrails and to promote consistent use on job-sites to save lives and send more people – both workers and job-site visitors – home at the end of the day.
Construction means progress—new structures, offices, and homes reflect a thriving economy and community growth. But with 1 in 10 construction workers injured annually, we must all take action to keep the construction industry safe and help protect those on the job-site – both workers and visitors. Proper installation of guardrails takes only a few minutes, yet it can be the difference between life and death. When we spread the word about guardrail safety and the preventative impact of proper guardrail use, the statistics will change.
This year’s virtual campaign focused on partnerships and awareness with Builders Mutual providing content through an email campaign, multiple daily social media posts and the broadcast of a video podcast via Facebook live. The company shared original blog articles, training resources and videos on their social channels that could be shared by followers and used on job-sites to educate employees and visitors about the importance of guardrail safety. The live production of their Building Progress podcast featured two industry experts, Brad Hammock, an attorney with Littler Mendelson in Washington, DC, and Josh Hollingsworth, safety manager with Buchanan Construction in Asheville, NC, who discussed the importance of guardrail safety as it relates to risk, liability and job-site accountability.
Additionally, eight construction companies were recognized as leaders in guardrail safety. These companies go above and beyond each day to promote guardrail safety through education and ensuring that guardrails are installed and reinstalled when necessary on their job-sites.
- J. Wells Roofing, FL
- Buchanan Construction, NC
- H&H Homes, NC
- Kirkwood Builders, NC
- Stanley Martin Homes, SC
- Beck Roofing, VA
- Ducks Roofing, VA
- GEM Building Corporation, VA
“Proper guardrail installation, use and safety is a topic of great importance to Builders Mutual. We are proud to team up with NAHB, JSI and SafetyMaker to launch Guardrail Safety Week and further our ‘Put Your Guard Up’ campaign. Builders Mutual will continue to advocate for and encourage preventative measures to ensure every job-site is safe,” said, Mike Gerber, SVP/Chief Operating Officer with Builders Mutual. “Guardrails are one of the proven ways to prevent falls and fall-related injuries, and they should never be overlooked or undervalued.”
Mark your calendars now for October 18-22, 2021 to celebrate the second annual Guardrail Safety Week. Join us in changing the safety culture and remember to Put Your Guard Up. #guardrailsprotecteveryone #guardrailsafetyweek
About Builders Mutual: Headquartered in North Carolina, Builders Mutual is one of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast’s leading writers of commercial insurance for the construction industry. Since its inception, Builders Mutual has broadened its territory beyond North Carolina to include the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The company provides coverage to more than 26,000 policyholders through more than 5,000 sales agents and employs more than 370 staff at its Raleigh headquarters.