Safety Starts with Me
“Safety Starts with Me”
At Shirley Contracting Company, LLC, safety is our premier core value and has been since our company’s inception over 50 years ago. We take our strategic safety initiatives seriously to ensure the highest level of safety for every member of our team, our vendors, subcontractors, consultants, clients and the general public who travel through our projects. To further demonstrate our commitment, we offer a supportive work environment for everyone. We always strive to have ZERO incidents on all of our jobs. Our robust safety program enables us to meet our project objectives while maintaining the highest safety standards for all.
Our company motto “Safety Starts with Me” is printed on the back of our safety vests to demonstrate and promote our pledge to safety. Our policy of “if you see something, say something”, equips every team member the means to report any safety violations or unsafe behaviors they may observe on any Shirley jobsite.
Professional Training & Development Opportunities
Shirley offers extensive year-round continuing education and training opportunities for our employees. Training is the backbone to our company’s core values and mission. It is also critically essential to our safety strategy. Our training program is geared for the professional development of each employee and individualized training per the needs or requirements of each role and/or position within the company. We offer courses in a variety of job-related topics, such as:
- Basic Orientation is provided for all Shirley employees
- ATSSA Flagger Certification
- First Aid / CPR / AED Certification
- Excavations Competent Person Certification
- Confined Space Competent Person Certification
- Responsible Land Disturber
- VDOT Erosion & Sediment Control Contractor Certification
- Defensive Driving
- OSHA 10 for Construction
- OSHA 30 for Construction for all supervisors
- VDOT Basic Traffic Control
- VDOT Int Traffic Control Supervisor
- Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) for OSHA Aerial and Scissor Lift Certification as Required under OSHA 29 CFR 1926/1910
- Task-specific training sessions are conducted throughout the year.
- Various computer and software training and more…
We have a full-time Director of Training and Development allowing us to track each individual employee’s professional development, certifications and expirations, and schedules necessary training as required.
How We Communicate
Our Safety Initiatives include:
- Safety Manual: Shirley’s safety manual provides guidelines, standards and procedures for various safety related tasks that we face in the workplace and is required to be followed by all employees.
- Site Safety Audits: Safety Managers and project team members conduct regular site safety audits, fostering cross-departmental collaboration
- PPE Requirements: Shirley’s detailed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards are outlined in our Safety Manual. Each employee is provided the PPE necessary to safely conduct their job.
- Our fleet vehicles and equipment have the latest safety features to aid employees in the execution of their work.
- Company Safety Committee: A committee with representatives from all departments meets monthly to promote comprehensive safety oversight.
- Safety Recognition Awards: Shirley has a recognition program to award safe jobsite behaviors, such as safe drivers, safe superintendent, etc. to empower employees to strive to be the best and be rewarded for always setting a good example of their safe practices.
- Leadership Engagement: Regular interactions between leadership and employees occur on-site to discuss safety improvements and act on feedback.
“By becoming a member of the Shirley Contracting Company Team, you have agreed to adopt our most important Core Value:
Safety…. Each of us has the responsibility to ourselves, our families, our coworkers, our customers, and the public to ensure that an accident-free environment is our way of life – regardless of cost.”
Just as the Safety slogan currently on the back of every Shirley Contracting safety vest states, “Safety Starts With Me”…every employee plays a vital role in the Safety Culture throughout the organization. People are truly our most important asset, so therefore the importance of safety for our employees to go home in the same capacity as they arrived is paramount.
“I choose to work for Shirley because of the safety standard. This is what makes it different from any other construction jobs I’ve had.”
– Dashon Latta (Vacuum Truck Operator)
