DBM Contractors, Inc. (DBM) has hired Jeff Wharton as safety director to replace Bob Birdsall who is retiring after 40 years of employment with DBM.

Wharton brings 13 years of experience in safety management to his position as well as a long history of field experience in construction. He earned his bachelor of science degree in Safety and Health Management from Central Washington University and completed an internship with Sellen Construction. In addition to working with drilling and shoring he has worked in safety management for heavy civil construction, structural steel erection and general contracting.

As safety director, Wharton’s primary role is to plan, develop, implement and supervise DBM’s corporate safety, health and environmental protection functions. “Our goal is to ensure that all of our workers and project partners go home safely at the end of each work day,” said Wharton. As part of his on going education, he participates in industry advancement seminars and is becoming active in The International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC)..

Safety First

DBM Contractors, Inc. recognizes the importance of a comprehensive safety program to the continued health and well being of both its work force and its bottom line. While the contribution to the bottom line can easily be measured in terms of lost time, insurance premiums and pay-out, the contribution to the health and well being of DBM employees is far more important and much more difficult to measure. The greatest successes of a functional safety program are those things that do not happen: the eye that is not lost and the arm that is not broken.

Moreover, it is our experience that safety is not a policy or a program, but rather is an attitude, and a reflection of an overall willingness to think globally and act locally. The management is extremely gratified to think that such a “corporate attitude” can extend to the personal lives of the team members.

It has been our experience at DBM that safety cannot be the responsibility of one individual, but rather is the collective responsibility of all team members. Accordingly DBM has formed a Safety Committee comprised of those listed below. The following page(s) will familiarize all DBM team members with the objectives of the committee, as well as the responsibilities of the committee.

The management of DBM is always anxious to listen to any comments, criticisms or suggestions from any DBM personnel regarding the dangers inherent in our type of work, or ways to make doing the job a bit safer. All employees are asked to pass all such observations, ideas, suggestions or concerns to anyone on the Safety Committee. Employees may do this by attending the monthly Safety Committee meeting, or by contacting members directly.

Jeff Wharton
DBM Safety Director