SAFETY FIRST
Tinicum metal fabricator firm Ernest D. Menold snags state safety award
TINICUM >> Speciality metal fabricator Ernest D. Menold Inc. (EDM) was recognized with the the Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence Thursday.
The award was delivered to the Lester firm by state Deputy Labor Secretary Scott Weiant.
In business since 1947, EDM has 80 employees, 1520 in their shop, with most others performing on-site installations at industries as diverse as pharmaceutical labs to power generating plants.
“Labor & Industry is proud to recognize Ernest D. Menold Inc. today for its excellent safety records,” Scott Weiant said during a lunchtime presentation. “Safer workplaces not only result in reduced accidents and injuries for workers, but can also mean lower workers’ compensation costs for businesses.”
The company was singled out from among 80 applicants for the award. In August two representatives from the state Department of Labor & Industry visited the EDM shop, where they received a presentation on the companies’ safety numbers and how safety programs function, said Ernie P. Menold, EDM business development manager.
In 2018 the company had no recordable injuries during more than 153,000 manhours worked.
Menold said the safety success is all about culture and mentality, which is important with their employees operating in a variety of job sites, different work locations and with various companies that feature unique safety procedures, protocols, rules and regulations.
An example job site that EDM works on is a pharmaceutical factory where they build entire rooms clad in stainless steel and assembling ventilation systems. Another important part of their business is creating safety structures for powergenerating equipment that protects them from environmental exposure.
“We mostly do large commercial HVAC, and custom fabrication in stainless and aluminum,” said Menold. “Fabricating complex ventilation systems.”
Menold said the company’s safety success is all about culture and mentality.
“Safety is a company value,” Menold said. “It’s the mentality that carries through.”
One of the company’s unique safety practices is the “Two Minute Drill,” a palm-sized card used at job sites to remind employees to be aware of possible hazards and provide tips on how to mitigate those hazards. Another way they promote safety is to routinely review safety procedures as a group. At the weekly toolbox talk,employees will review equipment operations using various sources such as the equipment manufacturer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association.
Menold said the company does everything they can to give employees the safest tools. When an employee cut his hand with a with a power saw, they had a post-injury investigation that found that there was no second safety switch on the tool. The company went back to the manufacturer and were able to have one installed.
Among the dignitaries on hand for the presentation was state Sen. Tim Kearney, D-26 of Swarthmore, and state Rep. Dave Delloso,
D-162 of Ridley, and Luke Gordon, business agent for Sheet Metals Union Local
19, who all congratulated the company on their safety success.
“Making Pennsylvania’s workplaces safer requires a commitment from employers and employees alike, and workplace safety committees are a valuable tool in that effort,” Weiant said. “It’s a win-win, as companies with a certified committee also receive a 5 percent discount on their workers’ comp insurance premiums.”
“The Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence is recognition of the many years of effort everyone has invested at Ernest D. Menold Inc. to building a safe work environment for ourselves and our customers.,” said EDM President Ernest J. Menold. “We have built a company culture around safety; where we emphasize that it is a company value, not just a priority on our job sites. We strive for continual improvement of our safety program, and we are proud to accept this award from the Commonwealth. Thank you.”