Loven Contracting
Construction
Flagstaff, AZ
51 Employees | 1 Domestic Site | 3 EHS Professionals
Loven Contracting is a small shop, but they don’t use that as an excuse to skimp on safety. The construction company has three safety employees, one of whom is a doctor.
“That’s a significant investment for a small business,” says President Jon Hansen. “Having an MD on staff enabled us to quickly adapt and maintain high levels of safety for our employees during the COVID-19 pandemic in an industry where most employees do not have the ability to telecommute.”
In addition to investing in EHS staffing, the company is also serious about training. Six employees are currently taking OSHA’s Construction Safety courses. When they finish, 47 employees (92%) will have completed the 10- or 30- hour training.
It’s part of Loven Contracting’s commitment to go above-and beyond for safety, as evidenced by their Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star rating. Loven is one of six general contractors in Arizona to have attained VPP status, and the company has been recertified three times.
Beyond a companywide safety program, Loven has developed a job- and site-specific hazard analysis program that considers the unique nature of each project. The company uses every opportunity to educate on safe practices, including during weekly safety meetings where they show photos of each near miss recorded and then discuss proactive risk prevention techniques. And the company make it clear it expects everyone to conduct safe work.
“Safety is a priority not only of our company's leadership but of every department and member of our team,” Hansen says. “We empower and encourage every employee and subcontractor working on a Loven Contracting project to be an integral part of our safety culture and a safety leader.
“Part of that effort involves an open-door policy. Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we promise everyone our job sites that we’re here to listen to and act on any safety concerns or areas in which we can improve. We involve employees at all levels of our company in our safety initiatives and any employee may bring any safety concerns or suggestions to the safety team or the company president directly.”
Hansen says another critical partnership that helps the company maintain the highest levels of safety is its affiliation with the Southwestern Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters.
“We leverage all of the council's training and safety resources, including apprenticeship and journeyman training, to elevate our job site safety,” Hansen says. “We owe each and every one of our employees and trade partners a safe working environment. At Loven Contracting, safety isn’t just the right thing, it’s everything.”