Article Number : 2222 |
|
Article Detail |
|
 | |
| Date | 8/15/2007 8:39:10 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=2222 |
| Abstract | Jackson, Miss.—The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) Contractor Safety Program has received a full sponsorship by Mapei. Rainer Blair, president and CEO of Mapei America, noted NTCA’s program underscores safety, one of the manufacturer’s key issues for the industry... |
| Article | Jackson, Miss.—The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) Contractor Safety Program has received a full sponsorship by Mapei. Rainer Blair, president and CEO of Mapei America, noted NTCA’s program underscores safety, one of the manufacturer’s key issues for the industry. “Mapei’s commitment to safety starts within our own company and extends to those contractors and installers who use our products. We feel the sponsorship of this program is a concrete way to show just how much we value a safe working environment.” Launched May 1, 2006, the Contractor Safety Program was developed by NTCA in cooperation with Jim Isaminger of D.M.I. Tile & Marble in Birmingham, Ala., and was created to meet the specific needs of tile contractors. Isaminger successfully introduced the Contractor Safety Program at his company and worked with the NTCA to provide the components of the agenda to other tile and stone installation contractors. He sought to develop a plan to reduce tile setter injuries, missed days from work and worker compensation spending, which the Center to Protect Workers’ Rights estimated is 2.5 times the average amount spent by all industries and approximately 5.17% of payroll. “Implementing our Contractor Safety Program 10 years ago led to an annual reduction in our worker’s compensation EMR rate; for 2007 our EMR is .67,” he said. “The resulting savings in worker’s comp insurance premiums has directly increased our net profit. In addition, productivity has remained at peak levels as we have not incurred lost work days due to careless accidents, and our employees have benefited from having a safe work environment.” Annual renewal The NTCA Contractor Safety Program is an annual subscription and available to NTCA members at a reduced rate. It includes the following features and benefits: Twelve monthly safety topics, worker safety policy, safety committee recommendations, drug-free workplace policy outline, safety violation policy, interview and tickets, what to do in case of accident or injury, and safety awards and a subscription to OSHA’s quarterly newsletter e-mailed to contractors, which includes new jobsite safety tips. In addition to the first-year subscription and all that comes with it, NTCA will offer a second year, reduced-cost subscription that will include 12 new safety topics for monthly meetings, two supplemental issues for personal or home safety concerns, safety award certificates and hard hat slickers and the OSHA quarterly newsletter. “This program should be considered by contractors for two important reasons,” said Bart Bettiga, executive director of the NTCA, “First, as an employer, it is the contractor’s responsibility to create a safe, accident-free environment. Second, if he accomplishes this, the odds are his workers’ compensation costs, over a period of time, will decrease.” For more information on the NTCA Contractor Safety Program, call 601.939.2071. |