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Dakota Ready Mix
The Company
In a town with 90,000 people and four ready mix companies, DRM must compete for both jobs and qualified, skilled employees. Dedication to safety is a key differentiator for DRM, but one that presents a number of challenges related to training.
The Challenge
Weather is a factor in the concrete business and particularly in the Dakotas, where winter alone can often last more than 6 months. Therefore, the work must be done when the weather cooperates, leaving very little time for regularly scheduled safety training sessions. Scheduled classroom safety training can often interrupt jobs and be viewed as an inconvenience to managers and employees. Turn-over is a major problem in the concrete business. Spending hours, and even days, in training new employees only to find out that they don't stick it out can be very costly. As new employees join the organization, finding the time for training can also be difficult - especially during the peak season.
Bad attitudes toward computers and computer-based education are also a challenge. Some of DRM's employees have in the past shown a negative attitude toward computers and computer-based education was not a welcome subject.
The Solution
In the spring of 2002, DRM started using PureSafety's Enterprise solution to deliver and track its employee safety training. DRM also customized its course library to provide a more localized feel for its 70 employees.
The Results
Since DRM implemented PureSafety in the spring of 2002, the results have been very positive. DRM set up a computer lab equipped with 6 computers with high-speed Internet connections so that employees could conveniently access training from the corporate office. Each employee was provided basic computer and Internet training to demonstrate that computers are easy to use.
Employee Satisfaction & Utilization
Cory Birrenkott, DRM's Safety Director, recalls dealing with a retired Marine employee who was frustrated with the thought of taking his safety training online. He thought that "computers were stupid." After some initial hands-on training on the basics of computing and discovering how easy PureSafety is to access and use, that same employee is typically the first person to get his training done each month. Overall, employee response to PureSafety training has also been positive. Training is now being completed during traditional periods of non-productivity, such as rainy days. Employees are not eligible for any applicable bonuses if training is incomplete, and some employees are even asking for more training because they see the value it brings to their day-to-day jobs.
Safety Program Management
In addition to delivering traditional online safety courses from PureSafety, DRM is also using the PureSafety LMS to track routine facility inspection activities such as fire extinguisher checks and respirator checks/cleaning. These types of activities are assigned as an off-line event in the PureSafety LMS and then marked complete by the Safety Director when finished. DRM is currently working with PureSafety on a new hire orientation course that will help educate new and existing employees on the concrete business from beginning to end.
Cost Savings
DRM's use of PureSafety has proven to be beneficial for the company time and time again. During a recent OSHA inspection, the company was able to efficiently generate employee training reports to satisfy OSHA requirements and avoid any fines. DRM has also seen a 10% reduction in its Workers-Comp premiums in 2004 as a result of its commitment to safety and use of PureSafety. As a result of the positive feedback from employees and significant cost reductions, DRM executed a 5-year contract renewal with PureSafety in the spring of 2004.
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