Safety Director / Manager

DAVID A. WATTS

Denver, CO • ac0luo@r.postjobfree.com • 858-***-****

VICE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR OF SAFETY

Subject matter expert on safety and risk mitigation. A change leader, successful in developing and implementing best practices, policies, procedures and programs delivering continuous safety improvement for industry leaders. Consistently design and implement award winning safety programs, resulting in one of the lowest injury rates in the nation. Known for developing effective training programs and fostering cultures focused on safety. Key skills:

Risk Mitigation

Workers Comp Claims

Fraud Prevention

Pre-Task Planning

Injury Investigations

Safety Initiatives

Safety Training

Enterprise Risk Management

Multi-site Operations

Regulatory Compliance

Safety Orientations

Team Building & Leadership

HIGH IMPACT RESULTS

Developed pre-task planning program incorporating the Six Criteria of World Class Safety at Helix and Atkinson. Collaborated with employee driven teams to craft and implement pre-task planning process. Planned day ahead, focusing on risks, how to control them and keeping safety first.

Reduced frequency/severity of workers comp claims at Atkinson, cutting costs from $1M to <$100K annually. Implemented safety culture improvement processes including new employee orientations, Safety Perception Surveys (SPS), START – Supervisor Training in Accountability and Recognition Techniques for Foremen through the C-Suite, SULU, created and implemented immediate care procedures using injury triage and implemented monthly claims review.

Created web based New Employee Orientation for Atkinson focused on safety. Created interactive training program with question module to ensure employee understanding. Web based program ensured consistency organization wide and better prepared employees to start work.

Instrumental in customizing the Speak-Up Listen-Up (SULU) product as a best practice for construction industry. Appointed to lead project after speaking to CEOs and Safety Directors in attendance at the Heavy Civil Safety Summit. Received commitment from Caterpillar CEO to partner with construction companies, underwriting 50% of all costs and granting a 50% price reduction to any subcontractor who purchased SULU product.

Targeted and decreased instances of workers comp fraud at Tutor Saliba. Crafted and implemented procedures to include immediate injury triage for all new workers compensations claims. Implemented monthly claims review, aggressively managing clinic care and limiting the assignment of physical therapy. Dramatic savings on litigation and claim management costs resulted in company netting a retro refund of nearly $1M.

Improved integrity of injury reporting at the Los Angeles Mass Transit Authority. Injuries were not accurately reported. Suggested forming an injury review team comprised of the contractor, the construction manager and an MTA representative. Team would travel monthly to each project to review and classify injuries that occurred in the previous month. All disputes were resolved by proper application of the OSHA Recordkeeping Guidelines.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

HELIX ELECTRIC INC. 1/2016 to 10/2016.

An $800M design-build, electrical construction and engineering firm, specializing in industrial, multi-family residential and government construction projects.

Vice President & Director of Safety

Managed $2.5M budget and 12 regional safety professionals in rolling out safety continuous safety culture improvement initiatives.

Developed plan with leadership and subject matter experts to implement and train managers and supervisors on a new critical electrical safety program.

Managed full scope of safety operations for eight geographic regions spread out among California, Nevada, Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland.

Conducted and facilitated in depth investigations as required.

Established culture of accountability, requiring parties company wide to present investigation results at quarterly manager and supervisor meetings.

ATKINSON CONSTRUCTION 2005 to 2016

A $750M construction firm, delivering highly-engineered, complex projects and innovative heavy civil solutions.

Vice President & Director of Safety

Directed 15 safety professionals across several regions and a budget of greater than $2M.

Ensured regulatory compliance and administration of OSHA, MSHA, U.S.A.C.O.E. (EM-385) NAVFAC, and Multiple State Plan operations.

Maintained safety protocols, safety manuals, and policies and procedure affected by regulatory requirements – Heat Illness Protocols, Global Harmonization, Elimination of Post Incident Drug testing as required by Federal OSHA, Federal requirement of electronic filing of injuries, etc.

Advanced corporate and regional safety culture, using scientific data collection (Safety Perception Survey), SULU (Speak-Up & Listen-Up) for Construction and S.T.A.R.T. (Supervisor Training in Accountability and Recognition Techniques).

WDC EXPLORATION & WELLS 2004 to 2005

A water well drilling and installation business.

Director of Safety

Managed superintendents responsible for safety of operations in CA, NV, AZ, NM, and MN.

Advised leadership on safety regulatory development, compliance concerns and preventative actions.

Maintained safety files and recordkeeping in compliance with regulatory agencies.

TUTOR SALIBA CORPORATION 1997 to 2004

One of the country’s largest civil engineering service companies with $1.7B in revenue, focused on public works projects and complex infrastructures.

Corporate Safety Director

Directed as many as 25 safety professionals while managing safety contracts, projects, activities for Tutor Saliba Corporation and all of its subsidiaries.

Assisted in planning and implementing safety policies and procedures in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements: OSHA, MSHA, Cal/OSHA USACOE EM-385 and Cal/AQMD.

Ensured safety professional project coverage in line with client contractual expectations.

Conducted post accident investigation and prepared reports identifying possible accident causes and hazards for use by company personnel and senior management.

Collaborated in the development, evaluation and improvement of safety programs.

Earlier: Willis Corroon Insurance Broker, Sr. Loss Control Consultant / Manager; Tutor Saliba Corp., Corporate Safety Representative; Gust K. Newberg Construction, Project Safety Manager; U.S. Navy, Naval Photographer.

CERTIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (O.S.H.A.) Training Institute, Construction Safety and Health Instructor certified (since 1988 – most recent recertification February 2003).

American Society of Safety Engineers – Certificate in Safety Management & Executive Certificate in Safety Management (February 2004).

U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (M.S.H.A.),

Certified dust sample underground/surface (1989).

Leadership Development, Leadership Development Program (LDP), the Center for Creative Leadership (2009).

BOARD MEMBERSHIPS

Heavy Civil Safety Summit, Past Member

Cal/OSHA Title 8 Reform Project, Management Committee Member

American Society Safety Engineers, Active Member

National Safety Council, Active Member

National Groundwater Association & California Groundwater Association, Member

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