UMC is honored to be the only mechanical contractor to win the National Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Safety Excellence Award three times, all in the last five years. UMC accepted the MCAA 2022 National Safety Excellence Award at the 2023 MCAA Annual Convention in Phoenix on March 29. 

The MCAA holds a high standard of safety for all mechanical contractors in the nation. They commit to this by providing many regulatory updates, audits, and formal education training. Each year a list of the companies that not only follow but go beyond safety standards is highlighted with the MCAA Safety Excellence Award.

At UMC, the company believe a successful jobsite is a safe jobsite. This leads us to constantly innovating new tactics and policies that allow us to continue growing our positive safety program outcomes.

How does UMC do it? With the overarching principle that motivates its crews — pride. The company's “Pride-based Safety” program is led by Kirk Baisch. It is based on knowing you are doing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons, especially when no one is looking. Everyone is responsible for their safety and the safety of their coworkers; attitude is one of the essential elements of our safety program. UMC no longer has a “have to” attitude, but instead are motivated by pride, where employees work safely because they want to. The company’s pride-based safety culture consists of simple, yet powerful, strategies that always keep safety top of mind.

The five pride-based safety principles UMC lives by include the following:

• Lead by Example – Do the right thing, not because it is a rule, but because it is right.
• Own Your Zone – Evaluate your work area to ensure it is clean, organized, and hazard-free.
• 5 for 5 – Every 5 minutes, do a 5-second visual risk assessment.
• Know When to Stop – If you are unsure, STOP, ask, and get more information.
• Engagement & Inclusion – Align everyone as an integral part of the team, influencing overall performance.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our team, they truly lead by example to the highest levels,” Baisch said. “Our people know that they are empowered to make changes that will improve the safety and production of their teams. Empowerment, engagement, and teamwork keep our crews involved in safety and dedicated to improvement.”

UMC is honored to accept the MCAA National Safety Excellence Award for the third time, as it shows the effectiveness of our pride-based safety program and dedication to our development as a company.