Cyma Creates Successful Safety Culture at Janssen PDMS Project
Cyma Builders & Construction Managers Creates Successful Safety Culture at Janssen PDMS Expansion Project
Cyma Builders and Construction Managers, in conjunction with our contractors and Janssen Pharmaceutical LLC, successfully created and fostered a proactive, effective and collaborative safety culture on this fast track project.
Janssen Pharmaceutical Research & Development LLC based in Malvern PA selected Cyma Builders to expand their footprint to an existing multi-tenant facility in Charlestown Township. Multiple tenant spaces were combined to create a new, state of the art, 56,000 square foot Lab and Office Facility. Infrastructure upgrades included installing 4 new air handling units (8,000 CFM each) on 4 individual steel dunnage platforms that are free standing along the rear of the facility, duct work distribution to the research labs, refurbishment of over 15 existing roof top units for the office areas, new and upgraded electrical services from PECO and the installation of two emergency generators.
New laboratory services include upgraded glass-wash and sterilization equipment, two cold boxes, new purified water system, compressed air, nitrogen, CO2, vacuum and oxygen distribution systems. Existing lab casework was supplemented with new lab casework and components to suit the end user requirements. New finishes included epoxy flooring, clean room ceiling and epoxy paint.
The project was fully Commissioned and met LEED requirements for Certified status, and the Certificate of Occupancy was issued in mid-May 2018.
From the pre-construction planning stage to project completion, the client and construction team all displayed a genuine commitment to supporting and prioritizing worker safety on the project. The construction team created a hands-on approach to safety that allowed all personnel on the project to become safety advocates, not only being safe themselves but looking out for the safety of others. As the safety culture grew, organizational barriers such as fear and lack of trust in safety, were diminished. Contractors started thinking safety, reviewing their own JSA’s weekly, consulting with the onsite Safety Specialists for ways to conduct tasks safely as they reacted to unforeseen conditions in the field.
The emphasis on worker safety and the establishment of an effective safety culture led to the project far exceeding safety metric goals with over 70,000 hours worked with no Recordable Injuries or Lost Work Time Injuries.
SAFETY CULTURE
‘Safety Culture’ consists of shared beliefs, practices, and attitudes that exist at an establishment or on a project. Culture is the atmosphere created by those beliefs, attitudes, etc., which shape our behavior.
By project completion, the safety effort on the PDMS Expansion Project was an excellent example of an effective Safety Culture.
PROJECT SAFETY EFFORT HIGHLIGHTS
Safety Jeopardy – Created by Mike Royce, Sr. for the PDMS Expansion Project and hoisted at weekly safety luncheons; this safety game consisted of 3 contestants chosen at random from the contractors onsite competing for prizes by answering construction safety questions. Safety Jeopardy questions were selected based on the topic of the toolbox talk presented at the safety luncheon to reinforce the message of the toolbox talk. Contractors took an interest in knowing the topics and, even when not chosen, enjoyed competing and knowing the answers.
Safety Jeopardy and a Safety Luncheon
Weekly JSA Reviews – A project specific Cyma Builders commitment included requiring contractors to conduct weekly JSA reviews and understand, discuss and reinforce Cyma and Janssen safety policies along with any changes or hazards encountered that were not captured in the approved JSAs.
H.B. Frazer conducting a weekly JSA review.
Safety Stand-Downs – Awareness and training sessions intended to help mitigate the impact of hazards in construction. These meetings were held with contractors to discuss safety issues occurring onsite or nationally and also to help inform contractors of recent incidents, near misses, corrective actions, etc. Safety Stand-Downs are intended to interrupt work and focus worker attention on specific safety messages and information.
National Fall Protection Safety Stand Down session held on PDMS project.
Centralized, Organized and Accessible Safety Documentation – Files kept at the site entrance that are readily available for contractors to review & sign daily, weekly or monthly; centralized organization and availability of safety documentation helped workers to review and understand the safety requirements.
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