2018 News

Trickle-Down Economics of Prefabrication Safety

Trickle-Down Economics of Prefabrication Safety
06.08.2018

The obvious and most important benefit of our new Advanced Manufacturing facility’s safety features is that employees go home safe at night. “Safety and quality go hand in hand,” says Tracy Haus, Safety Director for Baker Group. “When employees avoid injury and stay in good health, we also maintain the manpower to accommodate our clients’ needs – productivity is higher and more cost-efficient.”

As demand for Baker Group’s prefabrication capabilities grew, our previous Hubbell Avenue facility became cramped, which created safety issues. “Various areas and prefabrication tables were being used for multiple tasks. Workers were tripping over materials, constantly moving things to make space for their work and bumping into each other. Welding areas were smoky. So much activity caused distractions. These things informed the design of our new facility,” Haus says.

Baker Group’s new 80,000-sq. ft. Advanced Manufacturing building, located in Ankeny, features:

  • More space. Each fabrication specialty – sheet metal, piping, plumbing, electrical and multi-trade – has a dedicated work space with room for growth. No longer do workers have to squeeze through cramped spaces and risk bumping into sharp pieces of sheet metal, equipment or other materials. Distractions are minimal.
  • Ergonomic work stations. Because adjustable tables are now dedicated to specific tasks, such as welding, they are at the proper heights to reduce employees’ risk for injury to backs, necks, arms and shoulders.
  • Improved air quality. Each welding station is equipped with a moveable exhaust arm that can be positioned directly over the work. The venting port suctions smoke and fumes away from the worker and out of the building.
  • Lifting devices. Today heavy lifting is done by overhead cranes instead of people.
  • Equipment safeguards. All machinery is equipped with safety features.

“We have always been proud of our safety record, which is now strengthened by this new facility. We’re equally proud that our attention to safety ultimately benefits our employees, their families and our clients,” Haus says.

About Baker Group

Founded in 1963 and with 650 employees across Iowa, Baker Group is the Midwest’s premier full-service specialty contractor providing mechanical, sheet metal, electrical, compressed air, building automation, process automation, security systems, fire alarm systems, parking/revenue controls and 24/7/365 service. For more information, call 855.262.4000 or visit https://www.thebakergroup.com/.

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