On
Thursday, March 6th P.J. Hoerr and Summit held their first company meeting
and safety review of the year at Five Points in Washington. CEO Bob Hoerr
opened the meeting by reviewing the company’s strong backlog of work for 2014
and encouraging everyone to stay focused on the partnering, negotiated business
model that has served us so well over the years. Corporates Safety
Director Hans Hinrichsen then presented an overview along with an accompanying
video that outlined the new OSHA regulations regarding hazardous material
handling. Everyone was educated in the use of the new Safety Data Sheets
(SDS) for all jobsite materials. Hans then explained the new multi-level
superintendent safety hour format and he and Bob presented superintendent
safety hour checks to all those who qualified. Bob then introduced recent
retiree Lonny Bryant and highlighted his contributions to the company over his
10 year career with PJH. Lonny spoke briefly to the group and thanked
them for the best 10 years of his 42 year construction career. Bob
concluded the meeting by speaking of the role that he believed integrity had
played in bringing PJH to the point of celebrating 100 years in business. He especially stressed the role that personal integrity plays in all aspects of
life and work including safety. He finished the meeting by quoting a poem
about personal example and the role it plays in leading others. The poem
is listed below:
I’d
rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I’d
rather one should walk with me than merely show the way;
For
the eye’s a better pupil; much more willing than the ear;
Advice
can be important, but example is always clear;
For
you see the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds;
For
to see the good in action is what everybody needs;
I
can soon learn how to do it if you let me see it done;
I
can watch your hands in action though your tongue too fast may run;
And
the lectures that you give me may be very wise and true;
But
I’d rather learn my lessons by observing what you do;
For
I may misunderstand you and the good advice you give;
But
there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.