Safety for workers and guests on-site at Chimney Hollow is the highest priority. To help drive home the importance of safety, Barnard Construction Co. Inc., the general contractor for the Chimney Hollow Reservoir Project, brought safety awareness to the forefront this month for Construction Safety Week on May 2-6.  

Barnard hosted several events for employees to be reminded of the importance of safety on site, including safety meetings for staff, safety demonstrations, training and more. As an example of the week’s events, heavy equipment operators took part in behind-the-wheel training with instructors from Caterpillar Safety Services. 

“These safety demonstrations help us develop the type of safety culture on-site that employees may not have been a part of in the past,” said Garris Buckaloo, Barnard Project Safety Manager.  

Last Friday, May 6, Barnard conducted a mock manlift rescue followed by a mock incident where a CAT 777 haul truck – the largest on site at Chimney Hollow – ran over a full-size pickup truck to demonstrate how quickly a truck can be flattened.  

“The demonstrations show employees that safety and planning need to be in every scope of work,” Buckaloo said. “Taking time away from production to focus on safety is a valuable investment. Plus, we can have some fun with these exercises. In the end, if this leaves a lasting impression they will carry forward, that's worth the effort.”