DeKalb Pipeline Co. Inc. of Conyers, GA, has won the National Utility Contractors Association’s (NUCA) William H. Feather Award.

Created in 1978 to honor the contributions of the founding chairman of NUCA’s safety committee, the award recognizes NUCA member companies that put safety first. The winners are chosen on the basis of injury frequency data, a safety statement and company program information in seven categories established according to total man hours worked.

DeKalb Pipeline was chosen the 2005 winner in the 100,001 to 200,000 man-hour category for a safety program that yielded zero accidents in 129,000 man hours worked from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2005.

The 45-year-old company has a written safety program — including fleet safety and all of its 15 supervisors have attended an OSHA construction outreach program. Thirty-five employees have attended a NUCA excavation safety competent person training program and 18 a NUCA confined space entry training program. The company has been a member of NUCA’s Safety Ambassadors Club for the past six years.

Company President James King said that DeKalb has always striven for excellence in the area of safety. Prospective employees are asked to review the company’s safety program and new employees are required to listen to the “New Employee Safety Orientation” tape — available in both English and Spanish — provided by the Georgia Utility Contractors Association (GUCA). The company holds weekly toolbox talks, monthly safety videos and weekly drug awareness meetings in which all employees take part. It also works closely with GUCA to provide NUCA-sponsored safety classes and hold safety awareness drives. Additionally, a DeKalb employee serves on GUCA’s safety committee.

King emphasized the role of management in creating a culture of safety.

“Our employees see the commitment that we have made regarding their safety, and they have a sense of comfort knowing that we are concerned about their well-being,” he said. “Motivation to work safely stems from their knowledge of our commitment.”

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