At the heart of what we do

When Jasun Brown needed to earn money for college, his father's temp agency found him a job in a mill. Because of that experience, he has a clear understanding of the risks associated with millwork.

Today, as CEO of BDI Staffing, Brown needs to know the hazards of workplaces as different as plastics manufacturing and office work or heath care and sawing logs. At any given time, the company has about 200 temp workers in the field, and their safety is a core value of the company and a personal priority for Brown.

"I need to know what our people will be doing and what the risks are," Brown said. "I also need to know the safety policy of the companies we do business with."

Start with a safe host company

"Before we place workers with an employer," Brown said, "we find out how a company manages safety. Typically, I will meet with an owner or plant manager, do a walk-through, and check their protocols."

On a roofing job, for example, Brown will make sure they use fall protection and have ladder safety training.

"If I have any concerns, I will ask them to show me their equipment to make sure it's not worn or broken," he said. "As long as the company is willing to work with us and do what is right, then we will work with them. Accidents do happen, but a company has to be willing to correct the problem."

"I wish everyone was as conscientious as BDI is," said Jacquie Strand, SAIF senior safety management consultant. "They set expectations for how their employees will be treated, and do what they can to assure employees will be safe, no matter where they are working."

Hire good workers and train them

Training, drug testing, and even background checks for some jobs are all a part of BDI's hiring and orientation process. BDI drug tests every employee and asks that BDI's employees be included in any drug testing the host company does. Background checks are conducted when necessary for a particular job.

On their first day, new employees have an orientation that includes safety. They also are encouraged to come to Brown with any safety concerns they may see at the host company.

"We are willing to pull workers out if there are concerns that a company will not address," he said. "And it is in the contract that I can make plant visits at my discretion."

Investigate

When someone is injured, BDI investigates in order to prevent injuries in the future.

When an employee cut his thumb several times while working with a table saw, BDI investigated and learned that lack of focus caused by repetition was the problem.

"The company worked with us, allowing the employee to work a shorter time between breaks," Brown said. "It worked, and the injuries stopped. Sometimes the solution is just that simple. Most of the time companies are very receptive."

Return to work

"Many of our employees can't afford to lose even a few days of work," Brown said. "On day one, we are trying to mitigate the loss and keep the person employed."

BDI works closely with one occupational health doctor, making sure a release-to-work form is signed, if applicable, when the worker leaves the first doctor appointment.

"If the company can't provide modified work, we will," Brown said, adding that he makes frequent use of the Employer at Injury Program to help an injured employee return to work.

It's a partnership

"Companies seem more willing to take safety seriously today," Brown said. "They see this as an additional service they buy when they use our workers. Having BDI as an interested party with outside eyes can help improve their processes."

"It starts with leadership," said Strand. "Safety is a major value at BDI, and it permeates everything they do."

Learn more about safety for temporary workers in the article "Nothing temporary about safety."