IRMI Presents First Construction Risk Management Best Practices Award to Gayle Jones of Snyder-Langston and George Bragg of Bragg Crane Services

CHICAGO, IL.––Ms. Gayle Jones of Snyder Langston and Mr. George Bragg of Bragg Crane Services were honored here today with the first IRMI Construction Risk Management Best Practices Award for their development of a highly effective crane safety program. Together, these two companies clarified and documented a set of crane safety requirements, and took a firm stance on strict adherence to these standards. As a result, they have had only one minor crane accident in eight years that produced minor property damage, but no injuries.

This award was created by International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI) to recognize individuals and companies who have demonstrated a commitment to improving construction risk management through the implementation of innovative, cost effective, and efficient risk management techniques.

"We all know that, too often, risk managers only get attention when things go wrong. Our objectives in creating this award are to acknowledge some individuals for 'things done right', and to encourage others in the industry to be innovative in developing their own ‘best practices,'" explained Jack Gibson, IRMI president, to the 1,100 attendees of the 19th IRMI Construction Risk Conference. "The crane safety program developed by Snyder-Langston and Bragg Crane Services embodies the type of best practice that I hope to honor every year at this conference. Their willingness to share their program with the rest of the industry is to be applauded."

The crane safety manual developed by Gayle Jones George Bragg will be available for downloading from the IRMI web site (www.irmi.com) in March of 2000.

The other two finalists for the award were Jim Boone, Risk Manager of J.S. Alberici Construction, for developing and implementing the "Safecap" process for identifying and correcting unsafe behaviors on jobsites and Jeffrey M. Lange, Safety and Risk Manager for Kitchell Corporation, for the development, implementation, and refinement over a ten year period, of a sophisticated process for managing subcontract risks.

A panel of industry experts, selected by IRMI, judged the award submissions. Judges' comments about the winning submission included:

"This firm should be commended for identifying a problem and turning it into a competitive advantage for their firm. The firm should see positive public relations, safer jobsites, reduced workers' compensation and insurance costs and, therefore, higher profits. My hope is that this firm shares their program with the rest of the construction world."

"The Mobile Crane Safety Manual Policies and Procedures is an effective loss control tool. This loss control technique is highlighted by the accident that occurred at Miller Park in Milwaukee. The cost of that accident should have insurance carriers drooling for clients who employ this technique and should reward them with credits on their liability policies!"

"They took on a serious issue with a different approach and wouldn't back down until others saw things their way. This is an excellent program that addresses an important issue."

The judging panel was comprised of David Collings, Managing Director, and National Practice Leader for Marsh Inc.'s Design-Build Practice, Frank Giordano, Manager of Project Insurance Services in Merck & Company's Department of Central Engineering, Carl Heinlein, Director of Safety and Health Services for AGC of America, Patrick Monea, Vice President And Chief Financial Officer of Granger Construction Company, Danny Parrish, Executive Vice President, CFO, Secretary And Treasurer, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc. and Ann Rudd, Editor Of Construction Risk Management and Conference Curriculum Director For International Risk Management Institute.

The next Construction Risk Management Best Practices award will be presented in Atlanta at the 20th IRMI Construction Risk Conference in November, 2000. For information about nominating a construction risk management or safety professional for the award, contact International Risk Management Institute, Inc., at 12222 Merit Drive, Suite 1450, Dallas, TX, 75251 (E-mail: info@IRMI.com; phone: 800-827-4242, or, in Dallas, 972-960-7693; fax: 972-960-6037).

International Risk Management Institute, Inc., (IRMI), is a Dallas-based research and publishing organization specializing in risk management and insurance. The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) support the conference and recommend it to their members.