GRANGER TEAMS WITH NATIONAL GUARD, FIRST RESPONDERS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO HOST TRAINING EXERCISE
Tuesday, July 16, 2024, Brighton Area Fire Department responders expertly deployed their ladder truck in a high stakes rescue operation, saving a person suspended from the third floor of a partially constructed building. Spectators witnessed the scene unfold during a staged mock rescue exercise at the Trinity Health Livingston Hospital construction site in Brighton, MI. The event occurred against the backdrop of ongoing construction of a four-story addition, where first responders honed their proficiency in emergency response drills.
Granger Construction worked with the Michigan National Guard, Brighton Area Fire Authority, Livingston County Technical Rescue Team, AGC, MIOSHA, MIOSHA CET and Trinity Health to plan and perform two separate emergency scenarios at the construction site in an effort to help all participants better prepare for potential accidents.
The first exercise was an aerial rescue for a simulated fall of a worker with a self-retracting harness who had fallen from the third floor. That scenario included a test 911 call with a real 911 operator who walked a trade apprentice through the information that would be needed in that situation to get first responders to the site. The fire department then utilized a ladder truck to access and rescue the “victim” who was hanging alongside the building.
The second scenario involved a simulated medical emergency on the roof of the building. The person was evacuated by onsite personnel utilizing the construction crane with an attached stokes basket. A weighted training dummy was used in both mock rescue events.
“Of my many years working in construction and attending jobsite safety stand down events, I have never been part of a simulated crisis event like this and it is extremely impressive what has been put together today,” said Tiffany Spano, Sr. Project Manager with Trinity Health.
This two-part program included an hour-long discussion about safety protocols, scene management and personnel roles and responsibilities. Participants contributed their expertise across a wide range of topics. Lt. Colonel Rich Sands presented the Army National Guard’s preplanning and execution procedures for an emergency response, the Brighton Area Fire Authority discussed communication and logistics, and MIOSHA representatives discussed accident investigation and follow-up procedures. Granger staff, various trades foremen, Trinity Security Police and other Trinity Health Brighton representatives also participated in this discussion.
During the rescue training exercise, Granger Construction, Construction Manager for the project, held a Safety Stand Down, meaning all work was halted so everyone could watch and learn from the event. Afterwards, lunch was provided for the entire group.
Construction is among the most dangerous types of work there is, with many serious and potentially life-threatening hazards like falls, fires, structural collapse, equipment-related injuries, environmental hazards, and electrocutions. Understanding and preparing for these and other challenging and potentially hazardous work site conditions is an essential part of working in this industry.
“At Granger, we instill a Safety Culture within our organization and on every Granger job site,” said Brian Goodman, Granger’s Corporate Safety Director. “Our safety model is based on planning, educating and implementing safe construction practices on each jobsite every day to ensure that we achieve our safety goal of zero recordable accidents.”
While Granger requires all workers to complete a site-specific safety training orientation before they are allowed to work on any of its projects, simulated events like what took place on Tuesday are vital to helping both the project team and emergency responders test their knowledge and skills in a safe and controlled environment so they can be better prepared for real-life situations.
“Creating a sense of urgency and realism can help motivate workers to engage and learn,” said Ryan Snellenberger, Granger’s Project Superintendent at the Trinity Health Livingston Hospital project. “It is more impactful than traditional classroom training methods and can serve as a powerful reminder that everyone is responsible for themselves and all the other team members they work with.”
“Our clients want to know that our operations are safe, especially when we’re working so close to their current operations like we are on this hospital addition project,” added Snellenberger. “Keeping safety protocols at the forefront of everything we do is critical to the health and wellbeing of anyone who is on or near our project sites, and to maintaining Granger’s reputation and overall success within the industry.”
