On April 19, 2006, the Safety Council of Greater Columbus held its first-ever Awards Banquet at the Bridgewater Banquet and Conference Center. More than 175 people gathered to hear former NBA Basketball player Walter Bond give an inspirational presentation and to see 136 companies recognized with safety awards. 

Lynn Kruse, superintendent of the BWC's Division of Safety and Hygiene, reiterated CEO/Administrator William Mabe's announcement about the extension of the 4% rebate for safety council firms during the 2006-2007 BWC Fiscal Year.  Kruse joined other BWC guests Pat Pollock, Greg Mather, Tobin Stuver and Dan Feeney in congratulating award-winning companies and recognizing the efforts of the Builders Exchange to make safety information available to all Central Ohio companies regardless of their affiliation with the Builders Exchange. 

The Awards Banquet also served as a time to reflect on all of the accomplishments members of the Safety Council of Greater Columbus have experienced during its first year in existence. After becoming an approved, state-sponsored safety council officially in July of 2005, the SCGC has become one of the largest councils in the state.

More than 3,300 registrations were made for the 34 training programs offered in 2005-2006, and more than 450 companies have been reached through safety training.

"When the BX launched the SCGC, we were confident that the interest was out there, hungry for safety training resources," said Mary Logan, BX director of safety. "But we could never have imagined the impact the program would make."

The Safety Council also co-hosted Safety Day at Expo, which was held in conjunction with the Ohio Design & Construction Expo on Wednesday, Feb. 1. More than 600 people participated in Safety Day, representing 245 different companies. Programming was held in several areas, including: OSHA compliance, cost-controlling strategies, equipment safety and behavior-based safety training.

"At the Builders Exchange, we have always been committed to being the vehicle to communicate safety resources to the construction industry."

"The Safety Council of Greater Columbus has reinvigorated our commitment, and we look forward to working with the Bureau and all Ohio employers in the future," she said.

 

Ohio BWC Administrator/CEO William E. Mabe announced the extension of the BWC's workers' comp rebate for active participation in the safety council program during the Ohio Safety Congress. The Safety Council of Greater Columbus saluted the BWC's and Mr. Mabe's decision to continue the incentive program for the 2006-2007 BWC Fiscal Year.

 

BWC Division of Safety and Hygiene representatives Lynn Kruse, superintendent, and Dan Feeney, construction project manager, network with Andre Bradley (Compensation Consultants, Inc.) prior to the start of the Awards program.

 

More than 175 people turned out for the SCGC's first-ever Awards Banquet. Attendees were captivated by former NBA basketball player Walter Bond's speech. In safety, like in life, "no one can stop you, but you."

 

Theresa Passwater (Compensation Consultants, Inc.) and Corrine Ivey (Compensation Consultants, Inc.) sign the banner to thank the Ohio BWC for the continuance of the safety council incentive program.   Compensation Consultants, Inc. was the lead sponsor for the first-ever Awards Banquet, and several staff members attended the event: Andre Bradley, Elaine Fouts, Corrine Ivey, Ted Miller and Theresa Passwater.

 

Each year, fans expect athletes to return "bigger, stronger and faster" than the year before. Former NBA basketball player Walter Bond reminds the audience that safety professionals should approach their business in the same way. Award winners, he stressed, cannot grow complacent with this year's performance. "Today we celebrate, but tomorrow we think about how we can improve on this success."

 

Dan Hodge (Performance Site Management) talks shop with George Lacy (The Paul Peterson Co.) prior to the start of the awards presentation.   Performance Site Management was a major sponsor of the first-ever Awards Banquet for the Safety Council of Greater Columbus.

 

Rick Absher, safety director (TP Mechanical Contractors) and Chris Gullace, Columbus-area safety representative (TP Mechanical Contractors) receive three awards from the Safety Council of Greater Columbus. The winners are pictured with Mary Logan, director of safety (Builders Exchange) and Cathy Blackford, executive director (Builders Exchange). The Builders Exchange of Central Ohio is the sponsor of the Safety Council of Greater Columbus.   TP Mechanical was one of only two companies to be recognized with all three awards - Special, Group, and 100% Awards. CareWorks was also recognized with awards in all three categories.

 

Walter Bond discusses the difference between confidence and arrogance. "Please don't cross that line into arrogance."

 

Keynote speaker Walter Bond receives a standing ovation from the Safety Council of Greater Columbus.   Attendees said of the presentation, "He (Walter) was so inspirational! I was skeptical of a motivational speaker at first, but wow! He was amazing!"   "I couldn't believe a huge group of contractors gave a standing ovation. If you looked around the room while he was speaking, everyone hung on his (Walter's) every word. Their eyes followed him everywhere he went."

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