Granite Corp - Hanging Their Hat On Workplace Safety

At Granite Corp, a leading plumbing-heating-cooling contracting business, workplace safety is more than policy. It’s woven into every part of their operations. “We care about our employees and their families,” Granite Corp President and Co-founder Kevin Purnell said. “Our goal is to send every team member home safely. In fact, it’s more than a goal, it’s a promise.”

Overcoming a Devastating Setback

That promise became harder to keep several years ago, when a serious slip-and-fall incident changed everything. The injury not only impacted the team, but it also caused Granite Corp’s workers’ compensation experience modification rating to spike, bringing new financial and operational challenges. It was during this tough period that the team leaned on the expertise of Federated Insurance^® Marketing Representative Phil Saraceno for much-needed support. “Phil has always been a great resource for us,” Granite Corp President of Operations and Owner Mike Levenseller noted. “Since we’ve had a relationship with Federated^®, it’s like having another tool in the toolbox.”

The Risk Management Academy Advantage

On Phil’s advice, Mike made the choice to attend Federated’s 2.5-Day Risk Management Academy (RMA). “It was a big time commitment, but it was important,” Mike noted. “I learned a lot and brought back strategies to make us safer here. It was also a chance to talk to my peers and learn what they are doing to make their employees safe.”

Returning from the RMA, Mike felt inspired and ready to put their new knowledge to work. They rolled out a multi-layered safety approach with regular job site check-ins, weekly employee toolbox talks, and OSHA Top 10 certifications for everyone. Together, these steps helped build a true culture of risk management in the company.

Leveraging Online Safety Resources

The team also tapped into Federated’s online client portal, mySHIELD^®, to access industry-specific partner resources, training videos, educational materials, and more. Granite Corp employees took safety training further by delivering custom and continued education through Federated’s myTRAINING^SM Program.

“myTRAINING Program has been a game changer in the field,” Granite Corp Vice President of Operations Daniel Mack said. “It’s tailored to our specific needs. It lets us create custom plans and provide our employees with immediate guidance on topics like fall protection, PPE protocols, and job-specific hazards. It is keeping our employees safe and prepared on every job site.”

Hard Work Pays Off

Thanks to the team’s steady focus on safety and smart use of Federated’s resources, Granite Corp lowered its workers’ compensation experience modification rating to 0.71. This improvement unlocked the ability to bid on attractive jobs, including government projects. Most importantly, workplace injuries dropped and employee buy-in for a strong safety culture grew. “We choose to partner with the best of the best,” Daniel said. “Federated has brought us to the top regarding safety and in doing so created that culture on the job site.”

“Safety is an investment, there’s no doubt, but it’s an investment in the future,” Kevin concluded. “We want to make sure everyone returns home in the same condition — if not better — than when they left in the morning. That’s one thing we hang our hat on here at Granite Corp.”

2022 PHCC Contractor of the Year

Granite Corp’s dedication to safety and pursuit of industry-leading practices earned them the PHCC Contractor of the Year award in 2022, presented by Federated Insurance in partnership with the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC).

“It was a real honor, and it happened around our company’s 20-year anniversary,” Mike said. “We had an employee gathering and got to share that we had won. The event was an opportunity for Phil to speak about why we had won and what we needed to continue doing.”

“The PHCC Contractor of the Year Award recognizes business owners who have implemented safety tools and risk management programs, resulting in fewer claims, injuries, and accidents,” Federated Insurance National Account Executive Patrick Cunningham explained. “Granite Corp exemplifies this standard, setting the bar for what it means to prioritize safety and risk management in every aspect of the business.”