BAKER-POLITO ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $533,000 IN WORKPLACE SAFETY GRANTS

BAKER-POLITO ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $533,000 IN WORKPLACE SAFETY GRANTS

WORCESTER, MA – NOVEMBER 1, 2016 – Thirty-seven Massachusetts employers were awarded a total of $533,149 to help train nearly 4,400 employees in workplace safety and the prevention of injury, illness and death, the Baker-Polito Administration’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced today.

“Worker and workplace safety is an important priority for companies and employees across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are pleased to award this funding to ensure companies are able to provide training to educate their workers and keep them safe on the job.”

The Department of Industrial Accidents administers and manages the Workplace Safety Training and Education Grant program to promote safe, healthy workplace conditions through training, education, and other preventative programs for businesses and employees covered by the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation law.  In fiscal year 2016, the Baker-Polito Administration will award a total $700,000 for the Safety Grant program. 

“We are pleased that thousands of workers in the Commonwealth receive training each year in order to make themselves and their work environments safer day to day,” Lt. Governor Karyn Polito said.

Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald L. Walker made the announcement with the management and employees of Sweet Kitchen Bar, a restaurant, dessert bar and caterer in Worcester. Sweet received the grant as a consortium of businesses, which includes another restaurant, The Flying Rhino, and two other central Massachusetts caterers, Pepper's Catering and Struck Catering. The $24,824 grant will train employees in CPR and First Aid, prevention of slips and falls, ergonomics and kitchen & facility training.

“Not only do workers receive training that ensures they are safe, but they also increase their knowledge-base for their jobs, increasing their opportunities to be promoted,” Secretary Ronald L. Walker, II said. 

"Our business model depends on delighting our guests.  Having a happy and engaged workforce is critical; that starts with our employees knowing that their well-being is our first priority,” said Alina Eisenhauer, executive chef at Sweet Kitchen Bar.  “This grant will help us deliver on that mission."

“We are grateful for the support and earnest efforts on the part of the Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito to secure funding for an investment in the safety of our employees,” said John Lawrence, director of catering at Peppers Fine Catering. “This important funding helps create a more positive work environment which in turn creates a more productive and efficient business environment.”  

The maximum grant amount per employer is $25,000. Businesses are awarded training grants through a competitive application process. The Department of Industrial Accidents is opening another round of applications soon.

Organizations that received grants:

American Training, Inc. – Andover, MA  - $10,368 -American Training Inc. delivers premier workforce development, day habilitation, work and residential programs in transportation, counseling, work-preparedness to people with disabilities, youth at risk, unemployed and lifelong adult learners.  Training will include stress management, ergonomics and safe patient lifting and fire extinguisher training.

Baxter Inc. - Hyannis, MA - $11,283.15- Baxter, Inc. provides crane and rigging services.  Training will include OSHA Signal Person & Master Rigging and CPR/First Aid.

BLB Custom Builder LLC- Amesbury, MA - $10,871.00 - BLB Custom Building provides custom home building, high-end renovations and general carpentry repairs in the Merrimack Valley. The company will provide OSHA safety, fall protection, respiratory protections, and CPR/First Aid/AED training.

Center for Human Development, Inc. – Springfield, MA - $9,630- CHD, a non-profit organization, delivers a broad array of critical social and mental health services.  Training will include CPR/First Aid.

Charles River Association for Retarded Citizens – Needham, MA - $14,980 - Charles River Center for Developmentally challenged Citizens was created by a group of parents who sought to develop programs for their children.  Training will include a safety care/de-escalation train-the-trainer and CPR/First Aid.     

Coastal Industries Inc. – Haverhill, MA - $2,247 - Coastal Industries manufactures doors and windows. Training will include OSHA 10 and warehouse forklift training.

Colony Foods, Inc. – Lawrence, MA - $24,900 - Colony Foods Inc. is an independent family-owned and operated food service distributor specializing in the pizzeria Italian restaurant and sandwich shop.  Training will include aerial lift, OSHA 10, safety talks, defensive driving, fire protection, workplace violence, skid steer loader, warehouse forklift, CPR/First Aid, ergonomics, and de-escalation.

Dellbrook Construction LLC – Quincy, MA - $14,653.65 - Dellbrook Construction LLC is a full-service construction firm providing services in design/build coordination, preconstruction planning, cost management, estimating and general contracting.  Their proposed training includes lead safe renovator and CPR/AED and First Aid.   

Environmental Integrity Company, LLC – Holyoke, MA - $6,527 - Environmental Integrity is a full-service electronic recycling and data destruction company providing green electronic solutions to small, medium and enterprise customers.  Their proposed training includes driver safety, warehouse safety, job safety analysis, and industrial truck/fork lift.    

Town of Framingham- Framingham, MA- $12,840 - The Town of Framingham provides all related highway, water, sewer, parks and recreation, elderly, school and public safety services.  Training will include OSHA 10, OSHA 30 and back injury prevention for all town employees.

F.M. Generator, Inc. - Canton MA - $22,256 - FM Generator sells and services stand-by power generators for both commercial and residential applications. The company provides preventative maintenance services as well as repair, installation, fueling, load testing, radiator repairs and rebuilds, engine overhauls and rebuilds.  Training will include electrical safety, defensive driving, hazardous materials and ergonomics.

GAAMHA – Gardner, MA - $2,140 - GAAMHA provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities.  It also provides residential services for substance abuse through the Pathway House Program.  Training will include CPR/AED and First Aid, as well as warehouse forklift. 

GenCon, Inc. - West Bridgewater, MA - $9,309- GenCon Inc. specializes in healthcare construction and offers architectural and construction management services.  Training will include warehouse forklift, Fatal 4, fall protection, confined space and trenching & excavation.

Guaranteed Builders & Developers, Inc. – Douglas, MA - $25,000 - Guaranteed Builders & Developers offers a large display of modular homes and garages for residential building.  This firm also provides disaster and recovery services by providing mobile banking command units to areas of destruction. Training will include OSHA 30, warehouse forklift, rough terrain, aerial lift, and bucket truck training.

Habilitation Assistance Corporation – Plymouth, MA - $6,724.04- Habilitation Assistance Corp is an organization to support individuals in realizing their personal visions. Services offered are day habilitation, case management, homecare and independent living and transportation. Their proposed training includes CPR/First Aid and proper lifting techniques.

Hollingsworth and Vose Co. – West Groton, MA - $10,700 - Hollingsworth and Vose is a global leader in the supply of technically advanced nonwovens for engine, high-efficiency, and liquid filtration. With 12 manufacturing facilities located around the world, the company is a key source of engine & industrial filtration.  Training will include safe lifting and hand safety.       

Home Care Connection Network, LLC – Amesbury, MA - $23,780.75 - Home Care Connection provides high quality care and assistance to patients, clients or residents in their home whether it may be a nursing home, assisted living, hospice or hospital.  Training will include CPR/First Aid, infectious control, body mechanics and patient handling.

Imperial Distributors Inc. – Auburn, MA - $21,285 - Imperial Distributor's is a leader in merchandizing and distribution of grocery non-food items.  Training will include ergonomics, lock out/tag out, machine guard and OSHA 10.

Lan-Tel Communications, Inc. - Norwood, MA - $5,885 - LAN-TEL is one of the largest structured cabling and security companies in Massachusetts. They provide ongoing installation and maintenance for commercial and public sector entities for new construction and renovation.  Training will include train-the-trainer for NSC Lift Truck Operator Program and bucket truck training.

MacCormack Plumbing, Inc. – Billerica,  MA - $25,000 - MacCormack Plumbing, Inc. is a plumbing and heating contractor for commercial and residential installation.  Training will include OSHA 30, confined space, OSHA 10 and CPR/First Aid.

MAS Building and Bridge, Inc. - Norfolk, MA - $24,931 - MAS Building and Bridge is a leader in heavy civil and structural steel construction.  MAS Building and Bridge has two divisions, Bridge/Dam/Marine and Structural Steel.  Training will include rigging/signaling, CPR/First Aid, aerial scissor lift, confined space, OSHA 10 & 30 and steel erection.

Maybury Associates, Inc. - East Longmeadow, MA - $8,830.20 - Maybury is a full-service provider of material handling products and services. Training will include OSHA 10 & 30.

Nano-C, Inc. – Westwood, MA - $13,190 - Nano-C, Inc. is a small chemical research & development company that produces technological advanced carbon materials through their fullerene and carbon non-tube product lines for use in semiconductors, electronics and renewable energy applications.  Training will include respirator fit testing, CPR/First Aid, fire extinguisher, DOT Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Goods.

NexDine, LLC – Mansfield, MA - $24,866 - Nexdine LLC provides corporate dining, special events catering and smart dining programs to schools and colleges. Training will include slips, trips and falls, restaurant ergonomics and knife handler safety.

New England Disposal Technologies, Inc. – Sutton, MA  - $24,834.70 - New England Disposal Technologies Inc. is an environmental service company that performs a wide range of environmental services including hazardous and chemical waste transportation and disposal, contaminated site remediation and cleanup, above ground and underground tank cleaning and removal, lab clean outs and contaminated soil recycling.  Training will include, OSHA 10 & 40, hazardous waste site worker, CPR/AED, confined space, respirator fit testing, boating safety, excavation & trenching. 

New England Utility Constructors, Inc.- Lawrence, MA - $15,622- New England Utility Constructors, Inc. specializes in underground utility construction, including natural gas, electric and welding fabrications, water and street restoration.  Training will include CPR/First Aid, hazardous waste site and hoisting & rigging.

Signature Health Care/Brockton Hospital – Brockton, MA - $25,000 - Signature Health Care is one of southeastern Massachusetts largest integrated healthcare systems, including Brockton Hospital and Signature Medical Group.  Training will include needle puncture training and safety & de-escalation.

South Essex Sewage District- Salem, MA - $15,100 - South Essex Sewage District maintains and operates a sewage system to collect and dispose of residential, commercial and industrial wastewater.  Training will include CPR/FA/Blood borne pathogens, PPE, LOTO, hoisting prep, and electrical safety.

Sweet Kitchen Bar – Worcester, MA - $24,824 – Sweet, aka Sugar After Dark, is a restaurant, caterer and dessert bar.  The award is to a consortium that includes another restaurant, The Flying Rhino, and two other central Massachusetts caterers, Pepper's Catering and Struck Catering.  Training will include CPR/First Aid, slips, trips and falls, ergonomics and kitchen & facility training.

Teamwork Labor Services, Inc. - South Easton, MA - $23,647- Teamwork Labor Services, Inc. is a national retail installation and event management company.  Training will include basic injury prevention, CPR/First Aide and OSHA 10. 

Titcomb Brothers Manufacturing, Inc. – Westport, MA - $6,179.25 - Titcomb Brothers Manufacturing designs and produces plywood concrete forming panels and steel concrete forming hardware.  Training will include ergonomics, fire safety, OSHA 10 and warehouse forklift training.

Timberline Construction Corp – Canton, MA - $ 19,110 - Timberline Construction is a highly experienced general contracting and wireless construction company.  Training will include forklift, personnel lift, and crane signal, OSHA 30 and bucket truck.

Twin Rivers Technologies Manufacturing Corp – Quincy, MA - $24,824 - Twin Rivers is one of the largest oleo-chemical producers in North America. The plant has direct access to worldwide ocean shipping lanes through its own deep water port facilities and storage terminal.  Training will include DOT Course, confined space, self-contained breathing apparatus training, combined space entry rescue, and 8-hour emergency responder.  

Winchester Hospital – Winchester, MA - $10,593 - Winchester Hospital is an acute-care community hospital.  It is a 229-bed facility providing a wide-range of care.   Nurses, clinical assistants and other staff are at high risk of musculoskeletal disorders caused by overexertion.  Training will include safe patient lifting/handling.