Message From CEO

How quickly this year is passing by is amazing to all of us! It seems like just yesterday the summer was beginning and the work season was getting underway.  HBCC has a lot going on both in the office and in the field from down south in New Orleans, up the Mississippi over to the White River, to way out West in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.  I wonder if 33 years ago the original owners would have believed that one day HBCC might have a project in Wyoming.

With 2011 soon coming to a close, HBCC will make a big push to complete several of our grading jobs as well as some of our structure work before winter weather sets in.  We’re extremely fortunate to have our current backlog that will provide work for 2012 and 2013.  We also have a team that works relentlessly pursuing new work and opportunities.  Keep up the good work and thank you for your dedication and determination!

Don’t forget to give encouragement and show your appreciation to your fellow workers.  Remember our Core Values and use them throughout your day, Safety First, Quality, Integrity, and Teamwork.  Use these everyday for your work week  as well as your personal life.

Be Safe,
Kenny Hill

Workplace Values

Workplace values at Hill Brothers Construction Company include virtues such as trust, loyalty and commitment, honesty and respect for one another, and avoiding conflicts of interest.

Principles and Behaviors for Better Working Relationships:
Integrity.  An important aspect of workplace values and ethics is integrity, and displaying honest behavior at all times makes for good teamwork and continuous improvement.

Accountability.  Employees are expected to act accountable for their actions. That means showing up for work on time and doing the jobs you’re asked to do. It also means accepting responsibility for when things go wrong, and willingly helping/working with others toward a resolution. Sometimes it might mean working longer than planned to see a project through to completion.

Conduct.  Employee conduct is an important aspect of workplace values and ethics. Employees must not only treat others with respect, but exhibit appropriate behavior in all facets of the job. HBCC  has specific rules on conduct that are provided in the employee handbooks and SOP manuals.

Co-workers, like family members, can have serious disagreements. “Conflicts on the job -- even with peers -- are no small matter.”  The person you clash with today could be your manager tomorrow. So maintaining positive working relationships is preferable no matter what your situation. If ignored, workplace conflicts can lead to 1) Stress and anxiety, 2) Reduced productivity, 3) Disciplinary actions, or 4) Termination.

Watch What You “Don't” Say - You may not realize it, but your body language can cause problems for you. Your co-workers know how to read your nonverbal cues. When discussing sensitive issues, do your best to avoid making confrontational gestures such as making angry or rude expressions, rolling your eyes, raising your voice, crossing your arms, turning away or ignoring and sighing. Instead, try smiling or use gestures that show you respect the other person's thoughts and feelings.

Have Empathy Toward Others - Do you habitually say what’s on your mind regardless of whether you hurt someone else’s feelings? Is it your way or the highway? Instead, try to see things from the other person's point of view. Be empathic. Always treat everyone with dignity and respect. You might tell them the truth they don’t want to hear, but please treat them in a way that’s with dignity and respect. 

Safety Update

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): “Do It Right”

We’ve all seen it a hundred times. Walk through any construction workplace in America and you’re likely to see someone at risk for eye injury.

The risks are numerous. Flying sparks, hot surfaces, sharp edges, chemical splashes, and loud noise are just a few of the common hazards.

The risks are significant. Eye injuries alone are suffered by more than a thousand workers every day in the United States. And that’s not even the most common type of injury.

The risks can be reduced. Workplace eye injuries are preventable. Yet, OSHA estimates that 1,000 eye injuries occur every day in U.S. workplaces. According to OSHA, the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) could save over 700,000 lost workdays each year and prevent tens of thousands of injuries having no lost time. OSHA also estimates the savings outweigh the costs of compliance by three to one.

Fix the Problems, Not Just the Symptoms. Safety experts agree the preferred way to protect employees is through engineering or administrative controls, which addresses hazards at their source. Enclose a machine to contain those flying metal chips. Put the welders in a separate room from the assemblers. Eliminate a corrosive chemical in favor of one which is more user-friendly. Realistically, it may not be feasible to eliminate all the hazards, but  eliminating some of the hazards for some of the people is a success.