News
Target Field company honored for safety
Mortenson Construction recognized with elite award
By Melissa Therrien / Minnesota Twins
11/09/09 2:48 PM EST
Mortenson Construction was celebrated today for its dedication to safety on the job, and developing Target Field as a worksite with long-term prevention of job-related injuries. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) recognized this achievement by defining Target Field as a Minnesota Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (MNSHARP) construction worksite.The comprehensive program is an elite award among construction sites. Target Field marks the eighth worksite in Minnesota to receive MNSHARP certification. MNSHARP Construction is a 2007 Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) program that recognize major construction companies that have endured at least 18 months of construction and continually go beyond basic expectation.
"Getting home safe is the goal in baseball and in the workplace," said Steve Sviggum, DLI commissioner. "We congratulate Mortenson for its outstanding safety and health performance to reach this milestone. From the beginning of this project, they set the standards high to ensure more construction workers went home safe each night in the same condition in which they came to work in the morning. The safety record this site has achieved is important to all of Minnesota."
Since the project commenced in July 2007, Mortenson has made Target Field a worksite with high standards, strong leadership and a commitment to safety. The project accumulated nearly two million work hours and reached a labor force of 800 workers on site. MNOSHA and Mortenson have partnered in creating safety and health programs including management, leadership and employee involvement, various resources to address safety issues, systems that identify and control workplace hazards and a plan for employee safety training and education.
"The Target Field project included many dangerous work activities that, with the wrong culture and commitment, could have resulted in worker injuries," said Dan Mehls, Mortenson's construction executive overseeing the project. "This award is important to the workers on site, because it recognizes the positive results of a serious commitment to safety."
Melissa Therrien is a community relations assistant for the Minnesota Twins. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
