At March Construction, nothing is more important than safety.
This year, our teams paused work at the Ecco Apartments project in Elizabeth, NJ, and the Thorndal Circle luxury residences project in Darien, CT to focus on one of the most serious risks in construction: falls.
“Every year, people fall from ladders, lifts, scaffolds, and roofs… and they get hurt bad or they get killed,” said Safety Director Frank Brady.
As part of the OSHA National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, Frank and safety trainer Bob Sagendorf led conversations with crews at both jobsites, making sure the message was clear, direct, and understood by everyone. The discussions centered on ladder safety, aerial lifts, and the importance of staying aware of your surroundings at all times.
“Construction is a serious business. You can’t be talking on your phone. You have to be paying attention to what you’re doing,” Frank emphasized.
He spoke about the real dangers of rushing, cutting corners, or allowing distractions on the job. These are not small mistakes. They are the kind that can change lives in an instant.
A recent example shared during the stand-down drove that point home: a worker fell fifty feet from a pump jack that was not properly erected. It is a stark reminder that the decisions made in everyday moments matter.
“I know you always hear from your bosses, ‘We gotta get done!’ Get it done… but get it done safely. All of you work hard. You deserve to come home like you came to work,” Frank reminded the crews.
To reinforce the message, Safety Coordinator Leila Stephan distributed safety materials so workers could take the information with them and keep it top of mind beyond the jobsite.
We are proud of our teams in both Elizabeth and Darien for taking the time to step back, refocus, and put safety first.
At March, we believe no deadline, milestone, or task is more important than protecting the people who make the work possible.
