Turner Wins Safety Award for Evergreen Valley College Project
Turner Construction Company is proud to announce that its upgrades and nursing addition project at Evergreen Valley College Sequoia has been recognized with the Outstanding Safety Performance award. This prestigious honor, awarded by SEWUP, highlights the project’s exemplary safety practices from 2022 to 2025, during which the team successfully completed 84,639 work hours with zero recordable injuries.
Commitment to Safety: A Core Value at Turner
At Turner Construction, safety is not just a priority—it is a core value deeply embedded in every project and worksite. This award underscores the company’s unwavering dedication to maintaining an injury-free environment and ensuring the highest safety standards for employees, trade partners, and stakeholders.
Turner’s safety philosophy is embodied in its Building L.I.F.E.® (Living Injury Free Every day) initiative, which is designed to eliminate worksite incidents through proactive hazard mitigation, pre-planning, extensive training, and a culture of empowerment that encourages every worker to take ownership of safety. By integrating best practices and fostering a collaborative safety culture, Turner has consistently delivered projects that prioritize worker well-being and operational excellence.
The Evergreen Valley College Project: Advancing Healthcare Education
The upgrades and nursing addition project at Evergreen Valley College Sequoia is a transformative development aimed at enhancing healthcare education and workforce readiness. The facility replicates a sterile corridor found in hospital intensive care units and clinics, providing students with an immersive, hands-on learning environment that includes simulation lab spaces and flexible classrooms. These features are designed to support the training and preparation of students for immediate entry into the patient care workforce, strengthening the College’s Nursing Program and addressing the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals.
By creating an educational space that mirrors real-world clinical settings, the project ensures that students gain practical experience in a controlled and safe environment. This approach bridges the gap between academic instruction and professional practice, equipping graduates with the skills and confidence needed to excel in patient care roles.
Celebrating Excellence in Safety Leadership
The recognition from SEWUP reflects Turner’s commitment to creating a safe and supportive workplace. Leaders within the company have emphasized the collective effort and dedication that made this achievement possible.
“Kudos to the entire team for the successful and safe execution of the project! Their commitment to actively caring for the well-being of every worker is truly commendable,” said Rama Ekkad, Vice President & Operations Manager. “By prioritizing safety and engagement, they set a high standard for teamwork, responsibility, and care.”
Dave Steffens, Vice President & General Manager, also praised the team’s dedication, stating, “Our team provided and encouraged wellness checks and exemplified exceptional leadership and personal connection. This is what we all strive for, and you did exceptionally well.”
These statements highlight Turner’s emphasis on not only adhering to safety protocols but also fostering an environment where workers feel supported and valued. By incorporating wellness initiatives, leadership engagement, and personal accountability, the company has cultivated a workplace culture that prioritizes safety as a fundamental aspect of project success.
Key Safety Strategies and Innovations
The success of the Evergreen Valley College project’s safety performance is a result of strategic planning, proactive risk management, and innovative safety practices. Some of the key elements that contributed to this achievement include:
1. Pre-Task Planning and Hazard Identification
Each workday began with structured pre-task planning meetings where supervisors and team members reviewed daily objectives, identified potential hazards, and implemented mitigation strategies. This proactive approach helped ensure that safety considerations were integrated into every task, reducing the likelihood of incidents.
2. Comprehensive Safety Training and Education
Turner invests heavily in ongoing safety education, ensuring that all employees and trade partners receive the necessary training to work safely and effectively. This includes mandatory safety orientations, specialized training for high-risk tasks, and refresher courses to keep safety knowledge up to date.
3. Empowering Workers Through Stop Work Authority
A cornerstone of Turner’s safety culture is empowering workers to take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their peers. Through the Stop Work Authority program, any team member has the right and responsibility to halt work if they observe unsafe conditions. This proactive measure ensures that safety concerns are addressed immediately, preventing potential incidents before they occur.
4. Wellness and Mental Health Initiatives
Recognizing that worker well-being extends beyond physical safety, Turner also emphasizes mental health and wellness. The company provides resources and programs to support employees’ overall health, including stress management workshops, wellness checks, and peer support networks. A holistic approach to safety ensures that workers are not only protected from physical harm but also supported in maintaining a positive and productive work environment.
5. Utilization of Advanced Safety Technologies
Turner integrates cutting-edge safety technologies to enhance worksite monitoring and risk management. Wearable safety devices, real-time monitoring systems, and predictive analytics help identify potential hazards and optimize safety protocols. These innovations contribute to a data-driven approach that continuously improves safety performance across all projects.
The Impact of Safety Excellence
Achieving an injury-free workplace has far-reaching benefits beyond compliance and recognition. A strong safety culture leads to higher productivity, reduced project delays, and lower costs associated with workplace injuries. Moreover, it fosters a sense of trust and collaboration among workers, reinforcing the idea that every team member’s well-being is a shared responsibility.
For clients and stakeholders, partnering with a company that prioritizes safety means confidence in project execution, reliability, and long-term sustainability. Turner’s track record of safety excellence enhances its reputation as a trusted leader in the construction industry, setting a benchmark for others to follow.
