- Brink Constructors, Inc.

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Dedicated to Our Employees
Committed to Safety
Determined to Provide Customer
Satisfaction
BRINK
CONSTRUCTORS,
INC.
Employee Newsletter
WATTS HAPPENING
May/June 2015 Edition
Inside This Issue
Anita Junction to Guthrie Project
Pictures from Anita Junction, Burlington & Ellsworth Projects…….…1
Pictures from Deer Creek Sub ……………………………………..…………...…..2
Pictures from Payne Switch Sub…………………………………………………….2
Pictures from Hoskins to Neligh Foundations…………………………….… 3
Crane Class Information………………………………………………………….…….4
Administrative Professionals Day…………………………………………….….….4
Slips, trips, and falls…………………………………………..……………….….…..… 5
401k information…………………………………………………………….………………5
New Employee Paperwork………………………………………………….………….6
Birthdays and anniversaries………………………………………………….…..……6
Thank you and Brink website and Facebook info………….…..……….….6
Burlington to Wray-Tri-State
Brink crews are hauling poles on the Tri-State
project in Colorado we started last month. Here’s
a photo by Seth Scott showing the few fields they
are hauling through.
Ellsworth KS Project
This is a picture of some of our guys working on I80 in Iowa (west of Des Moines) setting up to pull
conductor across the busy Interstate. Here the
guard poles are suspended from cranes to prevent
the wire from dropping onto the interstate.
Page 2
WATTS HAPPENING
Deer Creek Substation
Payne Switch
Oklahoma has been receiving record rainfall this year and
as you can see the yard is quite muddy and water
saturated. Nick Hinton and crew still found a way to
make progress in the mess.
Brink crew pulling out cable runs to be
installed in underground conduits.
Here Shane McCauley is admiring some
bus work that the crew just installed.
WFEC crews in blue and Brink employees in tan-Brink is wiring
in one breaker and WFEC is testing in another.
WATTS HAPPENING
Page 3
Hoskins to Neligh Foundations
At the Hoskins to Neligh Foundations Project-top picture
shows the crew pouring some concrete and the bottom is of
them working at night digging on Str 1 of a 345kV line. The
hole is 10 ft wide x 64 ft deep
Top picture is of a 9'-6" by 63 ft rebar
cage. In the bottom picture, the red
truck is the concrete pump truck.
Page 4
WATTS HAPPENING
Crane Class
Crane Class Continued
In the continuing effort to ensure that our
equipment operators are competent, qualified and
safety-focused by providing quality technical and
OSHA compliance training, a Mobile Crane Operator
and Rigger/Signalperson class was conducted on
May 4-8 at the Brink home office location in Rapid
City, SD. Our Rapid City facility is a NCCCO-registered
Practical Test location. This class was conducted by
Willie Tubbs, a nationally certified trainer with
Nationwide Crane Training, an industry leader in
crane operator certification. The class was
sponsored and accredited by the National
Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators
(NCCCO). The following eight individuals took part in
the class: Josh Birdsall, Pete McClain, Ken McClain,
Matt Gustafson, Matt Davis, Will Davis, Kevin Stone,
and Cee Bee Shultz.
Preparation for the class began well in advance of
the actual training. There are many aspects to class
preparation; candidate selection, submission to and
approval of applications by NCCCO and International
Assessment Institute (ITI), compiling of training
materials, inspection of cranes, relocation of
equipment and setting up of the practical test
courses and coordination of food and rooms for
candidates.
Training consists of classroom and practical
operation on both fixed and swing cab cranes. In the
classroom, students are instructed on: OSHA and
other regulatory requirements; technical aspects of
cranes; how to use load and range charts; and the
requirements to become an OSHA-qualified Rigger
and Signalperson. During the week, the students
completed an exam for the Rigger/Signalperson
qualification. On Friday, the students took six
challenging written exams, three per crane. The
exams will be graded by ITI in the next three weeks.
For the practical aspect of the class, students spent
significant time honing operating techniques in the
cabs of the two cranes. After three days of
instructor training and practice operation, each
student attempted to successfully complete three
practical exams for both cranes. The practical exams
are graded by the NCCCO and results released
within the next couple weeks.
While the safety, practical and professional value
of this particular training cannot be overstated,
there is a considerable monetary investment
committed. The direct extended per student cost
is approximately $3500, with an eight student
figure nearing $28,000. Add in all the associated
administrative and preparation expenses incurred
and the overall cost for conducting this training
nears almost $40,000. This is a prime example of
the core value of employee safety through
training of Brink Constructors and ownerships’
financial commitment to achieving our goal of
zero accidents.
Conducting a high-end training of this scope
requires a total commitment from all levels of the
Brink team and we in the Safety Department
would like to offer a sincere “Thank You” to all
those who assisted us in preparing for this. We
also want to thank those eight employees who
committed to this training, worked hard to
succeed and showed their high level of respect
and professionalism to the Instructor. Mr. Tubbs
was very impressed with them, commenting to
Ron and I several times that this was one of the
best groups he’s instructed.
Thank You All again and remember….
”MAKE IT SAFE, KEEP IT SAFE!”
Administrative Profess. Day
Happy Administrative Professionals Day 2015.
Pictured are Katryna Shay, Amber Cole, Nichole Larsen,
Rebecca Scott, Susan Stelter, and Kelly Culberson. Not
pictured is Shelley Eisenbraun.
Page 5
WATTS HAPPENING
Slips, Trips and Falls: Be on the lookout
Every worker is entitled to a safe workplace, and
that includes keeping it free from tripping hazards.
Slips, trips and falls are the most common
workplace incidents, but they’re also some of the
most preventable. Here are a few of the main
dangers to look out for. Level changes-any kind of
change in elevation-stairs, curbs, ramps-can make
you slip up. Make sure you are focused on the area
around and ahead of you. Cords, cables and hoses:
loose cords not only look unsightly, they’re also a
frequent cause of falls in both homes and
workplaces. Keep cords out of the way and taped
down. Slippery surfaces: slips are especially
common in the bathrooms, kitchens, near water
fountains, as well as in entrances and exits. Water
and mud can be tracked in from shoes. Clean up
spills immediately and post a warning sign if the
floor is wet. Shoes: Choosing appropriate footwear,
such as shoes with proper ankle and heel support
and non-skid strips on the bottom, can help reduce
your risk of falling. Damaged ground: A seemingly
small crack in the sidewalk or broken tile can easily
disrupt your day with a trip or fall. Keep
management in the loop if any of these issue arise.
Bringing it home- though less frequent, falls from a
height are often more severe than falls on the same
level. Ladders in particular are a tool that we use
both at work and at home so it is important to
know the safety concerns and how to use them
correctly. Choose the right ladder for the job.
Inspect it before and after you use it. DON’T use a
damaged or unsafe ladder. Don’t stand any higher
than the third rung from the top. Always keep at
least 3 points of contact with the ladder. When you
climb, face the ladder and do not climb with tools in
your hand. Do not use ladders in wind or inclement
weather. Place the ladder on a firm, solid surface.
Always make sure the top of the ladder has firm
support-do not lean against a window or unstable
surface.
When it comes to slips, trips, and falls, knowing
what to look out for can make all the difference in
the world. Be smart and stay safe!
401K INFO
According to a recent report, millions of
Americans are not taking full advantage pf their
employers’ retirement matching contributions. In
fact, people leave an estimated $24 billion on the
table each and every year. And while a small
percentage of your salary might now sound like a
big deal, failing to take this free money from your
employer and investing it can be devastating to
your retirement.
The data is alarming-why aren’t more people
taking advantage? A report by Financial Engines
examined the records of 4.4 million retirement
participants, and found that one-fourth of
employees whose companies offer a match aren’t
taking full advantage. Of this unfortunate group,
the average person leaves $1336 on the table
each year, and some are giving up a lot more than
that. A quick calculation suggests that nearly 18
million Americans are not fully utilizing their
employers matching programs. It is possible that
many people simply believe that boosting their
contributions by a few percentage points really
won’t make a difference. After all if your earn
$50,000 per year, how much of a difference will
an increase from 3% to 6% of your salary—or
$1500 per year—really make in terms of your
quality of life in retirement? You might be
surprised. Why it makes such a big differencemissing out on $1336 isn’t in itself such a huge
deal but how much of a difference do you think
$1336 per year would make over say a 35-year
career? Do the math, and it adds up to almost
$47,000. That could make a serious difference in
your quality of life in retirement. And rememberthis is free money. The amount your employer is
willing to match should be looked at as a bare
minimum. You can—and should—contribute even
more to your retirement savings. In fact the IRS
allows for elective 401(k) contributions, not
including your employers match, of up to $18000
per year or $24000 per year if you are over 50.
Increasing your retirement contributions may
seem like a burden now, but you’ll thank yourself
later. Brink Constructors plans to make these
contributions as part of your compensation
package. Not taking advantage of this would be
like you agreeing to take a pay cut and it could
have a dramatic affect on your long-term financial
health.
Page 6
WATTS HAPPENING
New Employee Paperwork
Supervisors-with so many new hires coming to
work with Brink Constructors, please make sure that
their new employee packets are sent into the office
in a timely manner. Be sure to check to ensure that
the paperwork is completely filled out and that a
copy of their driver’s license and a 2nd form of ID is
also sent in at the same time. A 2nd form of ID can
be a copy of a social security card, a birth
certificate, a photo ID from a trade school(as long as
it is current), or even a copy of a passport. I only
need copies. I do not need originals.
The paperwork should be sent in before the new
employees timesheets start to show up for their
first week of work. There is important information
that needs to be entered into the system before
their first check such as their social security number,
date of birth, number of withholdings, etc. It is very
beneficial to the new employee to have the prenote
done with their first paycheck so they do not have
to try to find somewhere to continually cash a
check. If the direct deposit info is sent in right
away, they will have one actual check and then the
second check should be direct deposited and that
makes it easier for them to access their money. If
you have any questions, please give me a call.
Thank you all for your help with this.
Kelly Culberson-Payroll
605-718-2138
Thank you to Mike Beason, Seth Scott, Gary Sims,
Stacey Brown, Steve Haefs, and Ron Wildberger for
the articles/ideas and pictures that were used in this
newsletter.
Visit our website at www.brinkred.com or
Join us on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/brinkred
MAY/JUNE Birthdays & Anniversaries
May/June Birthdays
Dylan Fernandes
Andre Easter
Casey Beam
Ron Wildberger
Joel Bice
Aaron Hatley
Kyle Baker
Garrett Soares
Levi Culver
Aaron Thompson
Jackson Elder
Tony Cuzela
Kevin Chavez
Evan Digirolamo
Justin Winkler
Matt Elliot
Tim Kehr
Shane McCauley
Will Davis
Stacey Brown
Wyatt Hope
May 05
May 08
May 09
May 09
May 11
May 25
May 26
May 30
May 31
June 02
June 02
June 04
June 05
June 06
June 10
June 13
June 15
June 15
June 19
June 24
June 29
May/June Anniversaries
Matt Elliot
Keenan Caesar
Chris Shagla
Casey Elshere
Kevin Stone
Kris Gonzales
Brian Calderon
Landon Hazelton
Kelly Culberson
Andre Easter
Steve Haefs
Aaron Thompson
Johany Barrientos
Cameron Sims
Tim Torres
Kyle Baker
Matt Gustafson
Jacob Holt
Alec Gregory
Wyatt Hope
John Goettle
Clayton Heavlin
05/07
05/12
05/13
05/14
05/15
05/17
05/19
05/19
05/20
05/21
05/21
05/26
06/03
06/04
06/04
06/09
06/10
06/11
06/16
06/16
06/17
06/18
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