Every day, our survey and construction services teams work in environments that pose inherent safety risks, such as high-traffic corridors, busy interstates, swampy lands, and rough terrain. In 2023 alone, nearly 900 people lost their lives in work zone incidents, according to the National Safety Council.
That’s why safety is a top priority at DRMP. We continuously invest in safety training, equipment, and resources to protect our employees, whether they work behind a desk or out in the field. For our clients, this commitment means fewer delays, fewer incidents, and greater confidence that their projects will be delivered successfully, efficiently, responsibly, and without compromise to safety.
DRMP makes ongoing investments in safety training, updated personal protective equipment (PPE), and processes designed to identify and reduce risk. Creating a safe work environment requires both structure and culture, which is why we’ve developed a coordinated effort through our safety committees and training initiatives.
Collaborating for a Safer Workplace
Our primary safety committee is made up of employees from across different departments, including human resources, surveying, and construction services. This group meets monthly to review procedures, discuss recent incidents or concerns, and determine how best to continue strengthening our safety practices. We also have a dedicated survey safety committee concentrated exclusively on field operations. This team ensures that our survey crews are following up-to-date safety standards and provides valuable insight into industry trends and risks.
As part of our enhanced safety plan, each DRMP office will have a designated safety officer who manages compliance and conducts regular audits of office and field activities. The audit process helps maintain accountability and allows the firm to evaluate and improve safety performance across all locations. In support of this, DRMP provides a suite of training modules through our in-house learning system. These courses cover topics, such as defensive driving, first aid, the proper use of PPE, and field-specific protocols for both survey and construction services. These topics were selected based on the types of incidents most reported across our teams.
Close Calls, Clear Lessons
Our field teams have encountered close calls from distracted drivers that stress the need for our employees to be vigilant and always prepared. While these close calls did not result in injury, they serve as powerful reminders of why safety cannot be taken for granted.
The firm has also created resources for our field crews that outline steps to take in the event of a concern or incident, along with contact information for immediate support. These tools, combined with a clear chain of communication and structured oversight, helps ensure a quick and effective response whenever a safety issue arises.
Although less frequent, office safety is just as important to address, and we continue to send out monthly updates to help prevent incidents, such as trip hazards, ergonomic strain, fire risks, and improper equipment use.
DRMP is also committed to protecting client data through significant investments in advanced cybersecurity measures, including Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to sensitive information, 24/7 managed detection and response (MDR), and Mimecast email filtering with impersonation protection.
Training that Saves Lives
Recognizing the value of being prepared for emergencies, we’ve also begun working on a plan to certify key team members – starting with crew chiefs and office staff – in CPR, first aid, and automated external defibrillator (AED) use. These certifications could prove vital in a crisis, and expanding this training across the company is an important goal. Having someone on hand who is trained to respond to a medical emergency can make all the difference in saving lives.
DRMP educates about safety awareness through a variety of communication channels, including monthly toolbox talks, tailgate meetings, and email updates. These efforts educate on relevant topics such as preventing slips, trips, and falls – some of the most common and preventable incidents. Over the past couple of years, DRMP has intensified our safety efforts by revising and expanding our programs to better reflect the real-world conditions our teams encounter. Both our survey and construction engineering inspection (CEI) groups have taken significant steps forward in enhancing their safety processes and adapting their approaches to safely perform their work.
DRMP understands safety is an ongoing conversation and a shared responsibility. By maintaining open lines of communication, reinforcing accountability, and equipping our teams with the knowledge and tools they need, we’re building a culture that puts people first. That commitment will continue to guide our actions, every step of the way.
