Six Employers Take Top Honors at MEMIC's Annual Meeting
At the Portland Museum of Art, President and CEO John Leonard paid tribute to the following employers for their efforts in workplace safety and claims management:
- Borderview Holdings Corporation, Van Buren, ME
- Cathedral Square Corporation, South Burlington, VT
- Down East Machine & Engineering, Mechanic Falls, ME
- Gorham Sand & Gravel, Buxton, ME
- Northeast Occupational Exchange, Bangor, ME
- Rockport Mechanical Inc., Rockport, ME
"These companies understand that a mark of a successful business is a successful workers’ compensation program,” said Leonard. “They are a model example to all.”
The winners included:
Borderview Holdings Corporation Borderview Holdings Corporation is a rehabilitation and living center located in Van Buren, Maine. It is a 108-bed facility with 130 employees. They provide nursing home care, Alzheimer’s care, skilled nursing, assisted living and short-term rehabilitative care. Borderview Holdings comes to MEMIC through the Cross Agency. Borderview Holdings Corporation was praised for its “positive safety culture with very safety conscientious employees and management team.” Their safety program includes, in part, a comprehensive new employee orientation program, regular safety training initiatives, routinely documented safety inspections and a safety recognition program.
Cathedral Square Corporation Cathedral Square Corporation is a non-profit organization that owns and operates properties for seniors and people with special needs. They own 24 housing communities located in four Vermont counties for over a thousand residents. They are insured through Hackett, Valine & MacDonald insurance agency. Every year Cathedral Square finds ways to improve upon its injury prevention efforts. Kay Jarvis, human resources manager, heads their workers’ compensation program, which starts with recognizing workplace risks, includes management buy-in and involves formal employee safety training.
Down East Machine & Engineering Established in 1979, Down East Machine & Engineering is a design, machining and fabrication business. It also offers onsite millwright and mechanical services to northern New England customers like Sappi, Cianbro and Pioneer Plastics. They are brought to MEMIC by Cross Insurance. An effective health and safety management program is run by Larry Hathaway, sales and service estimator. In his role as safety coordinator, he holds monthly safety meetings that include topics like respirator protection, confined spaces and back injury prevention. A return-to-work program, pre-placement physicals and formal safety inspections are also part of this company’s superb efforts.
Northeast Occupational Exchange Northeast Occupational Exchange is a licensed mental health and substance abuse agency serving adults, children and adolescents. They are located in Bangor, Dexter, Lincoln, Newport and Portland. They are insured through Willis of Northern New England. Northeast Occupational was a recipient of the Lela Rowland Prevention Award from the National Mental Health Association. Similarly, its safety and medical management program is highly-rated and is indicative in their low frequency and severity of claims.
Rockport Mechanical Inc. Rockport Mechanical is a plumbing, heating, air conditioning and oil delivery business based in Rockport, Maine. They are insured through GHM Agency. Rockport Mechanical has been a MEMIC customer since 2000 with only one claim. This can be attributed to a strong safety culture with low turnover. Regularly document safety meetings, semi-annual safety-related bonuses and a close relationship with a preferred medial provider make up this company’s stellar workers’ compensation program.
Gorham Sand & Gravel Gorham Sand & Gravel is a site work and excavation contractor from Buxton, Maine. The scope of their work includes underground utility installations, road construction and site development. They also process and sell aggregates. They are brought to MEMIC through the Rowley Agency. Mark Curtis runs a successful safety program with support from the owners. Curtis’s formula makes safety the responsibility of not only the foreman but the whole crew. A new hire orientation program with pre-employment physicals, drug testing, a return-to-work program, annual OSHA 10-hour training, safety inspections and employee safety bonus program all meld together to make their program a winner.
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About MEMIC
Specializing in workers' compensation insurance, MEMIC insures nearly 20,000 employers and their estimated 200,000 employees. Based in the Northeast, MEMIC is the leading workers' compensation insurer in Maine through Maine Employers Mutual Insurance Company which is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. The company is the parent of MEMIC Indemnity Company, rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best, with offices in Manchester, NH; Glastonbury, CT; and Albany, NY. MEMIC Indemnity Company is licensed to write workers' compensation in 45 states plus the District of Columbia.