MIOSHA presents state's highest safety and health award to Holly Construction Company

April 30, 2021

Media Contact: Erica Quealy, 517-582-2961

Holly Construction employee using virtual reality goggles for training program

Holly Construction Company, in Melvindale, MI, received the Michigan Voluntary Protection Program (MVPP) Star Award from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) for workplace safety and health excellence.

"Holly Construction Company's involvement in the STAR Program and the trust and cooperation upon which it is based, demonstrates their outstanding safety and health commitment to their employees," MIOSHA Director Barton Pickelman said.

Two best practices that demonstrate this company's exemplary safety and health management system are:

• Virtual Reality Training Modules: The virtual reality training is used to educate employees on the hazards associated with certain unique job tasks.  Holly Construction Company is creating VR training modules that are based on safety best practices. The hands-on training modules feature a virtual petroleum refinery and a depiction of various work tasks. Each module is created by the Holly Construction Director of Safety with knowledge in the job task(s) and the potential safety hazards.  Our team of highly experienced employees also provide invaluable input for the training module content.  The virtual trainings are followed by the review of a manual, that a new employee or an employee unfamiliar with the job task(s),can refer to, for information on the featured work process and the key safety aspects.
• Risk Assessment Matrix (RAM): The RAM process is a proactive tool used to assess risks that are more complex than most before the work begins. The RAM process ensures that the appropriate safety controls are identified and implemented. Management facilitates the process, which involves a pre-work meeting with the work crew to identify and discuss anticipated hazards.

"Being an MVPP company means that we make safety the top priority on all our jobs," said Brian Gelaude, Carpenter Foreman at Holly Construction Company. "All Holly employees look out for one another so we can all go home safe at the end of the day to our families. Being an MVPP company should be the goal of all contractors in the state to promote the safety and wellbeing of their employees."

MIOSHA established the MVPP program in 1996 to recognize employers with exemplary safety and health management systems that go above MIOSHA requirements. The MVPP program is open to all Michigan employers. To be eligible for the award, an applicant must have injury and illness incidence rates for each of the last three years below the industry average.

Learn more about the MVPP program at michigan.gov/MVPP

About Holly Construction

Holly Construction has been in operation for 47 years and is based out of a 30,000 square foot R-Stamp Certified fabrication shop in Melvindale, MI.

The Holly Construction Company (HCC) operations are those of a resident (nested) contractor at the Marathon Petroleum Detroit Refinery. Managing ten (10) self-performing union trades, Holly provides mechanical, civil, electrical, rigging, and tank construction and maintenance services to the petrochemical, power, manufacturing, aviation, storage, gas, and wastewater industries. Please visit hollyconst.com for additional information.