BrightView (NYSE: BV), the nation’s leading commercial landscaping company, today announced a strategic partnership with Red Wing Shoes to help equip over 18,000 team members with high-quality footwear that seeks to address the environmental hazards on the job site. This new program reflects BrightView's unwavering investment in its team's safety and well-being.

As a company dedicated to excellence in landscaping services, BrightView recognizes the importance of ensuring the safety of its team members in every aspect of their work. By partnering with Red Wing Shoes, renowned for their durable and dependable footwear, BrightView is reaffirming its commitment to prioritizing the safety and comfort of its employees.

"Our partnership with Red Wing Shoes underscores our dedication to providing our team members with the best personal protective equipment (PPE) to perform their jobs safely and effectively," said Amanda Orders, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, BrightView. "By outfitting our team with top-quality, functional boots, we are not only investing in their safety, but also empowering them to deliver exceptional service to our clients."

With this partnership, over 18,000 BrightView crew and field team members will have access to footwear that meets the highest PPE standards of safety and performance.

"At Red Wing Shoes, we share BrightView's commitment to prioritizing safety in the workplace," said Tito Warren, President, Global Industrial, Red Wing Shoe Co. "We are thrilled to partner with BrightView to provide their team members with our trusted boots, ensuring they have the protection they need to perform their duties with confidence."

The partnership with Red Wing Shoes aligns with BrightView's ongoing efforts to enhance workplace safety and support the professional development of its team members. By investing in premium PPE, BrightView aims to create a safe and more productive work environment for all employees.

Safety isn’t just a top priority at BrightView, it’s a strategic imperative.

No matter the location, each morning starts with a stretch-and-flex. Teammates are constantly looking out for each other both on and off the job. In addition, leaders – and all team members – share safety tips and metrics with each other and across the various divisions on a regular basis.

So yes, BrightView is obsessed with safety.

“Safety is non-negotiable,” said Holly Woonton, VP – Environmental, Health, and Safety (EH&S). “Our focus on safety is a necessity to help ensure every employee goes home in the same condition in which they arrived that morning.”

One safety metric BrightView measures itself against is the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) – the number of injuries reported against the number of hours worked.

BrightView ended fiscal year 2022 with a 1.94 TRIR, compared to the industry average of 3.00. Across the company, nearly 120 branches went without any recordable injury for fiscal year 2022.

For those branches that ended the year without any incidents, the recipe for staying safe is fairly simple.

Kristi Falliaux, the Regional EH&S Manager for the High Desert Market, which currently holds the top spot for safety within the company, said, “We are committed to safety no matter the task. Our golden rule is safety comes first. We have ready and abled teams who are first aid trained. Safety is the key to engagement and retention.”

The Maryland North Market ranks second for company safety. EH&S Manager Matt Tackett echoes his cross-country counterpart in their approach to safety.

“We do weekly safety calls each Monday morning across the company that include all levels of management, from Senior Vice Presidents, Human Resources, VPGMs, Branch Managers and Branch Safety Leaders,” Tackett said. “It’s branch leadership who champion relevant weekly safety messages and incident reviews to further solidify our safety culture and promote field-level engagement.”

Taking care of what matters most is a point of pride for us. So, when it comes to COVID-19 prevention, we’re not cutting any corners. As the pandemic continues, we’re taking the utmost precautions to protect you and our landscaping teams in accordance with local, state and federal guidelines and the latest guidance from public health leaders. This is how we’re keeping you safe:

Daily Health Screening

Our employees are screened for COVID-19 symptoms prior to each shift. Anyone with potential COVID-19 symptoms or suspected exposure is directed to quarantine following CDC guidelines. Employees who test positive or are exposed to COVID-19 receive paid time off to quarantine.

Proper PPE & Social Distancing

We give our teams the tools they need to keep themselves and those around them safe. Our teams receive face coverings, hand sanitizer, disinfectant, alcohol-based wipes and access to convenient hand washing stations. We’ve also staggered shifts to support social distancing and limited the number of passengers per truck.

Continuing Education

As we continue to learn more about COVID-19, it’s important we keep our teams apprised of the latest. Weekly safety talks and strategic signage help our teams stay in-the-know on the latest prevention best practices on the job and off, as well as how to recognize symptoms.

Contingency Plans for Service Continuity

In the event a landscape maintenance branch is impacted by COVID-19, we’ve created contingency plans that ensure clients can safely receive uninterrupted service. While affected team members quarantine until cleared by a physician to return to work, trained crews from other unaffected areas of the business will provide coverage.  

One of the most important tools of prevention is staying informed. We continue to monitor the latest recommendations from public health leaders to ensure our preventative measures reflect current best practices. While we might be far apart, you can rest assured that safety remains close to our heart. 

When it comes to selecting a healthcare provider, 97% of patients base their choice on safety. Naturally, you work hard to maintain a safe environment within your doors to ensure the best possible patient outcomes. But what about outside your doors? Does your landscape partner value safety as much as you do?

In the landscape industry, the average OSHA Recordable Incident Rate is 4.20. At BrightView, our number is consistently well below; in fact, last year our rate was 2.1. We’re sharing this because we believe that when it comes to safety, there’s no reason to be shy. After all, patients look into your safety ratings before they make their decision on where to receive care. Shouldn’t you at least be able to do the same with a potential landscape partner? 

That’s why we’re pulling back the curtain on the measures we employ to maintain a safe environment at your facility and ensure the wellbeing of your patients, staff, and our teams. Like the Hippocratic Oath’s promise to do no harm, our teammates abide by something similar. “No One Gets Hurt,” is our mantra for safe operations. It represents our promise to not only take care of our teams, but also those we serve. Here’s what that looks like.

Train, Check & Reinforce

Team members undergo extensive vetting and training before they serve you, including E-Verify, initial and ongoing driving record checks and drug and alcohol screenings. New hires undergo our safety orientation and must receive certification for every piece of power equipment they’ll use. We also utilize a buddy system for new hires, pairing them with more tenured team members who help them learn the ropes. 

However, our focus on safety doesn’t end there. Crews participate in weekly safety meetings, which review how to avoid hazards relevant to the current season. Our management teams also participate in a weekly safety call, where they review any opportunities for improvement and strategize how to address them. Finally, we conduct periodic jobsite inspections to ensure safety best practices are always in use at your facility.

But it’s not all work and no play. We believe safety should be celebrated. That’s why we’ve created a reward system for safety compliance, and make recognition of those who have exhibited good safety behaviors a key part of our morning pre-dispatch routine.

Before We Arrive

Our safety preparations begin well before we set foot on your property. Teams begin the day with “Stretch and Flex”—a time for everyone to stretch together to prevent soft tissue injuries, review safety practices, and discuss any potential hazards. Before leaving the yard, we inspect our personal protective equipment (which we require and provide), supplies, and ensure an ample supply of water to keep the team well hydrated. Finally, we inspect our trucks and trailers to ensure they’re roadworthy and compliant with regulatory agencies. These daily inspections help us remedy and identify any deficiencies that could cause harm to our teams or the public. 

On Your Property

We’re easy to spot, but that’s intentional. Our attire is designed to make it easy to identify who is part our crew and enhance visibility for your safety and ours. In addition to our company-issued PPE, our crews are fully uniformed in seasonally appropriate gear, which always includes name badges and safety vests. Our vehicles are logoed and feature our distinctive livery, while cones are used to mark safety zones.

However, what’s not visible is one of the features we’re most proud of: our Stop Work Authority. The Stop Work Authority empowers every team member to take safety into their own hands. Crew members are encouraged to stop a job if they personally feel unsafe, or witness something that could put a teammate or the public in peril. 

Continuous Improvement

Though our OSHA incident rate is well below average, there are always opportunities to improve. Hazards, near misses, and concerns are always submitted to our Branch Safety Leaders for review and correction, if needed. In the event of an injury, a root cause analysis is conducted to ensure future incidences are prevented.

We’re proud of our safety program, but that’s not the only reason we’re sharing these details. We’re providing this information because we believe it should be readily available to you, to aid in your selection process. The patients who entrust you with their care have confidence they’ll be in good hands. We want you to have that same confidence in us.
 

Chances are the landscape around your entrances is well-maintained. But what about the perimeter of your property, specifically along your fence line? While the outer edges of your property might not need as much attention, overgrown brush, weeds, and bushes can quickly create unforeseen problems that can compromise safety and your budget.  Here’s the scoop on fence clearing.

An Unkempt Fence is Risky Business

When plant material along your fence line gets out of control, so too does your exposure to risk. An unkempt fence line can provide fuel for a fire, making it easier for flames to spread across or to your property. It also makes it difficult for firefighters to have a clear access path around your entire property should they need to contain a fire.

While the consequences of overgrown brush aren’t always catastrophic, it can still hit you where it hurts—right in the budget. Fence clearing helps extend the life your fence; without it, branches can apply pressure that compromises the integrity of your fence, necessitating repairs or replacement. This presents a security issue as well, should any damage create openings that allow unwanted guests access to your property.

Finally, don’t forget about visibility. Maintaining good line of sight is important for the safety of all who frequent your property. Overgrown areas provide hiding spots for unwanted guests and serve as a collection spot for loose debris and litter. Removing excess brush helps prevent blind spots and obstacles that could cause vehicle accidents or pedestrian injuries.

How to Tame the Beast

Thankfully, there’s more than one way to tackle the problem. Here’s what you need to know to choose the right one for you:

Mechanical Methods

Among the most common methods are chainsaws, bulldozers, brush mowers and trimmers. Chainsaws, brush mowers and trimmers make the most sense when you want to selectively clear the fence—for instance, you wish to leave certain trees intact. When the job calls for a clean slate over a large area, bulldozers or front-end loaders may be required. The downside, however, is that heavy equipment like these can increase your chances of soil erosion, a risk your landscape provider can help assess. The other important pitfall to mechanical removal is that it’s not permanent. Eventually, whatever was removed will grow back. That’s where herbicides can come in handy.

Herbicides

Non-selective herbicides can be used to kill brush, making it easier to keep your fence line tidy. Options include both chemical and organic solutions. Apply during the active growing season (spring and summer), to make removing the dead brush a snap. Once your fence line is clear, the soil can be lined with landscape fabric to help keep weeds from growing in the future.

Whatever route you go, remember that fence clearing is not a one-and-done process. Your landscape provider can help create a vegetation management plan that makes the task more manageable—both in time and budget.

At BrightView, we believe it is our duty and responsibility to help ensure that every single employee arrives home safely to their family each day. The safety and well-being of our customers, visitors to your property, the general public, and our employees is our top priority. From the moment we gather at 6 a.m. for ‘stretch-and-flex’ to the moment we arrive on-site at your property, we are living out the safety promise we’ve made to each other and to our customers.

As an organization committed to constant improvement, we actively work to continue developing a best-in-class Safety Management System that results in zero injuries to our team members and injury rates well below the national industry average. BrightView is invested in a structured and disciplined safety excellence initiative that protects and fosters a safe environment. With safety managers assigned to every branch office, we take pride in conducting our business operations in a manner that helps to ensure the safety and well-being of our teams and the communities in which we operate.

BrightView is the landscape partner who believes safety is much more than the gear we wear – it’s woven into the fabric of our company.

Here are some frequently asked questions about our Safety Program:

17. Does your organization have a dedicated EH&S Department?

1. Yes, we are a center-led functional department with resources located throughout our geographic footprint.

17. Do you have a written safety program?

1. Yes, along with additional EH&S policies and procedures which relate to our industry work type.

17. Does your organization have a written drug and alcohol policy?

1. Yes, the program is managed by our Human Resources department.

17. Has your organization been subjected to any inspections or citations from a regulatory agency?

1. Yes, additional information can be made available upon request.

17. Has your organization had a workplace fatality within the last three years?

1. Yes, additional information can be made available upon request.

BrightView is committed to the safety of its team members, and with thousands of them coming to work each day across the United States daily, the company has defined and developed a “Daily Safety Game Plan.”

The plan begins the moment team members arrive in the morning and lasts until everyone steps foot into their homes at night.

To ensure safety, the “Daily Safety Game Plan” focuses on preparation for work, safe driving, individual work at each job site, and post-production.

“Our commitment to safety is reinforced through daily morning huddles and weekly tailgate meetings, new-hire orientations, and a buddy system for new team members,” said Jeff Herold, BrightView President, Landscape Maintenance.

To read the full article, visit Landscape Management.

More than 22,000 men and women work at BrightView, and the daily goal of the company is to make sure “No one gets hurt.”

There can be no compromise on safety and it’s a passion and a big part of the company. It has led BrightView to launch OpX, an initiative and a center of operational excellence. The goal of OpX is to develop and implement BrightView standards across its landscape maintenance division.

“Our intent was to establish a field-focused work group that allowed the maintenance organization to develop national standards and share best practices, tools, and training to accelerate our performance in the same way we have driven our safety program,” said Jeff Herold, BrightView President, Landscape Maintenance. “OpX begins and ends with safety. We will never stop striving for a zero-injury workplace.”

To read the full article, visit Landscape Management.