Contractormag 3297 Mckinstry
Contractormag 3297 Mckinstry
Contractormag 3297 Mckinstry
Contractormag 3297 Mckinstry
Contractormag 3297 Mckinstry

McKinstry, partners win grant to research and distribute safety innovations

Aug. 24, 2016
McKinstry is collaborating with Central Washington University (CWU), Oregon State University (OSU) and Comfort Systems USA Northwest The grant team will collect, develop, refine and produce a collection of "Safe and Innovative Best Work Practices for Mechanical Crafts"

SEATTLE, WA — Starting this summer, McKinstry—a national leader in designing, constructing, operating and maintaining high-performance buildings—is teaming up with university and industry partners to bring exemplary safety to one of America’s most dangerous industries.

McKinstry is collaborating with Central Washington University (CWU), Oregon State University (OSU) and Comfort Systems USA Northwest on a project made possible by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries’ Safety and Health Investment Projects (SHIP) grant program. Funded at $199,944 over the course of 18 months, the grant team will collect, develop, refine and produce a collection of “Safe and Innovative Best Work Practices for Mechanical Crafts” in both English and Spanish.

“The mechanical contracting industry is one of America’s most dangerous—but it doesn’t have to be that way,” said Ali Vahed, a grant team member and safety risk analyst at McKinstry. “Mechanical contractors have developed innovative best practices to prevent injuries over the years, but there’s never been a common medium for compiling and sharing those innovations until now. We’ll be setting the bar for best-in-class safety.”

“CWU is excited to partner with McKinstry, OSU, and Comfort Systems USA Northwest to make a major impact in the world of construction safety,” added Sathy Rajendran, grant project manager and program director for CWU’s safety and health management program. “This kind of collaboration, thought leadership and proactivity is exactly what we need to truly enhance safety and health performance for construction workers across the state of Washington and throughout the industry.”

Administered by Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), SHIP’s purpose is to fund and support projects that prevent workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities. This partnership is the first SHIP grant addressing occupational safety and health as it relates to the mechanical construction industry.

About McKinstry

McKinstry is a full-service, design-build-operate-and-maintain (DBOM) firm specializing in consulting, construction, energy and facility services. McKinstry advocates collaborative, sustainable solutions designed to ensure occupant comfort, improve systems efficiency, reduce facility operational costs, and optimize profitability “For The Life of Your Building.” For more information, visit www.mckinstry.com.

About Comfort Systems USA Northwest

Since its founding in 1984, Comfort Systems USA Northwest has provided quality mechanical services for a variety of projects and customers in the Western Washington Region. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.comfortsystemsusanorthwest.com.

About Central Washington University

CWU is a public, four-year university located in historic Ellensburg, Wash. CWU’s mission is to prepare students for enlightened, responsible, and productive lives; to produce research, scholarship, and creative expression in the public interest; and to serve as a resource to the region and the state through effective stewardship of university resources.

About Oregon State University

OSU is one of only two U.S. universities designated a land-, sea-, space- and sun-grant institution. OSU is also Oregon’s only university to hold both the Carnegie Foundation’s top designation for research institutions and its prestigious Community Engagement classification. Its more than 26,000 students come from all 50 states and more than 90 nations. OSU programs touch every county within Oregon, and its faculty teach and conduct research on issues of national and global importance.

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