Taking Safety to Another Level
While speed to market is always critical in life sciences, safety tops the priority list of every aspect of life sciences companies. Life sciences clients should expect the same dedication and priority focus on safety from their service providers, and as a construction firm, Gilbane shares the ideal of safety above all.
We asked our experts, “What do you do to keep safety the top priority on life sciences project?” Hear from our team on the importance of planning, focused priorities, training, and most of all, communication and collaboration to take safety to another level.
Kim Gibson
General Superintendent
“In life sciences, more than other projects, safety is about planning and process. It’s about understanding our client’s needs and goals and acting on that understanding. On site, it starts day one with safety orientation communicating the safety level expectation is a non-negotiable. We know that a safe job creates a much better work environment. A safe job is a happier job, it’s a more collaborative job. It absolutely yields a better end product.
In life sciences, safety is the top priority of everyone involved. No matter what’s needed – extra scaffolding, extra walkways – safety is an utmost priority. It shows in our planning, even before the trades are on board – for example, mechanical subs are going to know that we’re going to expect to see staging versus lifts and ladders – so they can do their jobs more safely.”
A 19-year construction veteran, Kim led the construction of one of the first large-scale oligonucleotide manufacturing facilities in the world.
Stan Hendricks
Support Operations Manager
“When you’re working with a client that’s going to be creating a life sciences product, it absolutely has the potential to do great good. And it’s our responsibility to ensure that everything we do when constructing the facility supports that mission. So, when we think about safety and safety processes, we have to think worker safety and project safety, but beyond that, we also have to think about safety all the way through to the people who’ll ultimately use that product. Every person on a life sciences construction project needs to fully understand the long-term importance of safety planning, daily execution of that plan and scrupulous cleanliness. Planning and process have to be at the forefront in every step, every day, so that at the end of the day, we turn over buildings that were not only built safely, but also can be used safely.”
With over 24 years’ experience, Stan is highly adept at guiding to life sciences clients through the preconstruction process to achieve specific priorities.
Santos Herrera
Senior Project Executive
“Every life sciences client is in the business of saving, protecting or prolonging lives, so of course, safety is going to be their highest concern! We have to bring a robust safety policy, and a very well-communicated training process so that everyone is on the same page about the safety culture. At the same time, our plans have to be flexible to accommodate changes and unforeseen obstacles – but the culture needs to ensure that flexibility never compromises the safety standards.
Every life sciences safety plan is customized to that client’s needs. Maybe there are environmental concerns, or unique lock-out, tag-out requirements. Whatever it is, you have to have an understanding of your client’s construction and site-use goals, along with really solid communication to make sure your construction processes support their needs.”
With 27 years of domestic and international experience in life sciences, Santos is currently overseeing the transformation of an existing facility into a chromatography resins manufacturing center.
Stay tuned for more Life Sciences Insights
Upcoming topics will include:
- Delivering the highest quality to clients
- Innovative solutions to accommodate rapidly changing facility needs
To learn more about our experience, including laboratory spaces, clean rooms, cGMP manufacturing and pilot plants, click here to visit our website or click here to contact our specialists!
