Question: Why is safety at a construction site always QTS’ number one priority?
Bill: The risk on human health and wellbeing is too great for safety not to be the highest priority. There are so many high-risk activities occurring (electrical work, excavations, steel erection, elevated lifting, climbing, etc.) that require attentiveness and safe practices in effort to ensure that they are completed properly and safely. Our goal is for every worker on a QTS jobsite to go home each night, with experiencing an injury or illness.
Question: What kinds of safety measures are present at QTS sites – regardless of location?
Bill: First is awareness through training and communication. Each jobsite has a Site-Specific Safety Plan developed by the project General Contractor (GC); which outlines the potential safety hazards for the project and the expectation for all trade workers to implement safe practices while on the job. Second, pre-task planning for all jobs / tasks to identify the work to be completed, associated hazards with the job, and the protective measures, or controls, to complete the work safely. Lastly, project visibility through routine site assessments, project reviews and walking the project to look for overlooked hazards and improvement opportunities.
Question: As QTS continues to grow at unprecedented rates, what, if any, will change about our safety measures? How do you ensure a culture of safety as we continue to grow?
Bill: Growth leads to safety challenges, especially at the rate QTS is moving; however, this is an opportunity to place safety in the forefront of our progress. Maintaining safety awareness and accountability are key to ensuring that safe practices are embedded into the way we conduct business. An organization’s leadership will cultivate the culture that is embraced by its employees and business partners and the QTS executive team demands safety excellence on all jobsites. That will drive our continued efforts for solid safety performance on all projects.
Question: During construction, how do you work with our vendors to ensure safety is a priority to everyone on site?
Bill: QTS has developed Contractor Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Guidelines that are provided to the contract firms that intend to support QTS projects. This document is intended to be a blueprint to level set safety expectations and requires that the GC incorporate safety management into their Site-Specific Safety Plans. These plans are validated at project commencement and a routine communication process is established involving the Development Project team, GC management, and the Safety staff on all projects. Safety involves everyone on the job, so empowerment to raise awareness of concerns is essential.
Question: What makes the construction of data centers different from a standard home or other business construction? Are there safety measures that are specific to data center construction?
Bill: The sheer size of the build and the electrical infrastructure required to be integrated into the design of the data center. The amount of electrical cabling that has to be installed for equipment connections is tremendous and once they begin to be brought on-line, safety hazards increase. Electricity and the potential for Arc Flash is always a risk in data center construction, especially when a newly-integrated system is being energized for the first time. However, there are recognized safe practices in place to protect all workers; which must be enforced.
Question: What is the number one piece of safety advice you would give anyone on a construction site of any kind?
Bill: The secret sauce to safe performance is commitment by everyone on-site, continued awareness, and following safe work practices and procedures. Everyone should feel empowered to stop work when you have questions or there are concerns with the ability to complete work safely.
