Through our ‘Safer Together’ initiative, we’re reaffirming our commitment to ensure the safety of all employees and clients during and post pandemic.
Safety has always been a top priority at Unispace, but the Covid-19 crisis has caused us to re-evaluate our protocols, laying the foundation for a heightened attention on safety. The ‘Safer Together’ program is designed to infuse increased safety measures in every aspect of the design and construction process and at all levels of the organisation, ensuring these new policies continue long after the pandemic is behind us.
Part of this initiative focused on expanding our safety management team, including the addition of Ismet Dalipi, Regional Safety Manager for North America. Coming to Unispace with an extensive safety background, Ismet is excited to help expand our culture of safety.
What unique expertise and experience do you bring to Unispace?
From TI remodels to multimillion-dollar high-rise projects around the country, I have seen construction companies place a cost associated with jobsite safety versus value. Safety can be used as a revenue-generating mechanism to increase productivity. Through one worker, one jobsite, and one company at a time, I have mentored and demonstrated the reality of making money through the safest jobsites in the industry.
How are safety practices incorporated throughout the project life cycle? Will safety standards influence the design process?
I believe safety practices should not be a necessary inconvenience, but a habit and a seamless part of the professional execution of trade practices and skills. Safety should always drive the design process of our projects, not the other way around. With today’s cultural shift in improved site safety and disease awareness and prevention, safety continues to be the number one issue on all of our sites.
How does safety management impact a project outcome or success of a project? Does wellbeing tie into safety standards?
As Unispace incorporates the highest level of safety standards across all of our sites, productivity will rise exponentially. Workers will want to work on our sites, because they feel safe on our jobsites. Sub-Trades will improve the quality of their work product because of our safety standards. Our clients will have confidence their investments can be entrusted to Unispace
How do you/will you and your team ensure safety at our construction sites?
I have a very hands-on approach to safety and don’t mind getting my hands dirty. I believe the best way to build a safety culture is to meet with the women and men working on our sites and address their concerns, mentor them, and most importantly, listen. Trust is very important when it comes to safety.
In the last 2 months I have visited multiple projects in New York, New Jersey, Boston and Chicago. I have met with our construction teams and the subcontractors to demonstrate firsthand Unispace’s commitment to safety. I look forward to getting to know our clients and addressing any safety concerns they may have.
What does safety management mean to you? Why is it important?
True management is not limited to a simple workday, enforcing a few rules, or handing out forms. It is a lifestyle. A belief that each worker has value. My responsibility is to ensure workers they leave our jobsites without injury and look forward to walking onto a safe jobsite the next day.
Luisa Young, our Chief Safety Officer and pioneer of the ‘Safer Together’ initiative concludes, “By increasing our focus on safety and expanding our safety management team through a series of strategic hires, we can boost our site capabilities to ensure our clients’ projects continue unhindered while providing peace of mind. At the end of the day, the health and safety of our employees, clients, and their loved ones are our highest priority.”
