News

Play It Cool on the Summer Job Site

06/21/2019

Today is the first official day of summer, and the sun and heat has settled in nicely in the Arkansas River Valley. We’re happy to say our job trailers have moved past the days of oscillating fans, and they are fully equipped with air conditioning to give our workers a place to take a break and cool down during the heat of the day.

Despite efforts to keep cool our summer work environments demand a fair amount of salt and sweat from our bodies, and with that in mind, we think it’s time to talk about how to work safely in high temperatures.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that individuals working in hot weather conditions focus on three essential items to remain safe on the job site: Water, Rest, and Shade. When you’re working outside this summer, take care to remember the following tips.

Hot Weather Safety Tips:

  • Stay hydrated. Experts recommended drinking 5 to 7 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes during outside work.
  • Limit your intake of liquids that may contribute to dehydration. Examples include coffee, caffeinated soft drinks, and tea. And of course, never drink alcohol on the job site.
  • Work at a slow and even pace. Listen to your body and understand the signs of heat-related illness.
  • Take breaks. Water breaks and rest periods Take time for rest periods and water breaks in a shaded or air conditioned area.
  • Protect your skin. Wear sunscreen and tightly-woven clothing that blocks out light. If your clothing becomes saturated by sweat, change it.
  • Protect your eyes. UV rays are most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so be sure to wear UV-absorbent safety glasses, particularly during these hours.





VHC Earns Safety and Project Distinctions

05/01/2019

Van Horn Construction team members attended the 2019 Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas state convention last weekend to receive the Diamond STEP Award, ABC's highest safety distinction. Each year participating construction firms engage in a range of safety training programs and development processes to ensure best practices for safety and clean working environments.

Founded in 1989, STEP is a world-class safety management system that dramatically improves the safety performance of participating organizations. In fact, STEP recipients at the Diamond Level are report a Total Recordable Incident Rate that is 680% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average. 

VHC also earned Excellence in Construction Awards for multiple projects at this year's ABC Arkansas Convention, including the Russellville High School Multi-Purpose Facility, the City of Russellville's Central Fire Station, and Clarksville Light & Water Mitigation Phases I, II, and III

A Month in the Life

April 04, 2019

 A lot can happen in 30 days. Spend a month in the life of our team at Lamar High School in this short time lapse video. Go Warriors! 

 

Van Horn Construction Earns Excellence in Construction Awards

February 18, 2019

Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas (ABC) recently announced that Van Horn Construction earned Excellence in Construction Awards for multiple projects in 2019. VHC received recognition for Clarksville Light & Water's Mitigation Phases I, II, and III; The City of Russellville's Central Fire Station; and Russellville School District's Multi-Purpose Facility. 

The Excellence in Construction awards program recognizes merit shop construction organizations for projects that exceed industry standards. ABC evaluates projects in several areas, including complexity, aesthetic, innovation, safety, scheduling, overcoming unique challenges, workmanship, and cost. Representatives from VHC's project team will receive the awards in a special ceremony in late April 2019. For more information about VHC's winning projects for 2019, read below. 

Central Fire Station

Russellville's Central Fire Station has not only been recognized by the construction industry, it also received a national nod from the firefighting community for its innovation and commitment to the Russellville area. Plans for the station began as early as 2013, and VHC worked closely with city leaders and fire department personnel to construct what local residents have named "a building for the community." Learn more about Russellville’s Central Fire Station here

Clarksville Light & Water Mitigation Phases I, II, III

The Clarksville Light & Water Mitigation project consisted of three separate phases, and occurred in multiple locations along Piney Bay and Spadra Creek near Clarksville. The overall goal of the project was installing new intakes on Spadra Creek and Piney Bay in order to preserve the integrity of the city’s water supply and ensure clean water sources in the future. Van Horn Construction served in a CMAR role for the duration of this project. Want to learn more? Click here for additional information about this project. 

Russellville Multi-Purpose Facility

The Russellville School District's Multi-Purpose Facility is a pre-fabricated metal building that houses an indoor turf training area, state-of-the-art weight room, locker rooms, coaches offices, training rooms, meeting rooms, and a player's lounge. The 55,000 square-foot facility provides a safe training environment for students and coaches who navigate extreme weather conditions in summer and winter months. For additional information, photos, and video of this project, click here

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