Jobsite safety remains a critical consideration for underground utility and excavation contractors, where crews routinely work around heavy equipment, trenches, utilities and changing site conditions. Gaines & Company is reinforcing its safety practices during the 2026 Safe + Sound Week, which runs Aug. 10-16.
Gaines & Company holds regular crew discussions focused on upcoming project tasks and potential hazards. The company also incorporates safety training, employee orientation and its Safety Excellence Program into its broader approach to workplace risk management.
The contractor has received recognition from organizations and customers including the Associated General Contractors of America, Chesapeake Region Safety Council, Delaware Contractors Association, Maryland Motor Truck Association, Miss Utility, National Contractors Insurance, National Safety Council, National Utility Contractors Association, OSHA and Sussex Conservation District.
Gaines & Company uses employee participation as part of its safety program. Safety meetings include discussions of actual industry incidents, along with activities designed to keep safety topics relevant to field personnel.
The company's Safety Excellence Program also recognizes employees who demonstrate strong safety practices. The program is intended to reinforce safe behaviors while maintaining employee involvement in day-to-day safety procedures.
Gaines & Company Safety Director Dominic Pope said the organization links safety and production and has worked to establish safety as an integrated part of its operating culture.
Safety Manager Tommy Trent said the company emphasizes providing employees with appropriate equipment, tools, training and support to perform their work safely.
Gaines & Company provides turnkey site development services, including underground utilities, grading and excavation, sediment and erosion controls and roadwork. The contractor operates from locations in Maryland and North Carolina and serves projects in Maryland, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Delaware.
The company's safety focus is particularly relevant to underground construction, where pre-task hazard identification and crew coordination can affect how work is planned and executed.
For construction owners and contractors, consistent safety practices can be an important component of managing underground utility and site-development work. Gaines & Company's Safe + Sound Week activities highlight the role of recurring crew communication, training and employee participation in maintaining safety procedures across field operations.
Source: Gains & Company.
