Valleycrest rewards safest workers with trucks

CALABASAS, Calif. – Safety isn’t just another word at ValleyCrest Landscape Companies, the nation’s largest integrated landscape services firm. The company puts effort and commitment into workplace safety – not to mention providing rewards for its safest workers. This week, ValleyCrest presented new Ford Ranger trucks to five employees for superior performance in workplace safety as part of its 2010 Safety Awareness Day.
 
 “Workplace safety is a top priority since ValleyCrest’s workforce is deployed outdoors on thousands of commercial customer job sites every day across the country,” said Richard A. Sperber, president and CEO of ValleyCrest.

This year marks the eighth year that ValleyCrest has awarded new trucks during which time 42 trucks have been given to workers. Since the safety initiative was introduced in 2002, the company’s overall claims (at-fault auto liability claims and OSHA recordable workers compensation claims) have decreased 60 percent.

Part of a model safety incentive program, the annual Safety Day truck giveaway reinforces ValleyCrest’s deep commitment to workplace safety by encouraging employees to perform throughout the year accident free. To qualify, full-time field employees must complete one year of service with no accidents and be employed by a branch that meets or exceeds the company’s threshold safety standards. ValleyCrest’s annual safety incentive program draws winners from a pool of more than 4,200 eligible employees who qualified across five different U.S. regions.

The five new Ford truck winners for 2010 include:

Region 1: Aureliano Benitez-Garcia, crew leader, 10 years, resident of Las Vegas. ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance, East Las Vegas, Nev.

Region 2: Jose Luis Ruiz, foreman, 14 years, resident of San Diego. ValleyCrest Landscape Development, San Diego.
 
Region 3: Benjamin Rodriguez, equipment operator, 8 years, resident of Houston. ValleyCrest Golf Course Maintenance, Wildcat Golf Club, Houston.

Region 4: James A. Wooley, gardener level III, 15 years, resident of Orlando, Fla. ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance, West Orange, Fla.

Region 5: Exau Dominguez Perez, crew leader, 2 years, resident of Sterling, Va.
ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance, Dulles, Va.