At Taco Comfort Solutions, safety isn’t something that’s assumed or taken lightly.
The Cranston-based, third-generation, family-owned, high-efficiency heating, cooling and air-quality comfort systems manufacturer takes great pride in its impressive safety record, placing the well-being of its workers front and center.
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Taco’s two local manufacturing facilities – on Cranston Street in Cranston and in Fall River – have each earned Occupational Safety and Health Administration Consultation Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program certifications since 2008 and 2010, respectively. Further, the Cranston location is a SHARP award recipient boasting an OSHA Total Case Incidences Rate of 1.57 for the year 2015 – considerably less than the industry average of 4.60.
As a heavy-metal fabrication shop processing more than 4 million pounds of steel yearly, the crew in Fall River encounters potentially dangerous work situations every day. Despite those daily risks, the facility has gone more than nine years without losing a single day to work-related injury – that’s nearly 1.5 million hours. The facility, which maintains a safety committee comprised of both supervisors and hourly workers, encourages everyone to be aware of and involved in ongoing safety efforts.
Since implementing a safety program for its employees 10 years ago, Taco’s sales and warehousing facility in Ontario, Canada, has a zero incident rate.
The program includes monthly meetings focused on topics related to workplace and at-home safety. Team members are awarded gift cards for attendance. The program has been so successful that the company receives an annual refund check from the Canadian government’s workplace insurance bureau.
“I know that what I do can have a positive impact on a co-worker’s life and thus their family,” said David Grof, safety and environmental director. “If I can change the way people think about safety in the workplace, I can change the way they act, enabling them to perform their job without taking shortcuts or putting their safety at risk.”
Taco has been steadily expanding its reach globally over its nearly 100-year history. Today, in addition to the Ontario facility, the company has sales and manufacturing locations in Italy, Amsterdam, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Dubai.
“We are no longer an American company based in Rhode Island, but have become a global company based in America,” said Wil VandeWiel, Taco’s CEO.
In addition to its safety focus, the company is dedicated to training and professional development for its employees via its web-based FloPro University, as well as on-site training at its $20 million Innovation and Development Center. The IDC, which contains multiple classrooms, labs, meeting rooms, office areas and a library, was designed to serve as a living laboratory for Taco’s products.
“Our top priority is to provide our customers with high-efficiency comfort and Taco family support,” said Ken Watson, vice president, corporate marketing. “This means not only providing high-efficiency products and controls, but also providing the tools and education to increase the efficiency and productivity of our customers through our design software, selection apps, training and technical support.”
The care Taco shows for its own carries beyond the company in its commitment to the community. The Taco/White Family Foundation, the company’s charitable arm, assists Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts-based community nonprofits dedicated to the arts, education, health care and the environment.
“Taco’s destiny has never been just to make things,” said John Hazen White Jr., Taco’s chairman. “This is a place where our employees and customers can grow, succeed and prosper together.” •
