Health and Safety
Everyone at Michael Baker has an active role in health and safety, no matter their location or job function. We achieve the highest level of health and safety by providing the latest equipment, thorough procedures and training that educates employees about how to identify and avoid potential hazards. Our commitment to safety is supported by our corporate Health and Safety Policy Statement.
Demonstrated Success
We are proud of our exemplary safety record and ability to maintain rates below the industry average for engineering services per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Employee Safety Empowerment
Michael Baker employees are required to complete mandatory Health and Safety trainings related to their specific roles. Also, the Michael Baker Health and Safety Department offers a variety of in-class safety trainings to meet our evolving safety needs.
In the field, our project managers proactively assess the hazards of their projects and ensure that their team members have the proper health and safety trainings completed, giving them the knowledge and skills to work safely in the face of hazards. Additionally, all Health and Safety Plans contain thorough and distinct guidelines for all team members, along with detailed directions on how to handle emergency situations.
Recognizing Excellence in Safety: S.L.A.M. Awards
Our Stop, Look, Assess, Manage (S.L.A.M.) Safety Award is an annual program recognizing a project team, service group or office that improved a safety process, contributed to our safety culture and achieved outstanding safety performance over a significant period of time.
2025 Winners
S.L.A.M. Construction Services Winner: ALCOSAN Wet Weather Plant Expansion Program
The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) provides wastewater treatment services for customers throughout Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Michael Baker is serving as Construction Manager for the ALCOSAN’s Wet Weather Plan Expansion Program, which consists of 10 total projects, each involving a general contractor, an electrical contractor, an HVAC contractor, and a plumbing contractor.
To ensure safety, Michael Baker conducts thorough reviews of each contractor's work and safety plan, especially since multiple teams often work in the same areas simultaneously, leading to potential conflicts. The facility, which operates 24/7, is bordered by the Ohio River on the west and an active Norfolk Southern rail line on the east, creating challenges such as limited space for equipment storage and maneuvering, as well as the risk of flooding. To achieve a safe environment and maintain continuous operations, the team led extensive planning, communication and coordination. Our colleagues have worked on this project since 2019 without a single recordable injury/illness or first aid case.
S.L.A.M. Field Work Winner: South Carolina Bridge Inspection & Evaluation Engineering Services
Michael Baker provides more than 1,000 topside and underwater bridge safety inspections each year, as well as quality control and assurance, asset management and training for the South Carolina Department of Transportation Bridge Management Office. These services are a vital component of public safety as they help identify and address potential issues before they escalate into major problems, such as structural failures and accidents.
On top of our regular inspection work, Michael Baker provided emergency inspection services following Hurricane Helene that covered 1,331 bridges in less than seven days. Gaining access and performing a professional inspection takes extensive planning to identify safe travel routes, parking, appropriate PPE, equipment and communication and coordination. Our teams worked 42,572 hours on this project without an OSHA-recordable injury or illness case, lost workday case or first aid injury case.