John Dahir fell into the position of Safety Director 17 years ago. 
 
He grew up watching his father and grandfather work with their hands and was hooked on the way they could turn almost nothing into something.  Following in their path, he went to work in construction.  Three years into his career as a laborer, one moment changed his career path. 
 
John was working on a project site demoing a plaster ceiling when he fell off a step ladder.  He fell 8 feet to the ground and, trying to protect his face, he stuck out his arm to brace the fall.  He landed on his arm and shattered three bones in his left elbow.  He was taken to the hospital with a compound wound. 
 
“Shock kind of took over.  I stood back up ready to get back not realizing what had really happened,” MCL Safety Manager John Dahir said. 
 
John needed surgery to repair the injury and ended up with four external fixator screws to help set the bones.  During his recovery, he was given the position of Kiewit’s Safety Manager.  What was supposed to be a temporary position turned into a career.  He was passionate about preventing anyone else from going through what he did.  Injuries are preventable and he wanted to be the one to prevent them. 
 
“My goal is to make sure everyone returns home in the same condition they came to work in,” John said.  “I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone else.” 
 
Now, his elbow is completely healed but he carries with him a 14” scar on the back of his left arm that reminds him why safety is so important and why he is committed to protecting others on the job site. 
 
John officially joined the MCL team on October 28, 2020.  His safety career started at Kiewit where he spent 13 years as the Safety Manager.  He left Kiewit in 2015 and accepted a position as the Safety Manager for Beal Derkeene Construction.  He spent about 8 months with that company before accepting a position with another Nebraska construction firm as its Safety Director.  He held that position for five years. 
 
At MCL, success starts with safety.  It is our top priority and one of our core values the business operates on.  Under John’s leadership, the men and women employed with MCL can trust that their job site is a safe job site. 
 
John hopes that through his experience as a laborer and as someone who suffered a workplace injury, he will be a resource for our field team.  He says he wants to do more than plan.  He will be a hands-on instructor who wants to pitch in and show our team different safety techniques.   
 
“I have been on both sides of the fence.  I have worked on the management side and the craft side, so my approach is more or less to treat people how you want to be treated on all sides of the industry,” said John. 
 
Safety starts with communication. He encourages the MCL team to come to him with any questions or concerns. When it comes to your safety, he says there is no such thing as a bad question. ​

About MCL Construction
​For many businesses, navigating the entire construction process and knowing who to trust can be overwhelming.  At MCL Construction, our people simplify the process by listening, planning, executing, and continuing the relationship to build their vision

MCL Construction continues to monitor developments surrounding COVID-19 and adjust our current health and safety plan accordingly. 

As part of our continuing efforts to keep our employees and business partners safe and healthy, the company is enforcing a new policy.  Infrared temperature scanning is now required before you enter the building.  The technology uses thermal imaging cameras and software to produce instant temperature readings and mask detection. 

“Safety is the core of our company culture.  These scanners enhance our commitment of keeping our employees and visitors to our office safe,” said MCL Construction founder and President Bob Carlisle. 

It is a touchless process.  The individual stands in front of the screen to be scanned.  If a temperature is above a preset number or they are not wearing a mask, the system will alert the individual with an alarm.  Anyone with a temperature higher than the Johns Hopkins recommended temperature guidelines will not be allowed into the building and will be referred to our updated employee protocol.  Safety is the number one priority at MCL.  It is our responsibility to make sure all our employees work in a safe office and are not a health risk to the sites we work on daily.  The thermal scanners will also be used on project job sites. 

“We work in a lot of healthcare facilities and we are fortunate to learn from the doctors, nurses, and administration we communicate with daily,” said Carlisle.  Taking preventative measures like monitoring our temperature, physical distancing, and wearing a mask in public are crucial to us beating this pandemic.” 

In March, MCL formed a COVID-19 task force that meets daily to address updated safety measures in the community, on our job sites, and in the office.  This task force will continue to meet daily as we work through the uncertainty of the pandemic all while ensuring quality work for our owner and business partners. 

About MCL Construction
For many businesses, navigating the entire construction process and knowing who to trust can be overwhelming.  At MCL Construction, our people simplify the process by listening, planning, executing, and continuing the relationship to build their vision.

At MCL Construction, safety is everyone’s responsibility. 
 
More than Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and open dialogue about job hazards, MCL’s definition of safety is that every one of our employees goes home in the same or better condition than they came to work in. 
 
The extra steps taken by all of our employees daily does not go unnoticed.  MCL is a recipient of this year’s Nebraska’s Safest Companies award presented by the National Safety Council. 
 
Companies awarded this recognition must meet specific safety criteria with a low number of recorded injuries each year and a limited number of workdays lost due to injuries.  With nearly 200 men and women working in sometimes unpredictable conditions at least five days a week, that is something to be proud of. 
 
“Safety is built into every part of the job from preconstruction to project turnover,” said Safety Director Jim Hinrichs.  “It is talked about and it is lived and breathed by management.  Safety is never sacrificed.  Everyone goes home in the same condition or better than when they came to work.” 
 
Over the last few years, MCL has taken steps to continue to build on an already strict safety protocol. 
 
Superintendents have the added responsibility to document safety inspections before any site work is done.  They account for potential hazards and plan the safest approach to complete projects with no risk of injury.  Reports of this plan are logged and delivered to Hinrichs. 
 
“This is their award. It is not my award.  The guys in the field that are listening, slowing down, and asking for help deserve this award,” said Hinrichs. 

We now require a once-a-month meeting per job site to build comradery and improve communication on the job.  Communication is imperative when working with and relying on other employees on complex jobs. 
 
Also, MCL has implemented increased training to refocus on our emergency action plan.  Before construction starts, our team will put together a detailed safety plan and practice our approach to it.  The plan is in response to natural disasters, criminal threats, or fire. 
 
This award motivates MCL to continue its progress toward a safer work environment.  Our goal for 2020 is to have 0 reported injuries -- something we are on track to accomplish. 

About MCL Construction
For many businesses, navigating the entire construction process and knowing who to trust can be overwhelming.  At MCL Construction, our people simplify the process by listening, planning, executing, and continuing the relationship to build their vision.

​The employees of MCL Construction were recently recognized by The Associated General Contractors of America with a Certificate of Commendation.  This honor is for an excellent safety record, zero incidence rate - 50,000 work hours and over.

"Our first Principle of Performance and Excellence is Success Starts with Safety," said MCL Construction Safety Director Jim Hinrichs.  "From the top down, safety is the number one priority at MCL Construction and this award affirms our commitment to a safe work environment."

MCL Construction will start its 30th year of business in 2017 and the Omaha, Nebraska, based company guarantees that your project will be staffed with professionals who are CPR and First Aid certified.  MCL's Director of Safety and Assistant Director of Safety are OSHA 510 certified.

For more, visit the Safety section of the MCL Construction website.