Business Spotlight

Laoch Services, LLC is based in Fayetteville, Georgia and focuses on a variety of services for the United States government, focused on the Department of Defense. It is a VA Certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) with more than 75 years of leadership experience supporting the military and government contracting industry. They partner with their customers to help solve complex problems, integrate solutions, secure systems, increase efficiency, and reduce sustainment costs.

Laoch Services President Richard Carmichael believes creating a workplace safety program is very important, partly because it helps reduce company overhead costs. “If I can prove to insurance carriers that I am not having accidents through training, I get a discount for workers’ comp.” Carmichael believes when he makes safety a priority, it causes fewer headaches and worries that he doesn’t have to deal with on the worksite. “Accidents take away from daily work when I have to figure out why a person got hurt,” he says.

Carmichael believes there are bigger safety issues employees need to be aware of on a regular basis. The more education his workforce receives, the less likely they are to have an accident, keeping them safer in the long run. Carmichael also says involving employees in the safety culture is very important. For example, the government requires specific PPE to stay safe, such as boots. However, Carmichael’s mechanics provide important input on what they specifically need to be safe, whether it be clothing to protect against cold weather or earmuffs for hearing protection. “The up-front cost is minimal,” he says. “Going above and beyond to protect our workforce pays dividends in the future for the safety of employees.”

Laoch Services involves its employees in their safety culture. They have a kick-off meeting at the beginning of each contract to explain how the onboarding occurs. During this meeting, Carmichael makes it a requirement for employees to complete OSHAcademy’s 10-hour General Industry Safety and Health program. He also incorporates specialized OSHAcademy training when needed, such as hazardous material instruction.

Carmichael says it is extremely important to train younger employees about the importance of safety early in their career to help prevent future accidents at work. “The more you tell them, the better off they are,” Carmichael adds. “A well-trained and prepared employee is going to be best suited to perform their solution or required job safely.”

OSHAcademy would like to recognize Laoch Services, LLC for their continued efforts toward workplace safety and health.