PREVENTING SLIPS AND FALLS IN SNOW REMOVAL AREAS
PAGE 2
TEAM RALLIES AGAINST WINTER STORM HEATHER
PAGES 3-5
POST-OPEN ENROLLMENT
BENEFITS INFORMATION PAGE 6 T H E E M P L O Y E E N E W S L E T T E R O F M I C H A E L H A T C H E R & A S S O C I A T E S A N D M A S T E R L A W N
By josh wilder safety manager
Safety is a major concern during snow removal, and not just for you and our customers, but for the public Slips and falls are very common Snow piles that block drivers’ sightlines also are a problem On the positive side, we can reduce the risks of accidents by working carefully and according to a snow removal plan
Our Company has a written plan and/or diagram for each property for which we provide snow removal services. Following this plan is very important Here’s what it contains:
• Information about trouble spots, including potholes and low areas where melting snow can pool and re-freeze; areas where downspout drainage onto walking surfaces can refreeze; elevated obstacles such as manhole covers; and gravel-covered lots.
• The location of hightraffic areas, handicap parking spaces, fire hydrants, curbs, islands, and preexisting damage
• Where to place snow piles and their maximum allowable height
• The type of equipment to use
What should you know before beginning work?
• How to safely and properly operate or use any snow or ice equipment or tools
required for the job based on our snow removal training program.
• The information contained in the plan/diagram for the site If you don’t have this information, notify your supervisor
What are ways you can help prevent accidents?
• Follow the plan/diagram for each site
• Give extra attention to handicap parking spaces Remember, patrons may have balance-related disabilities and could be using crutches or canes
• Work carefully and with attention to detail to clear as much ice, snow, and slush as possible
What should you avoid?
• Using handicap spaces for snow pile storage
• Plowing snow onto sidewalks
• Burying fire hydrants
SHIKLE
ginnys@hatcherlandscape
What are some things you should record?
• Your arrival time
• Weather conditions
• All services you provide, including type
and amount of treatments
• Take time-stamped, geotagged photos, if possible
• Give these records to your supervisor
Careers
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1 T H E L E A D I N G E D G E | P A G E 2 J A N . 2 0 2 4 Editor GINNY SHIKLE
and Communications Specialist 901-664-8720
Marketing
com
www hatcherlandscape com
Website
Follow us @hatcherlandscape @hatchlandscape @hatchlandscape linkedin com/michaelhatcher-&-associates-inc THE LEADING EDGE Michael Hatcher & Associates is a proud member of
Jan 15 water trickles in the ice-covered fountain at the entrance to The Landscape Center as snow from Winter Storm Heather continues to fall The storm brought an accumulated 3-6 inches of snow to the MidSouth and a temperature range of 2-16 degrees
BY GINNY
101
ON THE COVER On
PHOTO
SAFETY
areas Scan the QR code to see our current open positions Volume 3, Issue 1
Preventing slips and falls in snow removal
GINNY SHIKLE
In the photo at left, Assistant Project Manager Kyle DeCoursey removes snow from steps at a Shelby County office building At right, team member Victor Reyes of Commercial Maintenance reapplies ice melt on a sidewalk at a Memphis healthcare facility ahead of a second round of precipitation and below-freezing temperatures. Crews were responding to the winter storm that began on Jan. 14.
GINNY SHIKLE
WINTER STORM HEATHER RESPONSE
In The Landscape
By ginny shikle marketing and communications specialist
Winter Storm Heather was forecasted to bring significant snowfall and subfreezing temperatures in the single digits to the Memphis and North Mississippi areas The Jan 14-16 storm presented many challenges but couldn’t stop the roundthe-clock response from the Michael Hatcher & Associates Team as they worked to ensure the safety and accessibility for our contracted snow and ice management customers.
“I sincerely want to thank each and every one of y’all that showed up for this event,” Kelly Ogden, GM of Commercial Sales and Maintenance Operations, told the Team in a Jan 23 meeting “It was a tough event It was a different event than we’ve ever had It snowed for 24 hours straight ”
taking heather by storm
��Storm duration: Jan. 14-Jan. 16*
❄Accumulated snowfall: 3-6 inches*
��Temperature range: 2-16 degrees*
��Wind chill (feels-like temperature): -2 degrees*
��Response duration: 24/7 from Jan 13-Jan 22
Team members involved: 85
��Man-hours worked: 4,000
��Commercial properties serviced: 150
��Ice melt used: 322,850 pounds (161 tons)
*SOURCE: National Weather Service, Memphis
GM of Construction Operations Jeff Peterman also recognized the hard work and dedication of Team members who were instrumental in effectively
handling the impact of the storm
“The past event was one of our biggest this company has ever had to deal with, and a huge thank you to everybody who helped out,” Peterman said “We know we had some things that went well We know we had some things that didn’t go so well.”
Snow removal crews gave candid feedback to the Leadership Team, such as route sizes, shift lengths, damaged shovels, and the need for additional plows
“All good points that we need to make a note of for next time,” Peterman said, adding that the Company will be
In adding his thanks, CEO Russ Sneed also noted that Winter Storm Heather has strengthened our resolve and prepared us for the next storm
“It cannot be overstated the gratitude and appreciation for everybody in this room for the snow event,” he said
“With weather, there is obviously a lot that is out of everybody’s control here It’s during those types of events that our Team – and we – become stronger because this event is the best possible learning event for the future ”
There will be newer, larger, and different challenges ahead, Sneed said, making the comparison that our response to Winter Storm Heather “was like a junior high football team going up against the 49ers” –and the little guys won
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1 T H E L E A D I N G E
l
ADAM CRAWFORD
Center’s snow-covered yard on Jan. 18, crews reload trucks with ice melt for another round of treatment at commercial properties contracted for snow and ice management.
KELLY OGDEN
JEFF PETERMAN
RUSS SNEED
WINTER STORM HEATHER RESPONSE
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1 T H E L E A D I N G E D G E | P A G E 4
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CHRIS BRUNO, WILL COMSTOCK, NICK GARDNER, HAYDEN HUTCHISON, ALEX MOORE, GINNY SHIKLE, STEPHEN SHIKLE, LANCE WHITWORTH, EDGAR VALDOVINOS
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1 T H E L E A D I N G E D G E | P A G E 5 WINTER STORM HEATHER RESPONSE
WINNING BEHAVIORS: LOVE,
New insurance broker explains 2024 benefits
By ginny shikle marketing and
communications
specialist
John Collier of Collier Insurance, our new insurance broker, was at The Landscape Center on Jan 23 and Jan 24 to share important information about our benefits
As announced in December during Open Enrollment, all three Cigna plans that enrolled employees used in 2023 are practically unchanged in 2024
According to Collier, Michael Hatcher & Associates will continue to offer three competitive medical plans to choose from The benefits will remain the same, but the carrier and network have changed
The plans are administered by HealthPlans Inc and medications will be administered by SmithRx.
New cards have already been mailed to participants
Through Collier, better benefits this year include a healthcare concierge service, a surgery savings card, and a cancer program
The Pathways Concierge service can help answer questions regarding your benefit plans, claims, and balance billing Contact the service at 888-340-5487
The KISx Card is a surgery and imaging program for the most common surgical and imaging procedures Information is available at 877-438-5479
Whether you were just diagnosed, are currently being treated, or are a cancer survivor, the CancerCARE program is available to you and your covered dependents. For more details, call 877-640-9610.
WINNING BEHAVIORS: DO T
have you caught someone being kind? scan here to nominate them:
Mr Fred found an employee’s paper check this morning and told me and turned it in. He found it on the ground next to where we do launch in the morning and gave it to me.
-commercialmaintenanceteammate
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1 T H E L E A D I N G E D G E
RESPECT & PROTECT
by a t
#DoTheNextRightThing
Fred Lester of Commercial Maintenance was recently
recognized
act of kindness
GINNY SHIKLE
John Collier of Collier Insurance, our new insurance broker, was at The Landscape Center on Jan. 23 and Jan. 24 to share important information about our benefits.
