Red Vest Concrete Safety Leader

It is the policy of Whitaker/Ellis to provide a safe place of employment for all of our employees and to follow all safety regulations as they pertain to our industry. Since safety is one of our highest priorities, every employee is required to attend safety training during their orientation as well as ongoing education during their employment with the company. 

The strict protocols we have put in place keep our employees safe while creating a positive and healthy work environment.  We believe safety is the shared responsibility of all employees so each member of the Whitaker/Ellis team is personally dedicated to taking the extra time and effort to make the job site safe.

Red Vest Safety Program

Whitaker/Ellis is one of the leading structural concrete contractors in Oregon and Washington and has tried it all when it comes to safety; consultants, safety breakfasts, awards, signage, seminars, meetings and more meetings. Although W/E has an outstanding safety record, key management was not convinced that each employee was taking safety seriously. In order to provide the best available work, W/E always seeks to stay Safe • Innovative • Fast. Bill Ellis, President of W/E, implemented the Red Vest Safety program in response. Ellis sought to create a "culture of safety" which would "cause everyone to get the safety bug, not just to work safely because they have been told to." This program utilizes a different crew member each day to inspect the construction site as a Safety Leader. With a checklist custom made by the safety team at W/E, this safety leader inspects 24 different topics twice daily. The Red Vest Safety Program is just another way that Whitaker/Ellis proves they are Top Concrete Contractor in North America.

Whitaker/Ellis’ Red Vest program stands out amongst A+ contractors as a highly successful and respected safety initiative... In a field with so many changes and inherent hazards, Whitaker/Ellis has struck gold with their innovative safety program.
— Demetra Star - Corporate Safety Manager at Fortis Construction, Inc.