IISC Recognizes D. C. Taylor Co. With President’s Award
D. C. Taylor Co. was honored to accept the 2025 President’s Award from the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council (IISC) during the organization’s 72nd Annual Professional Development Conference & Expo in Coralville, Iowa. D. C. Taylor Co. Safety Manager Kirk Dighton accepted the award during the awards ceremony on April 24. Only five companies that receive Hazard Control Recognition are presented with the prestigious President’s Award each year. These winners are selected by the IISC Board of Directors President, President-Elect, and Past President.
D. C. Taylor Co.’s safety program is constantly evolving to better address the dangerous conditions its crews face working at heights on commercial and industrial roofs. The roofing contractor’s 2025 award entry detailed the company’s new leading indicator auditing process. This developed after Dighton began observing critical safety items commonly missed on projects. Those items became a checklist, developed with input from safety committee members and management. “Instead of focusing on lagging indicators and risking the possibility of injury or fatality, we chose to be proactive and begin this routine auditing program,” explains Dighton. The audit includes documentation (e.g., site emergency contact info, rental equipment checklist, weekly safety inspection checklist), behaviors, ladders and roof access, sanitation and restrooms, electrical hazards, housekeeping, and corrective actions made on-site.
In 2024, D. C. Taylor Co. set a routine of both prescribed and random jobsite safety audits, performed by project managers or safety department personnel. They began tracking the items identified. This process allowed project managers and/or members from the safety department to execute a “stop and teach” moment to provide immediate feedback and corrective actions. This method, coupled with companywide safety alerts, has allowed D. C. Taylor Co. to begin focusing on leading (vs. lagging) indicators, thereby avoiding critical injuries and fatalities.
From implementation to the entry deadline, a leading indicator audit was conducted on 15 construction jobs and 30+ service jobs. It is now part of D. C. Taylor Co.’s standard practice. “We are very grateful that the IISC recognizes the value of what we’re doing,” says Dighton. “We love winning awards, but more importantly, we aim for safe workmanship and continued well-being for all of our field laborers.”
About D. C. Taylor Co.
D. C. Taylor Co. is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based roofing contractor with 75+ years of experience installing, repairing, and maintaining roofs at commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities. With service centers in four states and 17 service and roofing crews, D. C. Taylor Co. is poised to respond to customer needs quickly and efficiently. For more information on D. C. Taylor Co., visit www.dctaylorco.com.
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