Kaplan Construction honored for historic preservation work and safety record

Kaplan Construction has been honored with two awards for its historic preservation work and safety record. Kaplan received the 2014 Paul E. Tsongas Preservation Award from Preservation Mass. for its extensive experience with historical restoration and rehabilitation. The program recognizes and celebrates the efforts and accomplishments of individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to preserving the Commonwealth's historic resources. In 2012, Kaplan received this same award for the historic rehabilitation of former mill buildings into the Residences at Riverwalk in Amesbury and the renovation and adaptive reuse of Washington Mills Building No. 1 in Lawrence. For the sixteenth consecutive year, Kaplan was awarded the Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) Award by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), a national construction trade association. This was the second time Kaplan earned a Diamond STEP Award, the highest level of safety awarded by ABC. To qualify for the award, construction companies must meet stringent safety criteria established by ABC. Kaplan had previously been the recipient of the Platinum award for the past seven years, the highest honor before the Diamond level was introduced in 2011. Kaplan's Experience Modification Rate (EMR, or "Mod Factor") was 0.91 for 2014 and the company had zero lost time over the past three years - far surpassing the North American standard - thanks to a deeply embedded safety culture in the company. As founding members of the ABC Mass. Chapter Workers' Compensation Self-Insured Group, Inc., Kaplan has been proactive in developing and enforcing a comprehensive and effective safety program. Safeguarding the health and welfare of employees, subcontractors, and site visitors is one of Kaplan's highest priorities and the responsibility of every contractor.