Newsletter:  March 2005 a "I think it's a good idea." – Kevin Delong, Residential Superintendent and Safety Director for LeDuc & Dexter, talking about a fine for not wearing a hard hat on the job after a verbal and written warning. "The hydronic floor is saving a lot of money because the huge hangar space would cost a fortune to heat with a forced air system." – Jeff Civian, developer who worked with LeDuc & Dexter on the new REACH hangar in Santa Rosa. "It's a small community.  I know all the vendors and most of the contractors. I've known Arty and Tom for along time too." – Dale Bettcher, the new purchasing agent for LeDuc & Dexter.

Hard Hat Mandate	RESIDENTIAL

Rafael Mateos of LeDuc & Dexter, wearing required hardhat, focuses on work at Christopherson Homes project, Siena at Tuscany. (click image to enlarge)	Pedro Sigala, an 18-year veteran of LeDuc & Dexter, has been wearing a hardhat on-site since the first of the year. (click image to enlarge)

With Worker's Comp premiums still very high in the construction industry some contractors are taking proactive steps to increase safety on the job. Three general contractors recently informed LeDuc & Dexter Inc. that hard hats are required to be worn by anyone working on their residential jobsites as of January 1, 2005. Christopherson Homes, Ryder Homes and Centex Homes all sent written notices to subcontractors that hard hats are to be worn while working on their projects and one company will enforce a policy that gives a verbal warning for the first violation, a written warning for the second breach and a $25.00 fine for the third offense. "I think it's a good idea," says Kevin Delong, Residential Superintendent and Safety Director for LeDuc & Dexter, "it's just about impossible to police a hard hat policy – maybe a fine will get people's attention." What is definitely getting most construction companies' attention is the fact that Worker's Comp claims are threatening their profitability and in some cases their solvency. LeDuc & Dexter starts every week with a Monday morning safety meeting to go over OSHA requirements and safety techniques. "Safety is number one on everybody's list," says Delong, we're always working on preventing injuries. All of the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is important, including safety glasses. We've had eye injuries from things like drilling holes in wood and having wood chips fly back." "Commercial jobsites have required hard hats for sometime, probably because people are working on lifts and working in high places with other workers below them," says Delong, "It's just a matter of time before everyone is always wearing a hard hat on all the jobs."

REACH Hangar Finds Comfort Zone	COMMERCIAL/HYDRONICS

The new REACH facility has been in operation for a month. (click image to enlarge)

When the REACH air ambulance aircraft need maintenance the mechanics are now able to work on the aircraft with a heated floor under them in the spacious new REACH hangar at the Charles M. Schultz Sonoma County Airport. LeDuc & Dexter installed the hydronically-heated floor now in use during the cold winter weather.

The REACH maintenance hangar has this half of the floor area hydronically heated. (click image to enlarge)

"In the old facility, which was really outdated, the mechanics worked outside in the elements no matter what the weather was like because they had to keep the aircraft ready to fly. These planes and helicopters are on 24/7 call," says Jeff Civian, one of three partners who developed the new REACH hangar project. "The maintenance crew is just thrilled with the new facility and they love the heated floor."

"As far as heating the hangar goes, the hydronic floor is saving a lot of money because the huge hangar space would cost a fortune to heat with a forced air system," says Civian. "Also when the doors are opened and heat escapes we can recapture our warmth from the heated floor quickly, with forced air it would take forever to recover that kind of heat loss. The hydronic floor heating is controlled with a thermostat that keeps the heat evenly distributed through the floor and doesn't need to be constantly adjusted. It's a stable source of heat."

The other half of the REACH hangar with no hydronic system in the floor is still warmed by the adjacent area. (click image to enlarge)

The hydronic system boiler is located in the balcony storage area, which is warm but not warmer than the hangar floor below. (click image to enlarge)

Civian worked with John Dunn of LeDuc & Dexter throughout the construction of the hangar, "We had a good working relationship with LeDuc & Dexter. When we had a challenge to face they helped us get through it with their expertise." The REACH facility in Santa Rosa is the maintenance hub for all the REACH air ambulance facilities including Sacramento, Concord and Lakeport. Each facility has a pilot and two nurses on call around the clock for emergency medical airlifts. Last year the REACH facilities responded to a total of 3,000 calls.

Dale Bettcher – Purchasing Agent	THE COMPANY

Dale Bettcher is the purchasing agent for LeDuc & Dexter Inc. His duties include purchasing parts and materials for the residential, commercial, hydronic and fire protection departments. Bettcher has 30 years of plumbing experience and came to LeDuc & Dexter when his former employer, Empire Swift, went out of business last October. Bettcher had been the purchasing agent for Empire Swift for 15 years. "At one time we had 50 plumbers working at Empire Swift. We did a lot of work for Henry Trione and Hugh Codding. Montgomery Village and Coddingtown were our projects exclusively. After the owner, John King passed away a few years ago the company was never the same." Tom LeDuc and Art Dexter were both employed at Empire Swift early in their careers before they formed LeDuc & Dexter in 1982.

Dale Bettcher is the purchasing agent for residential, commercial, hydronics and fire protection at LeDuc & Dexter Inc.

When Empire Swift was in the process of closing down last year Art Dexter contacted Bettcher, "Arty called me and said 'come on over', recalls Bettcher, "I've been here since October and in January I started in purchasing. Tammy Townsend is training me and doing a great job, she's an awesome young lady – she's the same age as my daughter." With all his years in the plumbing industry Bettcher has made a lot of contacts, "It's a small community. I know all the vendors and most of the contractors. I've known Arty and Tom for along time too." As a matter of fact this is the second time around for Bettcher at LeDuc & Dexter, "20 years ago I ran their shop with Kevin Delong when they were over on Coffey Lane. That place was a lot smaller than this one." Bettcher admits that being a purchasing agent takes a certain type of personality. "Sure, there's pressure because of the pricing and budgets," says Bettcher, "but you can't let things get to you. It's just plumbing – not life and death – it's just plumbing."