The Motz Group, a leading provider of sports turf solutions, was named among the recipients of the prestigious Theo Award, which honors organizations demonstrating excellence in workers’ compensation, injury prevention, and program innovations across industries.
This recognition highlights The Motz Group’s success in reducing incidents, improving safety outcomes, and managing claims more effectively. In partnership with Charles Taylor, the company formalized its safety program and cultivated a proactive risk management culture, leading to measurable improvements.
Challenge
As the Motz Group expanded, safety risks grew, particularly hand injuries from turf installation, leading to more workers’ compensation claims. The company lacked a formal safety program to address industry-specific risks and ensure compliance across job sites. Additionally, there was a need to improve employee training, hazard recognition, and safety awareness.
Solution
With Charles Taylor’s support, the Motz Group strengthened its safety culture by developing a comprehensive Safety Management System with clear guidelines for field employees. Mandatory safety orientations and regular training reinforced safe practices, emergency protocols, and hazard identification. Site inspections were increased to proactively address hazards, with employees encouraged to participate. In response to hand injuries, the company introduced cut-resistant gloves, significantly reducing injuries.
Summary
In partnership with Charles Taylor, The Motz Group achieved measurable safety improvements that contributed to their Theo Award recognition. The average number of safety issues identified during inspections dropped by more than half, from 5.67 to 2.52 per visit. The percentage of negative safety observations fell from 14% to under 6%, and hand injuries were reduced by 75% after introducing cut-resistant gloves. These results reflect the impact of a formal safety program and a proactive approach to risk management.
