Flagstaff Featured Business: Safety First Muirhead’s Ltd.
(as published in the October 2 edition of The Community Press)
The Flagstaff Region Featured Business is a monthly newspaper and web feature presented in partnership by Flagstaff County and The Community Press.
Safety First Muirhead’s Ltd.
4601 49 Street – Hardisty
780-888-3926
24-Hour Line: 1-888-384-3601
Safety First Muirhead’s Ltd. is a family-run business built on exceptional customer service.
That founding commitment to customer service hasn’t wavered over the years. In fact, it’s the reason the company continues to grow in an increasingly competitive oil and gas industry.
“We want to be able to provide unparalleled customer service,” says General Manager Justine Ness. “Open 24/7. We’ll answer your call at 3 a.m. We will be out there for you. We will go the extra mile for you.”
Safety First Muirhead’s Ltd. was established by David and Patricia Muirhead in 1996 and has served customers throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan, BC, and the Northwest Territories ever since.
David and Patricia began the company with just one air trailer and a tiny shop. Throughout the years, Safety First has grown considerably since its humble beginnings and now has a fleet of 14 air trailers and 12 medical units.
David’s son, Jonathan Muirhead, took over operations in 2012. Continuing with the firm’s upward trajectory, Jonathan and Justine recently purchased a 3,300-square-foot office and shop in Sherwood Park.
“We want to keep growing,” says Justine. “We are continually looking at ways to improve in areas of reliability, quality, and safety. We are proud of our company’s record and dedication in providing the best service.”
Safety First Muirhead’s Ltd. is an active participant in the Partnerships in Health and Safety Program and holds C.O.R. designation, as well as ISN.
Of course, Safety First has also been propelled by quality personnel.
“Our staff is really what drives this company forward. We have a phenomenal staff,” Justine adds.
“Our office atmosphere is like nothing I’ve ever been a part of before. We laugh, we have fun, and we are professional. Our clients, they love coming in here to talk to us. Our clients actually come to us, which is a unique thing for most service companies like ours. We wouldn’t be where we are without our staff.”
Safety First Muirhead’s Ltd. is staffed by a team of qualified safety supervisors, on-site medics, instructors, and office personnel. Because Safety First is a seasonal-based company for most of its onsite services, staffing numbers range anywhere from 20 to 60 employees depending on the time of year.
All staff are trained with a minimum of WHMIS, TDG, Standard First Aid, Petroleum Safety Training (PST), H2S Alive, and Confined Space Rescue Level I and II. Each employee holds a valid driver’s license and has a clean driving abstract.
Medics are all accredited by the Alberta College of Paramedics as EMR, PCP, ACP, and carry the required tickets to be present on an oilfield site. Nurses are registered with the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta.
Safety First provides a full range of safety products and services.
Under the safety banner, they provide supervision for a variety of projects, including: turnarounds, completions, decommissioning, hot and cold tie-ins, service and drilling rigs, production testing, and plant and pipeline construction.
On-site services include: NCSOs, safety advisors, breathing air trailer technicians, breathing air trailer bottle watch, confined space attendance, rescue personnel for tank vessel entries, technical rope rescue, gate access control, traffic control, clean-up crews, fire watch/spark watch, and much more.
On the medical side, Safety First provides mobile treatment centres, medic office trailers, and ambulances.
Safety First also offers in-house courses such as H2S Alive, first aid, confined space/rescue, global ground disturbance, fall protection, ACSA flag person, skidsteer operator, ATV/UTV training and aerial platform training, in addition to a wide variety of online courses.
Safety First’s comprehensive panel of occupational testing is designed to help companies in all industries monitor the well-being of their employees, minimize the employee health risks and promote health and wellness in the workplace. It includes: urine testing, hair follicle testing, breath alcohol testing, saliva testing, audiometric testing, spirometry testing, vision testing, fit testing, and RN and physician medicals.
Safety First is also the place to go to rent a wide array of safety equipment, as well as to purchase or rent fire extinguishers, and to have them serviced.
In addition to all of these services, Safety First also stocks a large supply of workwear; which they have deemed the “SFM Workwear” portion of their successful business, featuring popular brands such as Carhartt, Helly Hansen, Muck, IFR Workwear and even Saxx. There is something for everyone; including options for women and children; and always expanding due to popular demand.
Justine offers the following sage advice for anyone looking to start a business or expand an existing one in the Flagstaff Region: “The advice I have for business owners coming into the Flagstaff area to open up a business is to always have an open door. Always be there. Think outside the box.
“We are a rural community, and we need things that are tough to get out here. So always be thinking outside of the box. What are people looking for, asking for? What can you do to make your business better? What is in your capability to offer? What can you do to go the extra mile? That’s what has made us successful.”
For more information on Safety First Muirhead’s Ltd. visit www.safetyfirstm.com and find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
As published in the October 2 edition of The Community Press – on newsstands today. Never miss an issue, become a SUBSCRIBER today!
The Flagstaff Region Featured Business is a monthly newspaper and web feature presented in partnership by Flagstaff County and The Community Press. For more information, contact Jenalee Blackhurst, Economic Development Coordinator, at 780-384-4152.
