MARY GLOVER
SAFETY OFFICER, ABC STEP PROGRAM MANAGER
GLB CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
What about the manufacturing sector interested you?
My first job was in manufacturing for Malco Plastics, a small plastic laminating company in Pikesville, Maryland. I was 18 years old and still in high school—it was a temporary job until I figured out my next step. I enjoyed running machinery, leading teams, making friends and communicating with people from many backgrounds. Malco eventually moved to a large plant in Owings Mills, Maryland. It became the largest credit-card manufacturer in the world and the first credit-card manufacturer to produce the magnetic strip, the holograph and the credit card CHIP. When I first started there, we manufactured about 700,000 credit cards per day! That job led me to remain in manufacturing for 28 years. We were a big family and we still to this day get together.
Why did you transition to concrete? How did you get involved with GLB and their safety office?
In September 2018, a friend urged me to apply for a position at GLB Concrete Construction as a timekeeper. GLB hired me and I started working on a construction site in Baltimore, Maryland. [It was] an opportunity to gain experience in a new industry and learn its safety practices. Early on in my employment with GLB, Owner Gary Beck encouraged me to join the safety team.
When did you first hear about ABC’s STEP program? How has STEP helped you and other employees do your jobs at GLB?
Soon after joining the GLB safety team, Gary Beck encouraged me to join the ABC safety peer group. My first meeting was with Joe Xavier, who introduced me to ABC’s STEP program. STEP has helped me by using the 25 key components to organize and maintain our safety program, and encourage employees, from top leadership to the field, to participate in safety meetings and training. The process compels employees to be more aware of safety practices and to comply with all rules and regulations applicable to their jobsite.
How do you approach working with such a wide range of clients? Is it a similar protocol or is it a tailored experience?
The GLB Construction safety department dedicates itself to upholding best practices—making sure that health and safety is the number one priority—and by exhibiting that GLB is a proud member of the ABC safety peer group, which is a key element in creating a successful safety culture. I utilize this experience to tailor our company’s safety program, products and safety services.
How does GLB’s safety culture influence how you operate in your personal life?
GLB safety culture has a considerable influence on my everyday life. My living habits mirror a construction safety culture in my communication with my four daughters. We remind each other how to be safe while driving, cooking, traveling, doing repairs, while at work, in crowds, at play—and to always be aware of our surroundings. We even refer to the OSHA 1910 and 1926 books if needed!
Do you have any daredevil hobbies?
The only daredevil activity I have ever done was white water rafting, which was an exhilarating adventure.
