Learn how Norrell Construction’s focus on employee safety sets it apart from the competition
A renowned industrial contractor, Norrell Construction (Norrell) offers a wide range of self-performed services, including mechanical, piping, civil, instrumentation and electrical (IE), cranes and elevators, HVAC, sheet-metal, building and remodeling, plumbing, roofing, and more. Beyond its comprehensive skill set, what truly sets Norrell apart is its unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional value to its clients. Its commitment to safety, innovation, and excellence has not only earned it various accolades but has also enabled the company to create long-lasting relationships with its clients. President and Owner Andrew Cone joins us for an enlightening interview. To kick things off, he provides us with an overview of Norrell’s history.
“Norrell has been around since the late 1950s, initially established as a family-owned business operating in southern Brazoria County and along the Texas Gulf Coast. Founded by Farrell and Pauline Norrell, the company was eventually passed down to their children, who later sold it to us, the current owners, in 2015. At that time, the business transitioned from primarily doing industrial and commercial work to becoming a fully-fledged industrial building contractor. Upon acquiring Norrell, we expanded its lines of business through the incorporation of an IE business through one of my partners, as well as HVAC, crane and elevator, general mechanical, civil plumbing, and roofing businesses. As a result, we became a turnkey contractor and shifted our focus more and more towards heavy industrial general contractor projects, although we still undertake building and remodeling work,” he informs.
Asked to give us an example of a recent project, Andrew mentions a successfully completed scheme with the Houston Ship Channel. “This project was conducted for one of our petrochemical customers, working on a nursing room for new mothers. Our customer is creating such spaces to be more accommodating in the workplace for new mothers and employees. Given our building background, we have worked on numerous projects with this particular customer, and this was a relatively small project compared to others we have undertaken. Some of our other ongoing projects include a large railcar loading facility in Freeport, Texas, which is well underway and should be completed late this year or early next year. As one of the larger projects we have undertaken at that particular customer site, it showcases to our customers in that sector the overall breadth of our capabilities in civil, structural, and mechanical work. We have partnered with a railcar company that is responsible for putting up all the rails at that facility. This project provides us with a unique opportunity to demonstrate our growth, strong team, and ability to deliver high-quality work safely and on time, if not ahead of schedule,” he expresses.
Safety culture
Safety is a crucial part of Norrell’s company culture, empowering the company to grow steadily whilst taking care of its employees. “Over the last nine years, we
have grown from 17 to 450 employees, prompting us to expand all of our systems and processes. When we first took over the company, it already had a strong safety culture but as we grew, we needed to implement new systems and methods for training our people. Fortunately, we have hired several qualified safety professionals, and under the leadership of Richard Miller, our Safety Director, we have been able to transition from a smaller company into a medium-sized general contractor. Recently, we celebrated over 2.5 million OSHA man hours without any recordable incidents. Since joining us three and a half years ago, Richard has brought best-in-class professional case management and has truly taken care of our employees, the company, and our customers. His leadership has significantly improved our organization’s safety culture, making our employees safer every day by providing them with the right skills and tools, encouraging them to learn from their experiences, and promoting continuous safety improvement.
“One instance that showcases the success of our safety approach occurred when we were recently working on a roof at a customer site and a young man accidentally stepped on a nail. Although he was already wearing the appropriate footwear, we celebrated the fact that this 18-year-old employee immediately reported the incident to our safety team, which allowed us to manage the case promptly, take him for safety screening, and make sure that his scratch was treated and cleaned properly to prevent infection. Although this was a minor first aid situation which we strive to avoid, it demonstrates how we work in partnership with our customers and employees to prevent a minor issue turning into a major problem if improperly handled. When a young man comes forward to highlight an incident without fear of being reprimanded, we feel secure in knowing that we are operating the right way. We show our workforce that we want to take care of them, prioritize their safety, and want to work with them to create a safe working environment. This is achieved not by running from difficult situations but by working together to address them,” he adds.
By prioritizing the well-being of its staff, Norrell is setting itself up for continued success. Andrew lays out his vision for the long-term future of Norrell. “Our growth potential is unlimited thanks to our prime market location on the booming Gulf Coast and the expanding petrochemical and refinery industries,” he concludes. “Recognizing that our success hinges on our people and systems, we are committed to investing in both to sustain and accelerate our growth.”