Key Safety Ally Discusses Shared Job Site Goals in GPRS’ Safety Tour of America
Environmental Health & Safety Manager, Sixtus Aliuriagwu, discussed DPR’s commitment to “zero incidents” on their jobsites and how GPRS is a key partner in their endeavor.
A Billion-Dollar Enterprise Before its 10th Anniversary, DPR Construction Treats Safety as a Quantifiable Daily Priority
Founded in 1990 by industry veterans Doug Woods, Peter Nosler, and Ron Davidowski, DPR Construction began with $750,000 in collective capital and a team of just 11 employees. Operating from a single office, the company quickly made its mark. Within ten years, DPR achieved billion-dollar status, thanks in large part to its dedicated personnel and focus on operational excellence.
Today, DPR supports nearly 2,000 employees across 13 offices nationwide. As a GPRS safety partner, the company ranks among the top general contractors in advanced technology, healthcare, higher education, life sciences, and commercial construction.
The founders attribute DPR’s remarkable expansion to its team. From the outset, employee jobsite safety has formed a core part of the firm’s philosophy.
Watch DPR’s safety story as part of the Safety Tour of America
Founded in 1990 by industry veterans Doug Woods, Peter Nosler, and Ron Davidowski, DPR Construction began with $750,000 in collective capital and a team of just 11 employees. Operating from a single office, the company quickly made its mark. Within ten years, DPR achieved billion-dollar status, thanks in large part to its dedicated personnel and focus on operational excellence.
Today, DPR supports nearly 2,000 employees across 13 offices nationwide. As a GPRS safety partner, the company ranks among the top general contractors in advanced technology, healthcare, higher education, life sciences, and commercial construction.
DPR Environmental Health & Safety Manager, Sixtus Aliuriagwu is committed to the company’s mission of “zero incidents” on the job.
The founders attribute DPR’s remarkable expansion to its team. From the outset, employee jobsite safety has formed a core part of the firm’s philosophy.
“With every project we do, we’re aiming for zero incidents,” said DPR Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Manager, Sixtus Aliriagwu. “Zero accidents, zero near-misses, and zero unplanned interruptions to business operations… It’s very important to me, as a safety professional, to make sure we’re working safe every day and doing the job perfectly without having any issues or incidents.”
EHS focuses on environmental care, workplace safety, health protection, and regulatory compliance. At DPR, this department works to ensure safety practices are not only implemented but are assessable on a daily basis. Every team member should return home as healthy as they arrived on the jobsite.
DPR structures its EHS framework around seven guiding principles:
- Safe Mindset: Employees commit to their own safety and that of coworkers
- Engagement: Each team member takes an active role in creating a hazard-free environment
- Integration: EHS policies align with overall operations and the full project lifecycle
- Competence: Staff receive the skills, knowledge, and support to perform tasks safely
- Planning: EHS goals and risk mitigation strategies are built into all project stages
- Leveraging Data: Safety data is gathered and used to inform decisions and improve outcomes
- Continuous Improvement: A learning-driven culture fosters innovation and sustained safety gains
DPR encourages clients to adopt a safety-first mindset when selecting contractors. The prequalification process includes evaluating injury rates, safety trend data, and how EHS procedures are shared between headquarters and field teams.
Rather than treat EHS as a standalone initiative, DPR integrates it with timelines, budgets, and quality targets. Collaboration remains essential: all participants must actively engage in accountability practices and regular safety meetings.
GPRS has worked extensively alongside DPR and can confirm the contractor’s authentic commitment.
“Their safety managers do an excellent job of keeping safety at the forefront of all construction activities,” said a GPRS Business Development Manager who has worked closely with the company. “Safety is a buzzword for many contractors, but DPR is committed to keeping their staff and subcontractors safe on the job.”
DPR’s safety excellence has earned widespread recognition. Notable awards include the WWCA Safety Award, ABC National Safety Excellence Award, and multiple honors from the Construction Employers Association in Northern California.
“DPR has been great partners of ours, as we have a shared vision of 100% jobsite safety.” – GPRS
At GPRS, safety is foundational. We are proud to collaborate with organizations like DPR Construction that uphold similar values. Our Project Managers use advanced equipment for utility locates, concrete scanning, video pipe inspections, and more—all designed to help partners like DPR Intelligently Visualize The Built World®.
GPRS’ Safety Tour of America continues nationwide. Its purpose is to reconnect with partners to reinforce our shared safety goals. Register at gp-radar.com/safety-tour-of-america.
For more information about DPR Construction, visit dpr.com.