Great Western Services, Inc. (GWS) is located in downtown Allentown, operating for more than 20 years serving Lehigh, Northampton, and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania.
GWS provides safe construction of natural gas mains & services to homes and businesses. We also provide top quality roadway, sidewalk, and curbing restoration work. Over the many years of helping our customers build their infrastructure, GWS has developed many long-term relationships with communities and local governments located in the areas we serve.
Our highly qualified workforce is from the communities in which we build and maintain gas distribution systems.
GWS is committed to providing safe and minimally invasive construction while maintaining the integrity of the environment.
Mission Statement
Great Western Services strives to provide safe, timely, and high-quality utility construction at a competitive price. We will provide a safe and stable work environment with equal opportunity for growth and prosperity for all our employees.
We endeavor to generate repeat and referral business by consistently providing noteworthy service with attention to detail. We value our professional relationships by contributing high levels of professionalism, honesty, and integrity.
Our Vision
To be the Contractor of Choice with the clients we currently serve and those we may serve in the future by providing safe, timely, and high-quality utility construction services.
Values
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety for our people, our customers, and the communities in which we work. As a fundamental part of our culture and operations, every member of the Great Western Services’ team is dedicated to putting safety first.
A Positive Safety Culture
GWS has a QMS (Quality Management System) that is ISO compliant and addresses every aspect of the company’s duties. Our safety program informs every employee that they have the responsibility to prevent accidents and injuries by observing established working rules, by following the directions of supervisors, by practicing the safety rules of GWS, and by providing ideas on how our safety efforts might be further strengthened. The program is audited and amended, as needed 4 times per year.
GWS management recognizes its responsibility to provide healthful and safe working conditions, safe working rules based upon experience, and safety knowledge and competent work direction. GWS and its employees have the responsibility to comply with all federal, state, and local regulations related to safety and health programs. Management meets once every week to discuss safety in all areas and utilize our KPI reports (Safety Culture Assessments) to better understand what is happening in the field and to better address any issues that need attention. Incentives/rewards are given in the form of gift cards for "instant rewarding" when an employee is recognized for outstanding safety performance. GWS performs Daily Job Briefs (JHAs) that include hazard recognition for the tasks they will be performing that day and additional briefs as needed if the tasks change.
GWS is also aware of API RP 1173. This recommended practice (RP) establishes a pipeline safety management systems (PSMS) framework for organizations that operate hazardous liquids and gas pipelines jurisdictional to the US Department of Transportation. Operators of other pipelines may find this document applicable in operating to their systems. This RP provides pipeline operators with safety management system requirements that when applied provide a framework to reveal and manage risk, promote a learning environment, and continuously improve pipeline safety and integrity. At the foundation of a PSMS is the operator's existing pipeline safety system, including the operator's pipeline safety processes and procedures. This RP provides a comprehensive framework and defines the elements needed to identify and address safety for a pipeline's life cycle. These safety management system requirements identify what is to be done and leaves the details associated with implementation and maintenance of the requirements to the individual pipeline operators. GWS complies with all of our customers’ requirements as mandated by contract.
Safety in Action
- We follow protocols and procedures.
- We recognize and correct potential hazards.
- We speak up and stop work if safety is compromised.
- We take responsibility for our own safety and for those around us.