With Foy Safety now celebrating 20 years, we believed it to be time to reflect on our business’s journey. We could not be more excited to be celebrating our 20th anniversary with you and are looking forward to continuing to serve and protect Baltimore’s construction industry! In commemoration, we interviewed our CEO, Terry Foy, and asked him about his feelings regarding the 20th anniversary!
- What is your position at Foy Safety Consulting Inc.?
President/CEO - What is your professional background?
Completion of Occupational Safety and Health Curriculum from the Community College Of Baltimore County Catonsville, American Society of Safety Professionals (member), Safety Director/Claims Manager for 18 years at Potts & Callahan, Inc. - How did you start working in the field?
While working at Potts & Callahan, Inc. I saw the need for better protecting the workers there and after several months of discussions with our general superintendents and Mr. Callahan. I was given the opportunity to create and develop the safety division in March 1987. - What motivated you to start Foy Safety?
I felt that with the training and experience I received at Potts & Callahan, and the encouragement of several close friends along with a lot of prayers, I could transition to providing my knowledge and expertise to the construction industry in the Baltimore area. - How long have you been a safety consultant for businesses and companies?
20 years - How many companies have you assisted?
Roughly 100 companies with an active ongoing list of over 30 clients at this time. - What does a typical day at Foy Safety look like?
There really isn’t a “typical” day here at Foy Safety Consulting but we do our best to set a schedule knowing that at any time something could happen that would change our plans. To start, each employee for the company has a portion of our clients that they are dedicated to. They set their schedule to provide services to each client for that day. On a normal day we each would average 5 or more job site visits. At each job site we would begin with a conversation with the supervisor/foreman to see how the past few days have gone and then determine if there are any specific concerns that need to be addressed as we walk the job sites to perform our audits. One of the things I have always encouraged my team members to do is to build relationships with all of the client’s employees with whom they come in contact. This one thing helps build trust between us and our client’s people. Our team communicates whenever necessary with each other for any number of reasons which could be something as simple as finding out how they are doing or assisting with any issues that may have popped up during the day. Our clients all know and understand that we are committed to them during our visits however if there is an emergency on another client’s job site, we will cut our visit short and go to the emergency no matter where it is. Once the emergency has been handled we make every attempt to return to the initial site. - Where do you see Foy Safety in 10 years?
In 10 years, I will be 74 and I hope and pray that I will still be a part of this great experience God has given us. I have the beginnings of a great core and hope to build this to the point that possibly will continue on without me. - What do you think is the most important aspect of your job?
Not only building a great client base but developing friendships and partnerships with each and every client and their employees. - What is a recent career accomplishment you are most proud of?
I would have to say our 20th anniversary!!! It seems like a long time however I never felt like I was just “going to work”. I am passionate about what I do and feel it a great honor to be a partner with all of my clients and their teams. I love what I do!!!! I have to say that the best thing that has happened here recently at Foy Safety Consulting, Inc. is the addition of Erica Erdman as Field Technician. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with her from her 15 years at Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH). She has provided me with the confidence that the company is moving in the right direction.
- When you started Foy Safety 20 years ago, did you think you would be here?
NO!!! One thing that I told myself early on was that what I am going to do with the next 20 or more years of my life has been prayed over from the very beginning and continues to this day. God has provided this business to me, and I don’t want to disappoint Him. - Why should companies choose you over the competition? What do you provide that your competition does not?
If they become a client of Foy Safety Consulting you will never be a number. We will become partners and friends and work to do our very best to educate each and every person that we come in contact with during our time together every day. My clients and their employees have direct access to me 24/7. If my employees are dedicated to an individual client, they will also have direct access to them as well. - If you could have one message reach thousands of companies regarding safety, what would it be?
An article was uploaded to my blog on April 2014. The opening is some of what I want them to read:“A serious workplace injury or death changes lives forever – for families, friends, communities, and coworkers too. Human loss and suffering is immeasurable. Occupational injuries and illnesses can provoke major crises for the families in which they occur. In addition to major financial burdens, they can impose substantial time demands on uninjured family members. Today, when many families are operating with very little free time, family resources may be stretched to the breaking point. Every person who leaves for work in the morning should expect to return home at night in good health. Can you imagine the knock on the door to tell you your loved one will never be returning home? Or the phone call to say he’s in the hospital and may never walk again? Ensuring that husbands return to their wives, wives to their husbands, parents to their children, and friends to their friends — that is the most important reason to create a safe and healthy work environment, but it isn’t the only reason.”
With 20 years behind us, we cannot wait to see what God has in store for our business. We are thrilled to be able to share this news with you and cannot wait to see what the future holds! If you have safety concerns regarding your business, Foy Safety Consulting Inc is here to help. We are trained professionals who will work with you to meet your business’s individual needs. We will point out areas of concern and instruct you on the most cost-efficient ways of remedying them. Foy Safety will work with you, not against you, and will help ensure your business is up to date on all the latest safety regulations and laws.