Hurckman Mechanical Industries (HMI), a leader in mechanical contracting across Wisconsin, has reached a significant safety milestone: 2 million consecutive work hours without a lost time incident, a feat that took over six years to accomplish. “Zero lost time” means employees have not experienced any injuries or illnesses that result in them missing work.

“This kind of milestone is rare in our industry,” said Safety Director Cory Delwiche. “It shows that the safety culture we’ve built works. When workers go home safe to their families every night, that’s the only reward that really matters.”

HMI’s Experience Modification Rate (EMR) currently stands at 0.68 (as of July 11, 2025), well below the industry average. Their Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) is just 0.46, which Delwiche describes as “phenomenal” for a medium-sized contractor with operations in HVAC, piping, fabrication, mechanical and industrial services.

“Safety wins us work,” said Delwiche. “We’ve been awarded multi-million dollar bids—even when we weren’t the lowest bidder—because general contractors know they can trust us to keep their sites safe.”

Behind the numbers is a system that combines technology, training, communication and trust. Every foreman receives daily Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) forms, weekly Toolbox Talks with key reminders and ongoing training. The company partners with Packer Fastener for all protection and PPE to ensure no one is ever short on safety equipment.

“Safety has always been one of our business foundations,” said Jake Warden, President of HMI. “We invest in our workers and their gear to keep them safe.”

Delwiche added, “We tell our team: do what you say you’re going to do. With safety as a core value, we practice what we preach. That promise-keeping builds the kind of trust where employees call me with concerns. It’s not about policing. Safety here is about being a teacher. And I do a lot of listening.”

HMI has never received an OSHA citation and plans to join the Wisconsin SHARP (Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program) this fall—an elite program for companies with exemplary safety records.

And with this achievement, they’re setting their sights even higher.

“We’re going for 2.5 million hours next—and we’ll have an even bigger party,” Delwiche said with a smile. “But the real reward is making sure no one gets hurt. That’s our why.”

About Hurckman Mechanical Industries
Founded in 1953, Hurckman Mechanical Industries (HMI) has grown into one of Wisconsin’s premier providers of industrial and commercial mechanical systems. As the first full-service MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) contractor in Northeastern Wisconsin, HMI delivers complete mechanical solutions through a unified team. With specialties in HVAC, plumbing, design/build, fabrication, insulation, piping, refrigeration and electrical, Hurckman simplifies complex projects with expert coordination and craftsmanship. The company continues to lead the industry through its commitment to quality, innovation and customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.hurckman.com.