Woolwich, ME – Reed & Reed’s outstanding safety record was celebrated today at the construction site of the new Veterans Memorial Bridge, with approximately 100 Reed & Reed employees, state officials, Maine’s Commissioner of Transportation and The Honorable Senator Susan Collins.

Reed & Reed, a leader in complex bridges and the region’s premier wind power contractor, was awarded Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Certification. In this particular case, the Veterans Memorial Bridge project is one of two Construction Pilot SHARP sites in the country. The recognition is for the company’s exemplary safety record on the new Veterans’ Memorial Bridge which is currently under construction. The Veterans Memorial Bridge contract was awarded to Reed & Reed in a “best value” bid process by the Maine DOT at the end of 2009 and is considered one of the most important MDOT projects underway. The bridge, which honors all of Maine’s veterans, connects the cities of South Portland and Portland and is located adjacent

to I-295.

The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognizes employers who operate an exemplary, comprehensive safety and health management system, and is geared specifically toward companies with less than 250 employees operating in high-hazard industries.

Reed & Reed’s employees were thrilled to welcome Senator Susan Collins as their guest of honor. Senator Collins spoke to the crowd and congratulated Reed & Reed’s employees on their achievement. “Providing a safe and healthy workplace is a particular challenge in the demanding environment of heavy construction, one that requires teamwork from the front office to the job site. With this SHARP Award, the team at Reed & Reed has distinguished itself as a Maine company that sets a standard throughout the industry.”

Officials from the Maine Department of Labor and OSHA presented the SHARP award to Jackson Parker, the company’s President and CEO. SHARP is the highest honor given by the U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA and Reed & Reed has received such honors at two previous times. Laura Boyett, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor said, “This award represents Reed and Reed’s high standards and employee involvement in creating a safe workplace.”

Accepting the award on behalf of his employees, Parker spoke directly to his crew. “I am very proud of all of you and your commitment to safety. This recognition belongs to every one of you dedicated, hardworking individuals. Under the leadership of our Safety Manager, Bob Burdick, and our Project Manager Charlie Guerette, you have gone above and beyond in your commitment to making sure each day is accident free and as productive as humanly possible. The steps that all of you take on the job site mean that Reed & Reed is able to consistently build projects like this one on-time, on-budget and without incident. Keep up the good work!”

Bob Burdick, Reed & Reed’s Occupational Health & Safety Director has been working with the company’s 200+ employees to ensure that best practices are in place and followed very carefully. Burdick said, “We are very proud of our record. Not a day goes by where our focus isn’t on the safety and wellbeing of our most valuable asset – our people. This is a best practice that saves lives, time, money and it is one of the reasons that Reed & Reed is successful in the industry.”

About Reed & Reed

Reed & Reed is one of Northern New England’s largest and most versatile general contractors building bridges, wind power projects, and other essential infrastructure. Founded in 1928 in Woolwich, Maine by Captain Josiah W. Reed and his son Carlton Day Reed, the company has prospered under four generations of family leadership to build a longstanding reputation as one of Northern New England’s leading heavy contractors.

On the web at: www.reed-reed.com.

###