From left, United Plate Glass team members Ryan Hotaling, Commercial Lead; Sean Tucker, Assistant Glazier; and Jonathan Carnes, Assistant Glazier, stay in constant communication while carefully installing heavy, custom mirrors at the new LeadCar Honda dealership in Hamburg, PA.
SUNBURY, PA — Safety is of the utmost importance in the construction industry, and while accidents happen, United Plate Glass is proud to announce eight consecutive years without a reportable workplace injury.
UPG attributes this milestone to its commitment to a strong safety culture and continuous prioritization of employee well-being.
One key way UPG promotes safety is by enrolling every installer in OSHA’s Outreach Training Program, a voluntary initiative established in 1971 to improve workplace safety and awareness. The program equips workers with the knowledge to recognize, avoid and prevent hazards, while also providing an overview of their rights and employer responsibilities.
All UPG installers have completed OSHA 10-Hour Construction Training. In addition, all lead installers — as well as several members of the fabrication and project management teams — have completed the more advanced OSHA 30-Hour Construction Training, bringing an elevated level of care and awareness to every job.
United Plate Glass’s commitment to safety and training employees to be on the lookout for workplace hazards has proven to be successful over the past several years.
“Construction sites are not always the safest or the most glass-friendly environments,” said Ryan Hotaling, Commercial Lead. “Watching each other and communicating with one another helps prevent accidents. We all work to keep each other safe and accountable.”
A key indicator of safety performance is a company’s Experience Modification Rating (EMR), where 1.0 reflects the industry average. A lower score suggests superior safety performance.
UPG’s current EMR is 0.730 — significantly better than average — and has been steadily improving since 2020. A strong EMR not only reflects internal success but also strengthens UPG’s position when being considered for subcontracted projects.
“Our team does an incredible job of looking out for one another and always speaking up if they see a potential safety concern that someone else may not notice, because awareness is half the battle,” said Nate Lawrence, UPG President. “We make it a priority to ensure no one is ever put in an unsafe situation. The entire team is focused and determined to remain incident-free, and we’re looking forward to reaching our next milestone of 10 years, which is a rare achievement in the glass industry.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our team and the goals we’ve accomplished together over the past eight years.”
United Plate Glass’s headquarters is located at 4762 Route 890 near Sunbury, PA. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding certain major holidays. The company also operates a dedicated fabrication plant in Shenandoah.
Follow United Plate Glass on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and LinkedIn, and visit them at www.upgpa.com.
ABOUT UNITED PLATE GLASS
Family-owned and operated since 1980, United Plate Glass specializes in all types of glass and glazing for both commercial and residential customers. For homeowners, we offer fair, everyday pricing on vinyl and hybrid-composite windows, custom shower enclosures, mirrors, tabletops, and more. For businesses and organizations, our decades of experience support a wide range of interior and exterior needs — including storefronts, curtain walls, and custom installations. From small in-house repairs to large-scale facility work, we stand by our slogan: “Good People. Installing Trust. On Time.”