Running with the rest of my team during a petrochemical hazardous gas release, I wished there was a shelter for protection. Our team ran and escaped the hazardous release. Six months later, my team and I watched as a water spout moved toward our work site once again with no shelter in place. This time we climbed into the structural piping of a live benzene unit and tied off until the winds died down. It was then that I knew protection was needed to save lives. I began Safe Haven Enterprises, LLC, a Louisiana licensed general construction and manufacturing woman-owned small business located in an economically depressed HUB Zone. When disaster occurs, be it man-made or natural, one realizes their vulnerability and wishes more had been done to protect personnel and property. Physical protection has become my business and my passion.
The first fire and blast resistant modular building (BRM) was positive pressurized and used to protect my team while working in a petrochemical facility. This unit never left the facility and is still in the control building today. In June of this year, one of my BRM's was located in the William's Olefins facility in Gonzales, Louisiana during a major blast and fire. All of the employees were evacuated except ten men in the Safe Haven control building. These men were safe and able to shut down the facility while performing controlled burns. This is not the first time a Safe Haven building or modular unit has been in a blast or fire. Safe Haven buildings and units are located worldwide. Our buildings are doing their job providing protection whether in a petrochemical facility, on an offshore platform or in a war zone.
Safe Haven research and development soon began designs for offshore platform living quarters, lavatories and safety shelters in place that would withstand hurricane or tornado force winds, fire and blast with positive pressurization for gas release situations. These buildings are U.S. Coast Guard certified, ABS approved and DNV certified. These buildings can be found throughout the Gulf of Mexico and on fuel barges around New York. All Safe Haven buildings are fully functional and ready for immediate occupation complete with a Safe Haven blast resistant door.
Realizing Safe Haven could provide protection for our men and women in service to our country, I immediately began a Department of State Diplomatic Security approval process for Forced Entry/Ballistic Resistant (FE/BR) products with blast protection that includes buildings, doors, windows and louvers. The first project was at the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem. Today, Safe Haven FE/BR products are located at U.S. Embassies and U.S. Consulates worldwide. With over twelve certified products and services, Safe Haven fully supports war zones with buildings and mobile command centers. It was under fire in a war zone that Baker's door surpassed all expectations by withstanding RPG fire at close range without penetration.
The need for safety and security has reached heightened levels worldwide. Safe Haven is a complete, rapid deployment turn-key manufacturer. There is no project too large or too small. New levels of protection are required for every area today including schools, mission critical protective building systems, banks, hospitals and doors to protect mechanical rooms as well as safe rooms in homes. The Port Of New York recently installed U.S. Department of State certified Safe Haven doors in two tunnels to protect pump areas. Installed before Hurricane Sandy, these doors provided the protection required. Due to my longevity in the protection industry, Safe Haven has become one of the most respected and reliable places to turn for projects dealing with hardening of both new structures and refurbishing structures already in place. Everyone thinks they can work with metals but this is not true. We know how to prevent sweating, deflection of metals and that frequent popping sound.
I have always been a firm believer in giving back to her community. I have served on the board of directors and I am a member of WBENC and WPO, both women's business not-for-profit organizations who certify women business owners, provide education and networking sessions to connect women business with corporations and government agencies. I am a member of WIPP, providing women business owners a voice in congress. As signature sponsor for March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society, I give back to my local community. I am also the chair of the Louisiana District Export Counsel, DEC, board of directors member for SOWELA Technical Institute in Lake Charles, Louisiana and on the advisory board of VeteransAid Foundation. Most recently, I have been working with Thanks USA, a not-for-profit that funds scholarships for the spouses and the children of the fallen.
Alta Baker is the president & CEO of Safe Haven Enterprises, LLC, Jennings, Louisiana and New York, N.Y. Tags: