Building a Culture of Safety
When we come together across our industry to share safety knowledge and best practices, we all benefit. Our workers and construction sites are safer, stronger and better equipped to shape the landscape of our communities. We are committed to building a culture of safety across the industry.
Safety Spotlights
Read a few of the stories that those dedicated to safety have shared with us that help shine a spotlight on safety and the choices we make that impact others.
“Safety isn’t just a word at Eldeco. It’s the way we do things. I don’t hesitate to speak up if I notice something that should be stopped or changed for safety reasons because I know it’s the right thing to do and I know I’ll have support.”
“Safety culture is about finding opportunities to help and support one another by asking and checking on the well-being of those around us. Keep your mind focused on work, but don’t forget to find opportunities to laugh and smile with those around you. Always be present in the moment and have enough strength, courage and confidence to stand up for our brothers and sisters when in need. We are one union with many trades.”
“A typical shift on a construction site can be eight, ten or more hours a day. Taking time to address issues and risks we may face, or correcting something that can challenge our complacency or difficulty with a task, can prevent a tragedy or even death. It only takes one to speak up or act at any time to ensure we protect our health and safety.”
“Building a safety culture gives team members empowerment, ownership and confidence. It enables everyone to act as safety champions to stop or correct wrongful situations. It also promotes proactive conversations about safety while supporting McCarthy’s safety motto – Safety is everyone’s responsibility.”
“I am grateful to be part of the Stacy and Witbeck Continuous Improvement Safety Team. The amount of focus we put on preparing our project teams and crews for the work day ahead is something to be proud of. I’m excited about our work teaching leadership skills through the briefing process and giving craft employees opportunities to own the processes they participate in.”
“Our company is working hard to establish and improve our safety culture. Strengthening our processes requires more quality input to our everyday jobs and demands that we are always alert and perform to the best of our abilities.”
“Building a culture and environment where everyone feels they can step in, speak up and take action to keep their team and job site safe is important in the industry and to our company.”
“Leading by example with a positive attitude, adherence to the rules and a willingness to speak up when needed is important to improving safety on the job site.”
“Every team member on my crew is a safety leader. I lead by example and align my words with safe actions to further enforce our safety culture. Communicating our daily plan before starting work allows everyone to provide valuable feedback toward a safer and more productive outcome. When we run into an issue, we must remember that it impacts us all, so everyone should be part of providing input for the solution. Communication builds successful teams. “
“I encourage my team to speak about their work experiences and share how they are affected. This process helps shape how we align our values of caring for each other and helps strengthen our safety culture. Fostering an environment where we listen to every voice and empower every individual creates an appreciation among team members. It is about respecting, caring and acting for the betterment of everyone.”
“Safety comes first for me. When I get to work, I think about how to do everything safely so I can return home to my friends and family. Safety is personal. I choose to work cautiously to complete daily tasks with confidence and pride. My co-workers and I know that what we do and how we do it makes a big difference, and we aren’t afraid to speak up if something needs to change. That’s the only way to avoid an accident.”
“When I started in the construction industry, I was only 19 years old. From the beginning, I was well-trained in safety, and after 40 years with the same company, I have carried that mindset ever since. Every day I am empowered to make decisions and take actions to ensure myself and my crew all leave the job site safely. That makes all the difference.”
“It’s important to build a work environment based on safety so we can safely and successfully do our jobs. Work hard, be committed, speak up, have pride, and get out of it what we put into it. “
“Safety starts with me. I have a responsibility to my family, my crew and my company to make sure that, not only are we working safely on the job site but ensure that my crew and I return home safely every workday. I also appreciate the full support from a company that encourages safe practices and procedures.”
“Having a voice that is heard and can make changes empowers us to do the job right and safely.”
“We’re all friends and family out here so it’s important to communicate like family and look out for each other. Speaking up when something isn’t right keeps us safe.”
“I love fostering job sites where trade and construction professionals alike are respectful. Keeping a job site clean, ensuring all workers have the tools and skills they need, and empowering them to speak up when they don’t feel comfortable performing a task are techniques I use to create positive morale on site. We can truly Build More than Buildings® when we work together and look out for one another.”
“I have been in this industry for 30+ years, and the safety culture becomes more prevalent every year. Gilbane is at the forefront of inspiring the importance of safety to all employees on our jobs. The Gilbane Cares philosophy, “Everybody goes home the same way they came,” is not just something we say; it is something we live and breathe.”
“Safety is critical at every workplace, so employees are encouraged to focus on preventive measures, however big or small. I strongly believe safety is a state of mind. My primary goal is to focus on safe work practices for all employees. A simple thank you goes a long way in boosting morale and making people feel appreciated. We have also made it our duty to create work environments where employees are comfortable approaching management when they observe unsafe work conditions so problems can be rectified quickly. “
“Spiker’s Word of the Day! Working for a company like Granite with the same safety mindset makes it easy to make safe decisions. The management at Granite enables us to work safely every day with tools like Speak Up Listen Up and Granite’s Core Values. I am empowered to make the right decisions so my crew makes it home in the same state they came to work. I like to bounce ideas off others so we can thoroughly plan the work to achieve our goal of zero incidents. The best part of Granite’s safety culture is that it extends beyond the workplace. I am consciously making safe decisions at work reminding me to make those same decisions at home.”
“Granite is a very safe place to work. I’ve worked for numerous companies where I felt they had a safety program because they had to. Here at Granite, safety is about the employees, our well-being and getting home safe every day!”
Industry Experts
We empower each other to make safe choices by learning, sharing and implementing tips from some of construction’s top safety experts. Below are some of the top safety tips from our industry experts.
At McCarthy, our craft professionals are our most important resource. They are the eyes and the ears of safety on our projects. It’s critical that everyone understands the ‘Stop Work Authority’ we are empowering them with whenever they step foot on a McCarthy project. When everyone actively participates in our proactive safety planning; is trained to recognize potentially unsafe conditions; and feels empowered to speak up, we have a much better chance of avoiding hazardous conditions and behaviors. Creating this environment starts with leading by example and creating a culture where everyone on the team takes personal pride in their safety and the safety of those around them. Our industry can take steps to ensure our craft professionals are supported, their voices heard, and make sure they understand they are fully empowered.
Maintaining a safe workplace is the responsibility of everyone. We encourage Eldeco employees to be innovative. We depend on them to be outspoken about their ideas and concerns. Together, we’re building a culture that makes safety and taking care of our people a consideration in every decision we make.
Every project PCL Construction engages in offers the opportunity to build a legacy. As an employee-owned company we understand and embrace our responsibility to steward safety for every person who sets foot on our project sites. We recognize the importance of sharing our individual and collective voices to advocate for all to make choices that protect themselves and others. During this year’s Construction Safety Week, I encourage us all to have an ownership mindset and demonstrate our commitment to safety by fostering an industrywide culture of togetherness and care that prioritizes safety and leaves a positive community impact.
We are building an environment of trust and respect, where teams learn together, strengthen our capacity and resilience, and form the bonds necessary to ensure jobsite events don’t adversely impact lives. With the introduction of Human and Organizational Performance to our HSE program we are maintaining best in class industry safety. On an average of more than 50 million hours worked annually, we have demonstrated results among the industry’s lowest overall total recordable incident and lost-time frequency rates.
A great quote by Heraclitus relates directly to construction: “The only thing that is constant is change”. Change happens every day on a construction site and the best laid plans for an operation or a day will most likely be impacted by change. When change occurs in construction – whether it is an unexpected delivery or a change in weather – the likelihood of injuries occurring increases.
One of the best tools to combat safety risks associated with a change is to bring the team together to analyze the impact. This provides opportunities for the team to express their concerns and develop a revised plan to mitigate the hazards associated with a changed condition. Our teams utilize the PC SAFE Book (Stop, Assess the hazard, Form a plan, Execute the plan), a pocket-sized notebook that helps identify and mitigate these hazards to ensure people go home safe every day. This simple tool reinforces the importance of reevaluating work tasks as conditions change and promotes a team-based safety culture.
A great day on a construction site is when everyone returns home safe to their families, all while meeting or exceeding production goals. To make this happen, our teams are empowered to speak up and contribute to the solution. It takes more than one voice to have true impact.
At Fluor, Safety is a Core Value that is part of what we do every day at every office and every project site. To be world-class in safety requires a caring, preventive culture. When leadership is in the field, visible, looking at and talking about safety, people notice! It sets the tone, the expectations and drives the culture. Everyone, from craft professionals to senior leaders, must embrace this paradigm of care – at Fluor, it’s called Safer Together – that empowers each of us to own our safety culture. Anyone, regardless of role, can be a safety leader, walking the talk, watching out for each other, and demonstrating safety with every word and action.
At Granite Safety is one of our core values. We have empowered all of our employees to “listen up and speak up” and mean it. We have taken safety to the next level by including Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality (SHEQ). This commitment will take us to the next level for success and do what’s right for our stewardship and people.
Why Switch to Safety Helmets?
Watch this video provided by Safety Week to learn how safety helmets dramatically reduce the frequency and severity of traumatic injuries and fatalities on construction sites.