About 15 years ago, I had recently been promoted to vice president of risk and
safety at a large general contractor in Texas. During that time in my career, I was
actively looking for opportunities to connect with other construction industry
professionals—people who were pushing the boundaries of what safety could be. I wanted
to understand what excellence in safety honestly looked like and how it could be
achieved.
I was growing increasingly frustrated with the monotonous focus on compliance and incident rates, which still dominate many safety initiatives today. Instead, I was drawn to conversations and best practices about communication, leadership, and creating a safety culture that empowers the workforce. My goal was to find ways to make the job more efficient, profitable, and practical, where safety would be the natural byproduct of better planning, more innovative processes, and stronger relationships.
At the time, I was serving as president of the TEXO Safety Committee when I first heard about the
Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, Inc., Construction
Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA). What stood out to me was that the CSEA were
not just about numbers—it was about best practices, leadership, and impact. With some
encouragement, I decided to apply.
A Road Map to Excellence
That first application process was eye-opening. It was long,
detailed, and required us to take a hard look at ourselves as a company. It asked
the following thought-provoking questions.
Why do you deserve to win?
What are you doing that's different?
How are you elevating safety to the next level?
At the time, we had just launched the first version of what would
become our Field Safety Leader Program—initially called the Safety Scouts. It was
our first attempt at empowering our labor force to find their voice in safety. We
didn't just teach safety procedures; we taught communication, leadership, and
self-awareness. We were beginning to redefine safety as something integrated, not
imposed.
That year, we made it to the national competition and placed
third; I was hooked. I set a personal goal: To utilize the CSEA application process
as our company's strategic safety road map, and one day, we would win first
place.
In 2010, we did.
Then, as life and careers often go, opportunities pulled me in
different directions. For the next 7 years, I stepped away from the contractor side,
exploring a different career path in construction risk financing, only to return
about 5 years ago when I joined Jordan Foster Construction as the executive vice
president of risk and safety.
Essentially starting over, I saw this as an opportunity to build
something new from the ground up. I decided to revisit the CSEA process as a
framework to assess, strengthen, and evolve our approach to risk and safety. Four
years later, we not only placed first in our category, but we were also named the
Grand Award Winner. As a safety professional, this was as good as it gets.
It was a full-circle moment—a milestone I never imagined I'd play
a role in achieving when I sat at my very first CSEA breakfast 15 years ago,
thinking, "Maybe one day, my company will be up there." The process has provided
life lessons and insight.
What We've Learned Along the Way
Safety Is Only Effective When It's Integrated into Operations
Safety isn't separate—it's how to do business. When safety is siloed, it
becomes optional. However, when it's integrated into how we lead, plan, and
build, it becomes an integral part of our DNA. This means superintendents,
project managers, and field leaders see safety as a responsibility, not a
department.
Equity, Belonging, and Mental Health Are Now Core to Safety
Over the past decade, the definition of safety has expanded. Today, we know
that creating a safe workplace also means supporting mental well-being,
preventing suicide, and fostering a culture of care where everyone feels they
belong.
Our safety operations manager, Asma Bayunus, created the Mind Savers Program
to support team members following CPR events, and we've embraced AGC's Culture
of Care initiative to ensure everyone on our jobsites knows they are welcome and
valued.
Storytelling Isn't Ego—It's Leadership
Some people think telling your story in an application or presentation is
about bragging and ego; I see it as an act of leadership and mentoring. When
stories are shared, others can raise the bar and strive for something more.
Together, we can elevate others and hopefully leave the industry better than we
found it.
Empower the Field to Be the Voice of Safety
One of the programs we're most proud of is our Field Safety Leader Program,
which empowers naturally influential crew members to become safety leaders,
regardless of their title. We teach them behavioral leadership skills and
communication strategies, and we give them the tools to inspire and expect
collaboration, as well as empowering leadership skills for themselves and their
teams.
The CSEA process is a built-in road map for becoming a better safety leader;
all you have to do is follow it. Review the past winners, listen to their
stories, adopt their best practices, and make them your own. We've drawn
inspiration from companies like Linbeck, which authored the Lean Builder
to promote safety through lean principles, and TDIndustries, which transformed
their planning processes through video and artificial-intelligence-powered job
hazard analyses. By sharing experiences and knowledge, we can make a difference.
Make Safety a Business Strategy
Safety is not just a compliance issue—it's a business advantage. I've always disliked the idea of safety being referred to as "overhead." When you understand how safety impacts the bottom line—through reduced incidents, better productivity, and lower costs—you earn your seat at the table. Safety professionals should learn the language of finance. That's when we go from being rule enforcers to strategic partners.
The Grand Award and the Power of Family
Winning the CSEA Grand Award was surreal. One of the most meaningful parts was being able to celebrate with our field teams and their families.
At the 2024 competition, some of our field team members who are
family participated in our presentation, including the Votta family—a father, son,
and grandson trio—and the Acuña brothers—one of whom started in the field at 18 and
now serves as our regional safety manager.
This brought our safety motto to life: "Is it safe enough for you
to recommend your family to work here?"
If the answer is yes, then you're doing something right. If the
answer is no, then keep building. Because, at the end of the day, we're not just
building projects—we're building people.
Your Turn: Start the Journey
If you're a safety professional thinking about applying for the
CSEA Grand Award, I'll say this: Take the risk. Start the journey.
Even filling out the application will give you insight into your
current risks and hazards. It will show you where you're strong and where you can
grow. In this industry, as we grow, we don't just reduce risks—we save lives.
Get ready. Get set. Go!
Opinions expressed in Expert Commentary articles are those of the author and are not necessarily held by the author's employer or IRMI. Expert Commentary articles and other IRMI Online content do not purport to provide legal, accounting, or other professional advice or opinion. If such advice is needed, consult with your attorney, accountant, or other qualified adviser.
About 15 years ago, I had recently been promoted to vice president of risk and safety at a large general contractor in Texas. During that time in my career, I was actively looking for opportunities to connect with other construction industry professionals—people who were pushing the boundaries of what safety could be. I wanted to understand what excellence in safety honestly looked like and how it could be achieved.
I was growing increasingly frustrated with the monotonous focus on compliance and incident rates, which still dominate many safety initiatives today. Instead, I was drawn to conversations and best practices about communication, leadership, and creating a safety culture that empowers the workforce. My goal was to find ways to make the job more efficient, profitable, and practical, where safety would be the natural byproduct of better planning, more innovative processes, and stronger relationships.
At the time, I was serving as president of the TEXO Safety Committee when I first heard about the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, Inc., Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA). What stood out to me was that the CSEA were not just about numbers—it was about best practices, leadership, and impact. With some encouragement, I decided to apply.
A Road Map to Excellence
That first application process was eye-opening. It was long, detailed, and required us to take a hard look at ourselves as a company. It asked the following thought-provoking questions.
At the time, we had just launched the first version of what would become our Field Safety Leader Program—initially called the Safety Scouts. It was our first attempt at empowering our labor force to find their voice in safety. We didn't just teach safety procedures; we taught communication, leadership, and self-awareness. We were beginning to redefine safety as something integrated, not imposed.
That year, we made it to the national competition and placed third; I was hooked. I set a personal goal: To utilize the CSEA application process as our company's strategic safety road map, and one day, we would win first place.
In 2010, we did.
Then, as life and careers often go, opportunities pulled me in different directions. For the next 7 years, I stepped away from the contractor side, exploring a different career path in construction risk financing, only to return about 5 years ago when I joined Jordan Foster Construction as the executive vice president of risk and safety.
Essentially starting over, I saw this as an opportunity to build something new from the ground up. I decided to revisit the CSEA process as a framework to assess, strengthen, and evolve our approach to risk and safety. Four years later, we not only placed first in our category, but we were also named the Grand Award Winner. As a safety professional, this was as good as it gets.
It was a full-circle moment—a milestone I never imagined I'd play a role in achieving when I sat at my very first CSEA breakfast 15 years ago, thinking, "Maybe one day, my company will be up there." The process has provided life lessons and insight.
What We've Learned Along the Way
Safety Is Only Effective When It's Integrated into Operations
Safety isn't separate—it's how to do business. When safety is siloed, it becomes optional. However, when it's integrated into how we lead, plan, and build, it becomes an integral part of our DNA. This means superintendents, project managers, and field leaders see safety as a responsibility, not a department.
Equity, Belonging, and Mental Health Are Now Core to Safety
Over the past decade, the definition of safety has expanded. Today, we know that creating a safe workplace also means supporting mental well-being, preventing suicide, and fostering a culture of care where everyone feels they belong.
Our safety operations manager, Asma Bayunus, created the Mind Savers Program to support team members following CPR events, and we've embraced AGC's Culture of Care initiative to ensure everyone on our jobsites knows they are welcome and valued.
Storytelling Isn't Ego—It's Leadership
Some people think telling your story in an application or presentation is about bragging and ego; I see it as an act of leadership and mentoring. When stories are shared, others can raise the bar and strive for something more. Together, we can elevate others and hopefully leave the industry better than we found it.
Empower the Field to Be the Voice of Safety
One of the programs we're most proud of is our Field Safety Leader Program, which empowers naturally influential crew members to become safety leaders, regardless of their title. We teach them behavioral leadership skills and communication strategies, and we give them the tools to inspire and expect collaboration, as well as empowering leadership skills for themselves and their teams.
Build a Network, Keep Learning, and Stay Curious
One of the best things I did as a young safety professional was earn my Certified Safety Professional® designation from the Board of Certified© Safety Professionals (BCSP). Today, I serve on the board of directors for BCSP as the treasurer. I'm honored and humbled to give back to a community that molded my job into my profession. My grandmother always told me, "Education is your inheritance." Pursuing excellence and continuously being curious and learning for life is the key to success.
The CSEA process is a built-in road map for becoming a better safety leader; all you have to do is follow it. Review the past winners, listen to their stories, adopt their best practices, and make them your own. We've drawn inspiration from companies like Linbeck, which authored the Lean Builder to promote safety through lean principles, and TDIndustries, which transformed their planning processes through video and artificial-intelligence-powered job hazard analyses. By sharing experiences and knowledge, we can make a difference.
Make Safety a Business Strategy
Safety is not just a compliance issue—it's a business advantage. I've always disliked the idea of safety being referred to as "overhead." When you understand how safety impacts the bottom line—through reduced incidents, better productivity, and lower costs—you earn your seat at the table. Safety professionals should learn the language of finance. That's when we go from being rule enforcers to strategic partners.
The Grand Award and the Power of Family
Winning the CSEA Grand Award was surreal. One of the most meaningful parts was being able to celebrate with our field teams and their families.
At the 2024 competition, some of our field team members who are family participated in our presentation, including the Votta family—a father, son, and grandson trio—and the Acuña brothers—one of whom started in the field at 18 and now serves as our regional safety manager.
This brought our safety motto to life: "Is it safe enough for you to recommend your family to work here?"
If the answer is yes, then you're doing something right. If the answer is no, then keep building. Because, at the end of the day, we're not just building projects—we're building people.
Your Turn: Start the Journey
If you're a safety professional thinking about applying for the CSEA Grand Award, I'll say this: Take the risk. Start the journey.
Even filling out the application will give you insight into your current risks and hazards. It will show you where you're strong and where you can grow. In this industry, as we grow, we don't just reduce risks—we save lives.
Get ready. Get set. Go!
Opinions expressed in Expert Commentary articles are those of the author and are not necessarily held by the author's employer or IRMI. Expert Commentary articles and other IRMI Online content do not purport to provide legal, accounting, or other professional advice or opinion. If such advice is needed, consult with your attorney, accountant, or other qualified adviser.