b'Transforming Construction Safety: The Shift FromGetting to the Heart of Safety Compliance to Compassion True change in safety requires more than just numbers or reportsit demands a deeper understanding of everything Over my three decades in this field, Ive learned that safety isnthappening on the job site. Over our 30 years of just about compliance. Its about understanding the real challengesexperience, weve found that companies often struggle to that workers, owners, and contractors face on the ground everymake lasting progress because they focus too narrowly on day.incident reports and compliance checklists. To truly move the needle on safety, its essential to take a closer look at A short while back, one of our senior safety advisors noticed onethe broader culture and environment in which your team worker seemed off and, after talking to him, learned he wasoperates. struggling mentally but hesitant to seek help due to stigma. Drawing from her own experience, she encouraged him to seekHere are some key areas weve found to be crucial when therapy and offered a referral. They continued to talk about hisassessing and improving safety culture:progress in the following weeks. Broader Scope: Safety goes beyond compliance. A This is empathy in actionseeing the whole person, not just theirholistic approach looks at culture, leadership, and tasks. As safety professionals, we may not always know if weveemployee attitudes. When leadership is engaged, it prevented an incident, but leading with empathy ensures werefosters accountability at all levels. supporting our workers in every way, including their mental well-being. Communication & People: Open, honest communication helps workers feel safe raising By fostering a culture where safety is a shared responsibility, weconcerns. Real conversations uncover challenges that can transform how we operate and achieve lasting success.data cant, fostering a proactive culture that prevents Because safety is about people, and people need to feel supported.incidents. Mix of Data: Combining qualitative insights with Empathy as the Key Driverquantitative data paints a fuller picture. This blend Empathy means understanding the real challenges our teams facehelps identify hidden trends that pure data often dailytight deadlines, tough conditions, and unpredictablemisses. weather. Its about truly listening to concerns, valuingRoot Cause Analysis: Incidents are often symptoms perspectives, and recognizing reality. When empathy is theof deeper issues. By identifying root causes, like poor foundation of our safety practices, we go beyond regulations tocommunication or unrealistic expectations, we can genuinely support our team members.address the real problems, not just the surface issues. Empathy looks like what our senior safety advisor provided to aProactive Solutions: Focus on building long-term struggling worker: listening, encouraging, checking in, andresilience into safety practices and start early. following up. As our workers face challenges, safety isnt just aSolutions like better scheduling, enhanced training, or checklist of dos and donts, its using our emotional intelligencemental health support prevent issues before they arise. to understand the person and what is motivating them (both goodContinuous Improvement: Safety requires ongoing and bad) in key moments on a job.reassessment. Regular check-ins ensure safety strategies evolve with the teams needs and the job Building a Culture of Compassionsites dynamics. Empathy shouldnt be viewed as a soft skill but as a strategicLets move beyond just meeting compliance and work driver for effective safety practices. It helps us better understandtoward building a safer, more supportive future based on the pressures our crews face and how to address their needs. In acompassion and collaboration. When we put our team culture driven by compassion, everyone on the team feelsmembers first and foster genuine connections at all levels, supportedknowing that their well-being is a top priority. This mindset shifts safety from a compliance-based approach to onewe dont just protect our crewswe strengthen the entire that is about ensuring people feel heard, respected, and valued.industry. The journey toward a more empathetic and holistic safety culture starts with each of us, and together, The construction industry has often been viewed as tough andwe can make a lastingunforgiving, but leading with empathy allows us to break down that image. When we listen to what our workers are going through and give them the tools and resources they need, we create stronger teams. Its not just about checking off safety boxesits about creating an environment where everyone takes ownership of safety, from top to bottom. 5'