Safety is top of mind for most industries, especially in the world of heavy equipment. But it’s not just about compliance and checking off boxes—nudging the status quo, opening conversation, and evolving processes to engage absolutely everyone creates a safer, more empowered environment.
The team believes this milestone shows consistency and persistence as a branch. “We keep pushing through, making sure we’re doing right by our employees and each other, working together towards one common goal,” says Adam Schneider, Field Supervisor.
Tom Adamson, Heavy Equipment Technician, vouches for that. Safety is the first thing on his mind when he comes to the door every morning. Even with various contractors in the building, “it’s something that everyone talks about and thinks about,” he says.
“I think that’s why we’ve had the results we’ve had,” adds Nigel. “It’s not just one group pushing for this—everyone is pursuing the same goal.”
After all, it’s the people who do the work who are looking out for each other.
In late December, the branch realized they had hit the 700,000 hours marker and commemorated it with milestone jackets. Like backing a favourite sports team, there is a strong sense of pride. “We’re proud to show our branch,” says Nigel. “It’s about camaraderie and support.”
When looking to future goals, Adam considers that very carefully. “You don’t want to look too far out,” he says. “We need to look right in front of us. The thing with safety is whether you’re doing it correctly or not; the outcome could be the same. Just because you have no incidents, does that mean you’re doing it correctly? That’s why it’s important to us to focus on the now—taking it day by day, shift by shift. We do our FLHAs and our hazard assessments, and our respectful interventions. Everything is step by step.”
The milestone matters, but it isn’t the focus.
