Scott Lyall’s Mission to Make Safety Relatable, Scalable, and Human
At first glance, Scott Lyall doesn’t look like your typical safety guy.
No coveralls. No clipboard. No “my way or the highway” swagger. That’s because Scott didn’t come to the safety world from the toolbox or the boardroom — he came from storytelling.
And in his version of safety, storytelling isn’t just fluff — it’s a powerful tool for saving lives.
“Safety isn’t proprietary. That’s the beautiful thing about it. We can share, we can adapt, and we can teach each other.“
From Marketing to Municipalities: A Winding Road
Scott’s safety journey didn’t start in the field. It started in software.
Early in his career, he worked with learning management systems, helping global teams distribute uniform messages across borders and time zones. That’s where he first saw the power of consistent, scalable learning.
Then came his work with the Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association — a role that combined policy, training, and tech into one giant storytelling machine.
“We were deploying the same message to thousands of municipal workers, some of whom didn’t even speak the same language. But the message still landed — because we made it land.”
He didn’t just create content. He created buy-in.
The Power of a Well-Told Safety Story
What Scott realized early was this: tech is only as good as the story it tells. Whether it’s a microlearning module or an e-learning course, the question isn’t “Does this check a box?” — it’s “Will this stick with someone when the heat’s on?”
“Safety’s not just about compliance. It’s about the why. If you don’t know why you’re doing something, you won’t do it when it matters.”
And he’s not romanticizing things. Scott’s been in organizations where there were no standard operating procedures. Where training was treated as an afterthought. And he’s seen firsthand how the right systems — and the right culture — can change that.
“What brings me the most joy? Watching a team go from fighting change to driving it. That’s the flywheel. That’s when you know it’s working.”
Omni-Training: Safety for the TikTok Generation
Scott’s approach to safety training is unapologetically modern.
Think interactive drag-and-drop quizzes. Modular learning chunks. Recognition of prior learning. Mobile-first design. If it looks like it belongs in a Netflix UX lab — that’s the point.
“We’re not training robots. We’re training adults with busy lives. Training has to meet them where they are.”
He calls it “omni-training”: a mix of classroom learning, self-directed digital modules, and on-the-job reinforcement. It’s inclusive. It’s bite-sized. And it works.
Beyond the Safety Bubble
Scott’s secret sauce? He doesn’t keep safety siloed.
At ServiceMaster, where he now oversees HR, IT, and accounting — alongside a tight partnership with the safety team — he’s made a point of weaving safety into every business unit.
“Safety and efficiency aren’t separate things. They’re the same thing. If you’re not safe, you’re not running at full speed.”
That’s why he sees hazard assessments as useful not just for job sites, but for accounting departments and HR planning. Why waste time and risk failure when you can plan, do, check, and act?
Culture, Not Compliance
For Scott, the endgame isn’t passing an audit. It’s creating a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility — not just the safety manager’s.
“We all want our company to be profitable. We all want our coworkers to go home safe. That’s not a department’s job. That’s all of us.”
It’s also why he gives high praise to his own safety manager, Jeff Lafferty:
“Jeff’s the kind of guy who gets the balance. Yes, we need the metrics. But we also need to translate them into something that matters to the team on the ground — carpenters, techs, everybody.”
Lessons from the Road
Scott’s also clear about the stakes. His hardest lesson? The silent danger of driving — something almost everyone does, but few treat as the top-tier hazard it is.
“Frequency is low. But severity? It can be fatal. Awareness has to be sewn in every day, not just handed out at orientation.”
That’s the core of his message: consistency. Culture. And the relentless pursuit of better.
Because safety doesn’t live in a checklist. It lives in people.
And people remember stories — especially the ones that sound like their own.
Work smart. Stay strong. Speak up.
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