How Real-World Experience Shapes Effective Safety Leadership
In the oil and gas industry, theoretical safety knowledge means little without operational credibility. Mark Leboldus understands this distinction intimately. As Health and Safety Manager at Big Country Drilling, his leadership carries weight not from credentials alone, but from decades spent in the very environments he now works to protect.
Mark Leboldus knows safety isn’t just about rules, it’s about people. With decades of experience in the field, Mark brings a hands-on perspective to every decision he makes.
“Safety that makes sense to operations, not just from behind a desk, is what drives me.”
A Career Built on Experience
The foundation of Mark’s safety philosophy was shaped in the most demanding classroom: the drilling rig itself. Mark began his career in the oil and gas industry as a lease hand on a rig, working long shifts in challenging environments. Over time, he progressed to a driller position, gaining firsthand knowledge of the realities of fieldwork.
A stint in Australia introduced him to structured safety systems and stronger standardization. These experiences helped him recognize how Risk Homeostasis Theory plays out in the field, when workers feel more skilled or protected, they often take more risks. This shaped his belief that safety systems must be realistic and user-friendly, or people will find workarounds.
Transitioning to Safety Leadership
Strategic career pivots often emerge during industry disruption. During an industry downturn, Mark made a strategic career shift to health and safety, recognizing the opportunity to bring his operational knowledge into a management role. He started as a contractor with Big Country Drilling, and within two years, his expertise and leadership led to a management position. Today, he has been guiding the company’s safety initiatives for over four years.
“I’ve been in the trenches, and that gives me credibility with the teams I work with.”
Connecting with the Workforce
Field presence is non-negotiable in Mark’s leadership model. Mark emphasizes the importance of presence and engagement. Spending over 100 days per year in the field, he connects with employees directly, understanding their challenges and ensuring safety measures are both practical and effective.
“If you don’t come out and see the operations firsthand, you can’t really help your people.”
Working closely with crews allows him to strengthen situational awareness, it is the ability to perceive, understand, and predict what’s happening around you. In high-risk environments, this awareness can prevent incidents long before they occur.
Navigating Challenges
In the drilling industry, safety is complex. Teams must navigate not only legislative requirements but also client-specific protocols that may not fully align with their operations. Mark’s experience allows him to find practical solutions that satisfy both compliance and operational needs.
“The key is finding realistic solutions that protect our team while meeting client standards.”
Success Through Teamwork
For Mark, success is measured by the evolution of the safety program and the strength of the team behind it.
“It’s not about me, it’s about everyone on the team. Seeing our safety culture grow stronger over the years has been incredibly rewarding.”
His proudest moments come from watching crews take ownership, supporting each other, calling out hazards, and refusing unsafe work. This teamwork aligns with the Job Demand, Control Model, which shows that high-risk jobs become safer when workers have autonomy and a voice in how work is done. Mark’s leadership style gives them that control.
Advice for New Safety Managers
Mark believes hands-on experience and strong relationships are essential for new HSE managers.
- Get to know your people.
- Understand the operations.
“You need to be boots on the ground. Without experience in the field, it’s hard to make meaningful safety improvements.”
He also emphasizes building the right team and hold expertise for program development, especially in unprecedented situations like a pandemic.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Safety
Mark sees technology and automation as transformative for worksite safety. While new systems may replace traditional roles, he underscores the ongoing importance of human-focused safety leadership.
“The personal aspect of safety will always matter. Caring for people is at the heart of what we do.”
He also notes the evolving focus of safety programs, from minor incidents to preventing significant harm, and the challenge of adapting to shifting standards across different client sites.
A Legacy of Realistic Safety
Mark Leboldus’ journey from rig hand to HSE manager illustrates the power of experience, engagement, and practical thinking in shaping effective safety leadership. His philosophy is simple but powerful: safety works best when it makes sense to the people doing the work.
“Safety begins with understanding the challenges your people face every day.”
Related Articles
- All Posts
- #EmergencyPreparedness
- 2025 safety trends
- 360 Immersive
- 360immersive
- 6S Safety
- accident prevention
- accidental careers
- accountability
- adjustable workstations
- adult education
- AFAD
- AI automation
- AI implementation
- AI in business
- AI in operations
- AI in Safety
- AI podcast
- AI strategy
- AI transformation
- Airborne Hazards
- Alberta safety
- Alberta safety courses
- Allan James Moore
- Anhydrous Ammonia
- artificial intelligence
- asking for help
- audit findings
- audit readiness
- Audit Reporting
- automated compliance workflows
- automation in safety
- automation strategy
- avoidable injuries
- awareness
- Aztec Safety
- back strain
- BambooHR integration
- Bear safety
- behavior-based safety
- Behavioral Safety
- behavioural safety
- biometric sensors
- BIS Podcast
- BIS Safety Podcasts
- BIS Safety Software
- BIS Safety Spotlight
- black holes
- Blame Culture
- Blue Angels
- Boom Lift Safety
- BP Texas City Explosion
- Brave Leadership
- Brett Burkard
- bump test
- burnout
- business automation
- calibration
- call before you dig
- Canadian Compliance
- Canadian OHS
- Canadian safety
- Canadian safety history
- Canadian Safety Regulations
- Canadian safety standards
- Canadian wilderness safety
- CAPA tracking system
- carbon monoxide
- Cargo Securement
- Carolynne Heron
- CCOHS
- chemical
- Chemical Safety
- chemical vapors
- chronic injuries
- chronic pain
- cloud-based safety tools
- Coming Soon
- Commercial Drivers
- Commercial Vehicle Safety
- Communication in Safety
- Communication Systems
- community safety programs
- Competency in Safety
- complacency in safety
- Compliance
- compliance courses
- Compliance In Canada
- compliance issues
- Compliance management
- Compliance Reporting
- compliance software
- compliance software providers
- compliance tools
- compliance tracking
- compliance training
- compliance vs protection
- confined space
- Confined Space Safety
- connected safety systems
- Construction advocacy
- Construction education
- Construction industry
- construction safety
- construction safety training
- construction technology
- ConstructionSafety
- continuous improvement
- continuous safety improvement
- corporate culture
- corporate training
- corrective actions
- CPR and AED
- crane
- CSA standards
- Customer Spotlight
- Customer Spotlight Kevin Swinden Global Hazmat Safety Culture Hazmat Management Dangerous Goods Competency in Safety Workplace Risk Mitigation BIS Training Clients Canadian EHS
- customized training
- daily trip inspection
- Damage Prevention
- Dangerous Goods
- dangerous goods classification
- Danny Sellers
- data-driven safety
- debriefing
- Decision Analysis
- Decision quality
- defect management
- defect tracking
- defensive driving
- DEI in onboarding
- digital badges
- digital compliance
- digital FLHA
- digital forms
- Digital Hazard Reporting
- Digital Onboarding
- digital safety
- Digital Safety Audits
- digital safety meetings
- Digital Safety Solutions
- Digital safety systems
- digital safety tools
- digital safety transformation
- digital site access
- Digital Training Tools
- digital transformation
- DMS features
- document control
- document management system
- Dr. Joanna Pagonis
- Dr. Tom Krause
- Drilling operations safety
- Driver Fatigue
- driver file management
- driver training
- driving instructor program
- DTRMS
- Duty-Time Management
- e-learning
- e-learning tools
- eadership in safety
- early intervention
- education technology
- EHS
- EHS Adoption
- EHS analytics solutions
- EHS Compliance
- EHS demo questions
- EHS digital solutions
- EHS Inspections
- EHS leadership
- EHS Onboarding
- EHS software
- EHS software features for workplace safety
- EHS software vendor selection checklist
- EHS Strategy
- EHS system connectivity for safety excellence
- EHS systems
- EHS technology
- EHS tools
- EHS vendor review
- Einstein
- ELD
- electrical safety
- Elevated Work Safety
- elite performance
- Emergency Action Plan
- emergency preparedness
- emergency procedures
- emergency response
- emergency supplies
- emotional training
- EmpathyInLeadership
- employee behavior
- employee engagement
- employee health
- Employee onboarding
- employee preparedness
- Employee Readiness
- employee safety
- employee training
- employee trust
- Employee Well-Being
- EmployeeEngagement
- Employer Responsibilities
- Energy Isolation
- engaging toolbox meetings
- equipment inspections
- Equipment Operation
- Equipment Safety
- ergonomic consulting
- ergonomic design
- ergonomic risks
- ergonomics
- Evacuation Procedures
- evidence collection
- EWI Works
- Excavation Hazards
- Excavator Safety
- excavator safety essentials
- exoskeleton
- exoskeletons
- failing safely
- failure analysis
- fall prevention
- fall protection
- fast onboarding
- field experience
- field level hazard assessments
- field operations
- field safety
- field safety assessments
- field safety communication
- field safety leadership
- field safety services
- Field Safety Technology
- field safety tools
- Field-based safety culture
- Field-Friendly Software
- Fire Drills
- fire prevention
- Fire Safety Training
- first aid
- first aid kit
- first week on the job
- first workplace injury
- Fit Testing
- flaggers
- Fleet Compliance
- fleet management
- fleet safety
- FLHA engagement
- FLHA Integration
- FLHA software
- floor mats
- FMEA
- freight
- Frontline Engagement
- frontline safety
- fuel handling
- future of work
- gas detection
- gas monitors
- Gas Respirator Safety
- Gas Safety
- Global Hazmat
- global onboarding
- Good Samaritan laws
- gravitational waves
- gut feeling in safety
- hand injuries
- handling hazardous materials
- Hands-on safety management
- hands-on training
- hazard analysis
- hazard assessment compliance
- hazard assessment software
- Hazard Awareness
- hazard communication
- Hazard Control
- Hazard Identification
- hazard prevention
- hazard recognition
- hazard reporting
- hazard reporting technology
- hazard tracking
- Hazardous Energy Control
- Hazardous Materials
- Hazmat Management
- Health & Safety Podcast
- health and safety
- hearing loss prevention
- hearing protection
- heavy equipment operation
- heavy equipment safety
- Heavy Equipment Training
- hidden workplace hazards
- high voltage systems
- High‑performance teams
- HOS Training
- Hours of Service
- HR automation
- HR software
- HR technology
- HSE leadership
- human factors
- human factors in safety
- human in the loop
- Human Performance
- human vs machine
- human-centered design
- human-centered safety
- Human-Centred Safety
- HumanCenteredLeadership
- Humble leadership
- humor in safety
- hydrogen sulfide
- ICBC certification
- ice melt
- identification
- immersive learning
- Imposter Syndrome
- incident data
- incident investigation
- incident management
- incident prevention
- incident prevention software
- incident reporting
- inclusive leadership
- industrial AI
- Industrial Hygiene
- industrial safety
- Industrial Training
- influence vs control
- Infrastructure Risk
- injury consequences
- injury prevention
- injury prevention tips
- injury recovery
- injury reporting
- injury response
- injury response plan
- inspections
- instant hazard logging
- instructor development
- internal audits
- international workforce
- interpreting safety data
- invisible dangers
- isk and compliance software
- ISO standards
- Jeff Mulligan
- Jennifer Lastra
- job site accountability
- job site hazards
- job site risks
- job site safety
- jobsite readiness
- Jody Young
- KBR Safety Training
- Kevin Swinden
- labor movement
- ladder safety
- Landscaping Ergonomics
- Landscaping Safety
- Leadership
- leadership accountability
- leadership and empathy
- Leadership by example
- leadership communication
- Leadership Development
- Leadership in Safety
- Leadership Management
- leadership messaging
- Leadership Story
- Leadership trust
- LeadershipDevelopment
- Lean Manufacturing
- Lean Workplace
- learning from incidents
- learning management
- lifting techniques
- lighting
- LIGO
- Linda Miller
- LMS
- LMS features
- LMS software
- Load Securement
- Lock Out Tag Out
- lockout tagout
- Lone Worker Safety
- lone workers
- LOTO
- LOTO Training
- machine learning
- Machine Safety
- Maintenance Safety
- mental health at work
- Mentorship in Safety
- MEWP Training
- MI Safety
- microlearning
- Mike Schwartz
- Mini Excavator Training
- minor injuries
- mobile FLHA solution
- mobile inspections platform
- mobile onboarding
- Mobile Safety Apps
- Mobile Safety Platforms
- mobile safety reporting
- Mobile Safety Tools
- mobile safety tools safety compliance solutions
- MOU Standards
- mould hazards
- mould prevention
- movement in workplace
- Multi-Contractor Worksites
- multilingual training
- MyZone AI
- Near Miss Reporting
- new hire experience
- New Hire Safety
- New Worker Training
- new workers
- no-blame investigations
- noise exposure
- nonconformance
- Northern BC
- NRCA
- NSC Standard 13
- occupational fatigue
- occupational hazards
- occupational health
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
- occupational health risks
- occupational safety
- occupational therapy
- OH&S
- OHS
- OHS Career Advice
- OHS Compliance
- OHSA
- oil and gas safety
- omni-training
- On-Site Safety
- onboarding Canada
- onboarding safety
- Onboarding Software
- online learning
- online orientation software
- Online safety training
- operational efficiency
- Operational Excellence
- Operational risk
- Operator Certification
- organizational culture
- organizational safety
- OSHA compliance
- OSHA standards
- outdated practices
- Outdoor work hazards
- overconfidence
- overhead crane courses
- pain awareness
- paperless safety reporting
- paperless safety talks
- PDCA Cycle
- personal protective equipment
- Pharmaceutical Safety
- physics careers
- pipeline safety
- playbook software
- podcast
- post-accident review
- post-incident protocol
- PPE
- PPE enforcement
- PPE improvement
- PPE Training
- pre-trip inspection
- predictive analytics
- pretrip inspection
- Preventative Safety
- preventing shortcuts
- preventive action
- proactive risk management
- proactive safety
- proactive safety culture
- proactive safety measures.
- Proactive Safety Systems
- process improvement
- Professional development
- propane safety
- propane storage
- protective clothing
- psychological hazards
- psychological safety
- PsychologicalSafety
- quality control
- quality management
- quality standard
- Real Safety Leadership
- real-time hazard reporting
- Real-Time Reporting
- real-time safety
- real-time safety tools
- real-time site data
- recordkeeping
- reduce training costs
- regulatory updates
- repetition in safety
- repetitive motion injuries
- respirator safety
- respirators
- Respiratory Protection
- risk assessment
- risk management
- risk mitigation
- risk prevention
- Risk Prevention Tools
- risk reduction
- road safety
- Robin Postnikoff
- ROI with AI
- root cause analysis
- root cause correction
- routine task risks
- safe excavation
- safe habits
- safe transport
- safe work habits
- safe work practices
- safety
- safety accountability
- safety advice
- safety analytics integration
- safety article
- Safety Audit Software
- safety automation
- safety automation tools
- safety awareness
- Safety Behaviour
- safety behaviour science
- safety best practices
- safety communication
- safety compliance
- safety consulting
- Safety Conversations
- safety culture
- safety culture transformation
- safety data
- safety data sheets
- safety documentation
- safety engagement
- safety follow-up
- safety gear
- safety gloves
- safety goggles
- safety habits
- safety improvement
- safety incentives
- safety innovation
- safety insights
- safety inspection
- safety instinct
- Safety Leaders
- safety leadership
- Safety Leadership Podcast
- safety legislation
- safety lessons
- safety management
- safety management system
- safety management systems
- safety metrics
- safety mindset
- safety motivation.
- safety myths
- safety onboarding
- safety planning
- safety podcast
- safety procedure updates
- Safety Procedures
- safety process improvement
- Safety Professional Development
- safety professionals
- Safety Programs
- safety reporting
- safety review process
- safety shortcuts
- safety software
- safety software evaluation
- Safety Spotlight
- Safety strategy
- safety systems
- safety technology
- safety technology buyers guide
- safety theater
- safety tips
- safety tools
- safety training
- safety transformation
- safety transparency
- SafetyCulture
- SafetyLeadership
- Sarah Anderson
- scaffold safety
- scaffolding inspections
- scalable training solutions
- Scott Lyall
- SDS
- shipping documentation
- silent dangers
- silica dust
- Sinogap Solutions
- slips trips falls
- slow-building hazards
- smart helmets
- smart PPE
- smart safety systems
- smart safety tools
- Social Learning
- SOPs
- space science
- speak-up culture
- Spencer McDonald
- Standardized Work
- stop work authority
- storytelling and safety
- storytelling in safety
- supervisor training
- system safety
- Systems Thinking in Safety
- tablet-based toolbox talks
- TCP safety
- TDG
- team communication
- team performance
- teamwork
- tech and ergonomics
- tech in safety
- tech-enabled learning
- Thinking Driver
- Titan Environmental
- Tom Krause
- toolbox talks
- toolbox talks tablets
- Total Buy-In
- Total Recordable Injury Formula
- tough guy mentality
- toxic air
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
- traction control
- traffic control
- traffic control plan
- training
- training courses
- Training integration
- training management
- training matrix
- training record management
- training records
- training software
- TrainingAndDevelopment
- transportation
- transportation of dangerous goods
- Transportation Regulations
- Transportation Safety
- Trucking Regulations
- trust
- Trust & Accountability
- Trust & Communication
- Trust and Accountability
- trust at work
- Tyler Foley
- Underground infrastructure
- underground utilities
- unseen workplace threats
- Upward communication
- user experience
- utility line marking
- utility locating
- Utility safety
- Utility Safety Partners
- values-based onboarding
- vehicle safety
- version control
- veteran advice
- Virtual Reality
- VR safety training
- VR Technology
- walkway maintenance
- wearable technology
- Weights and Dimensions
- Wellness at Work
- WHMIS
- Wildlife awareness
- winter safety
- witness statements
- women in leadership
- work zone safety
- work-alone training
- work-related injuries
- worker accountability
- worker advocacy
- worker fatigue
- worker protection
- worker safety
- worker safety habits
- worker safety tips
- Worker Safety Training
- worker trust
- worker wellbeing
- workers' rights
- Workforce Automation
- workforce compliance
- Workforce development
- workforce engagement
- workforce management
- Workforce Readiness
- workforce training
- Working Alone Canada
- workplace accidents
- workplace air quality
- workplace best practices
- workplace certification
- workplace compliance
- Workplace Culture
- workplace hazard prevention
- Workplace Hazard Tracking
- workplace hazards
- workplace health
- workplace incident response
- workplace injuries
- workplace injury prevention
- workplace inspections
- workplace leadership
- Workplace Mental Health
- workplace mindset
- Workplace Organization
- workplace readiness
- workplace risk factors
- workplace risk management
- Workplace Risk Mitigation
- Workplace safety
- Workplace Safety Compliance
- workplace safety culture
- Workplace Safety Leadership
- workplace safety rules
- workplace safety tech
- workplace safety tips
- Workplace Safety Tools
- workplace safety training
- workplace stress
- workplace tiredness
- workplace trust
- workplace wellness
- WorkplaceSafety
- Worksite Safety
- WSPS
Erin leads with empathy, communication, and genuine connection, focusing on what workers experience every day. By building trust, encouraging open...
Melanie McGrath shifts workplace safety from policy and checklists to a people-led safety leadership culture rooted in trust, ethical leadership,...
Ethan Winder’s approach to safety leadership goes beyond rules, he focuses on communication, trust, and understanding the real work people...
