Safer Workplaces Start With Us
Home Blog Safer Workplaces Start With Us Every day, we have a choice: work the way we always have, or work smarter and safer. By Aldynne Belmont Facebook Twitter LinkedIn April 28th is Canada’s National Day of Mourning— and it’s a reminder that safety isn’t just a program. It’s a promise. A promise to learn, lead, and look out for one another. We honor the past not by standing still, but by building a stronger tomorrow. Here’s how we get there: Three Power Moves for a Safer Workplace 1. Training That Sticks Training isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about building muscle memory. Practice spotting hazards. Practice reacting fast. Make safety second nature. 2. Fix Hazards at the Source Use the hierarchy of controls: Eliminate dangers when you can. Substitute safer options. Engineer safety into the system. Only lean on PPE when there’s no other way. Get ahead of risks—don’t just shield yourself from them. 3. Speak Up, Listen Up Every worker is a safety leader. Encourage open conversations about risks, near-misses, and improvements. A quiet job site is a risky job site. Put Words Into Action – Schedule Risk Assessments Regularly Don’t guess where danger might hide. Go find it. – Set Up a Real Health & Safety Committee Bring different voices together. Tackle safety from all sides. – Write Simple, Strong Safety Protocols Every worker is a safety leader. Encourage open conversations about risks, near-misses, and improvements. A quiet job site is a risky job site. – Build Breaks Into the Day Fatigue slows reflexes. Scheduled breaks keep brains sharp and bodies safer. – Celebrate Safety Leaders Catch people doing things right. Recognize it. Reward it. Repeat. The best safety cultures don’t rely on blind rule-following. They train workers to think about safety, assess risks, and make smart decisions. Forward Together Safer workplaces don’t happen by accident. They happen because people—at every level—make them happen. So this season, let’s not just reflect. Let’s take action. Let’s lead change. Let’s build workplaces where everyone gets home safe—and proud—every single day. You in? BIS Social Media Stay connected with BIS Safety Software for the latest in safety innovations, training tools, industry insights, and company news. Click any icon below to follow us and keep BIS updates just a tap away. Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Related Articles All Posts 360 Immersive 360immersive Alberta safety courses Allan James Moore awareness BambooHR integration biometric sensors BIS Podcast BIS Safety Software black holes Brave Leadership chemical chronic injuries Coming Soon community safety programs Compliance compliance courses compliance tools compliance vs protection Construction advocacy Construction education Construction industry construction safety training crane customized training daily trip inspection Danny Sellers data-driven safety digital forms Dr. Joanna Pagonis driver file management driver training early intervention EHS Einstein emergency preparedness emergency supplies emotional training employee health employee safety employee training ergonomics exoskeletons fall protection field safety field safety services fire prevention first aid kit first week on the job fleet management frontline safety gravitational waves hands-on training hazard communication hazard prevention Health & Safety Podcast heavy equipment safety high voltage systems HR automation HR software human-centered safety humor in safety immersive learning Imposter Syndrome incident data incident reporting industrial safety injury prevention injury reporting injury response internal audits Jennifer Lastra job site hazards job site risks job site safety Jody Young KBR Safety Training Leadership leadership accountability leadership and empathy LIGO LMS lone workers mental health at work MI Safety new workers Northern BC NRCA NSC Standard 13 occupational health occupational safety oil and gas safety onboarding safety Online safety training OSHA compliance OSHA standards overhead crane courses pain awareness physics careers pipeline safety podcast PPE PPE enforcement pre-trip inspection pretrip inspection Professional development psychological safety risk management road safety Robin Postnikoff safety safety advice safety article safety best practices safety communication safety compliance Safety Conversations safety culture safety innovation safety insights safety inspection Safety Leaders safety leadership safety management safety management system safety metrics safety myths safety podcast Safety Spotlight safety systems safety technology safety theater safety tips safety training Sinogap Solutions smart helmets space science supervisor training Total Recordable Injury Formula training training courses training matrix training record management transportation Trust and Accountability vehicle safety Virtual Reality VR safety training VR Technology wearable technology WHMIS women in leadership work-alone training worker accountability worker protection worker safety workforce management workforce training workplace best practices workplace certification Workplace Culture workplace hazards workplace health workplace injury prevention workplace risk management Workplace safety workplace safety culture workplace wellness WSPS Safer Workplaces Start With Us April 28, 2025 Home Blog Safer Workplaces Start With Us Every day, we have a choice: work the way we always have, or… Read More ASTEC Safety Named Member of the Year by Utility Safety Partners April 25, 2025 Home Blog ASTEC Safety Named Member of the Year by Utility Safety Partners Recognition like this doesn’t come easy. By… Read More The Problem With Old School Safety April 25, 2025 Home Blog The Problem With Old School Safety Some safety rules save lives. Others? They just make work harder—and sometimes,… Read More
ASTEC Safety Named Member of the Year by Utility Safety Partners
Home Blog ASTEC Safety Named Member of the Year by Utility Safety Partners Recognition like this doesn’t come easy. By Aldynne Belmont Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Each year, Utility Safety Partners (USP) honours the people and organizations raising the bar in damage prevention and utility safety. This year, ASTEC Safety—led by COO Jeff Mulligan —was named 2024 Member of the Year, jointly recognized alongside Global Training for their industry leadership, advocacy, and commitment to safety excellence. Why It Matters ASTEC’s approach to safety training isn’t just about compliance—it’s about real-world impact. From their field experience to the systems they help shape, ASTEC has earned a reputation for showing up, speaking up, and backing it all with action. They’re also a long-time training partner in the BIS network, with their expertise playing a role in the development of some of our most widely used safety content—including courses approved by USP. This recognition from USP—the very organization that governs utility safety training in Alberta—is a testament to the quality and integrity ASTEC brings to everything they do. Congrats to Jeff and the entire ASTEC team—this award reflects not just a moment of success, but years of meaningful, boots-on-the-ground work in making Canadian job sites safer, which is definitely something worth celebrating. BIS Social Media Stay connected with BIS Safety Software for the latest in safety innovations, training tools, industry insights, and company news. Click any icon below to follow us and keep BIS updates just a tap away. Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Related Articles All Posts 360 Immersive 360immersive Alberta safety courses Allan James Moore awareness BambooHR integration biometric sensors BIS Podcast BIS Safety Software black holes Brave Leadership chemical chronic injuries Coming Soon community safety programs Compliance compliance courses compliance tools compliance vs protection Construction advocacy Construction education Construction industry construction safety training crane customized training daily trip inspection Danny Sellers data-driven safety digital forms Dr. Joanna Pagonis driver file management driver training early intervention EHS Einstein emergency preparedness emergency supplies emotional training employee health employee safety employee training ergonomics exoskeletons fall protection field safety field safety services fire prevention first aid kit first week on the job fleet management frontline safety gravitational waves hands-on training hazard communication hazard prevention Health & Safety Podcast heavy equipment safety high voltage systems HR automation HR software human-centered safety humor in safety immersive learning Imposter Syndrome incident data incident reporting industrial safety injury prevention injury reporting injury response internal audits Jennifer Lastra job site hazards job site risks job site safety Jody Young KBR Safety Training Leadership leadership accountability leadership and empathy LIGO LMS lone workers mental health at work MI Safety new workers Northern BC NRCA NSC Standard 13 occupational health occupational safety oil and gas safety onboarding safety Online safety training OSHA compliance OSHA standards overhead crane courses pain awareness physics careers pipeline safety podcast PPE PPE enforcement pre-trip inspection pretrip inspection Professional development psychological safety risk management road safety Robin Postnikoff safety safety advice safety article safety best practices safety communication safety compliance Safety Conversations safety culture safety innovation safety insights safety inspection Safety Leaders safety leadership safety management safety management system safety metrics safety myths safety podcast Safety Spotlight safety systems safety technology safety theater safety tips safety training Sinogap Solutions smart helmets space science supervisor training Total Recordable Injury Formula training training courses training matrix training record management transportation Trust and Accountability vehicle safety Virtual Reality VR safety training VR Technology wearable technology WHMIS women in leadership work-alone training worker accountability worker protection worker safety workforce management workforce training workplace best practices workplace certification Workplace Culture workplace hazards workplace health workplace injury prevention workplace risk management Workplace safety workplace safety culture workplace wellness WSPS ASTEC Safety Named Member of the Year by Utility Safety Partners April 25, 2025 Home ASTEC Safety Named Member of the Year by Utility Safety Partners Recognition like this doesn’t come easy. By Aldynne… Read More The Problem With Old School Safety April 25, 2025 Home Blog The Problem With Old School Safety Some safety rules save lives. Others? They just make work harder—and sometimes,… Read More Safety First – Is it True? April 25, 2025 Home Blog Safety First – Is it True? Does the most common phrase in safety hold water? By Aldynne Belmont… Read More
The Problem With Old School Safety
Home Blog The Problem With Old School Safety Some safety rules save lives. Others? They just make work harder—and sometimes, more dangerous. By Aldynne Belmont Facebook Twitter LinkedIn For decades, safety manuals have packed in rigid policies designed to reduce risk. But in the real world, those rules don’t always work as intended. Worse, they can backfire. When workers see safety policies as impractical, outdated, or just plain ridiculous, they stop following all of them—not just the bad ones. The Problem with Blind Compliance Safety isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about making sure people go home in one piece. But when rules focus more on compliance than actual safety, they can create new hazards. Take tying off at two steps on a ladder. Some sites require full fall protection as soon as a worker climbs more than a couple of feet. In theory, that sounds great. In reality, those harnesses create tripping hazards. They get tangled in tools and make movement clunky. As a result, workers end up at greater risk of falling. Or consider mandatory gloves for everything. Hand protection is crucial. Yet, requiring thick gloves for tasks that need dexterity—like electrical work or handling small bolts—can reduce grip. This lack of control can make accidents more likely. In cases like this, an overzealous rule increases risk instead of reducing it. “You start dismissing all the rules when you’re hit with one that just doesn’t make sense,” said Wes Rundle, a safety manager with years in the trades. “That’s when it gets dangerous—because some rules really do matter. But if people feel like everything’s just being shoved down their throat, they tune out”. That said, compliance is still critical. Workers should always follow their workplace’s safety policies and defer to official guidelines. The key isn’t to ignore rules but to recognize when a policy could be improved for real-world application. If a rule seems impractical or even unsafe, the right move isn’t to disregard it. Instead, workers should bring concerns to supervisors. Together, they can find solutions that balance compliance with safety effectiveness. When Rules Make Workers Tune Out The biggest danger of bad safety policies? They make people ignore the good ones. When workers are forced to follow rules that don’t make sense, they start questioning all safety policies. That’s when serious lapses happen. John Holmes, who manages safety in wind energy, learned that the hard way. “Early on, I thought I was helping by laying out all the safety policies. But workers saw them as threats, not support. They thought I was just setting traps to catch them doing something wrong,” he said. “I had to shift. I started asking questions, listening more, and building trust. That’s when they started telling me, ‘This rule isn’t safe for how we actually work.’ That’s the feedback you need”. If a worker sees management pushing impractical regulations, they may assume all safety measures are just for show. That’s how you end up with people skipping real precautions. They may neglect proper fall protection when it actually matters or fail to lock out machinery before maintenance. The Balance: Smart Safety, Not Just Strict Safety The best safety cultures don’t rely on blind rule-following. They train workers to think about safety, assess risks, and make smart decisions. – Adapt Rules to Reality Policies should make sense for the actual job. If a rule causes more risk than it prevents, it needs a second look. – Listen to Workers The people on the ground know what works and what doesn’t. If they say a rule is dangerous, management should listen. Allan Moore said it best: “We’ve all met the ‘safety sheriff’ type—thumbs in the belt loop, gum chewing, looking to catch you messing up. That doesn’t help. You’ve got to listen, build trust, and catch people doing something right. That’s where safety starts”. – Focus on Outcomes, Not Just Compliance The goal isn’t to follow rules—it’s to keep people safe. If a policy isn’t doing that, it’s time to rethink it. The Bottom Line? Old-school safety rules come from a good place, but when they create more problems than they solve, they need to evolve. Safety isn’t about doing things the old way—it’s about doing them the right way. BIS Social Media Stay connected with BIS Safety Software for the latest in safety innovations, training tools, industry insights, and company news. Click any icon below to follow us and keep BIS updates just a tap away. Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Related Articles All Posts 360 Immersive 360immersive Alberta safety courses Allan James Moore awareness BambooHR integration biometric sensors BIS Podcast BIS Safety Software black holes Brave Leadership chemical chronic injuries Coming Soon community safety programs Compliance compliance courses compliance tools compliance vs protection Construction advocacy Construction education Construction industry construction safety training crane customized training daily trip inspection Danny Sellers data-driven safety digital forms Dr. Joanna Pagonis driver file management driver training early intervention EHS Einstein emergency preparedness emergency supplies emotional training employee health employee safety employee training ergonomics exoskeletons fall protection field safety field safety services fire prevention first aid kit first week on the job fleet management frontline safety gravitational waves hands-on training hazard communication hazard prevention Health & Safety Podcast heavy equipment safety high voltage systems HR automation HR software human-centered safety humor in safety immersive learning Imposter Syndrome incident data incident reporting industrial safety injury prevention injury reporting injury response internal audits Jennifer Lastra job site hazards job site risks job site safety Jody Young KBR Safety Training Leadership leadership accountability leadership and empathy LIGO LMS lone workers mental health at work MI Safety new workers Northern BC NRCA NSC Standard 13 occupational health occupational safety oil and gas safety onboarding safety Online safety training OSHA compliance OSHA standards overhead crane courses pain awareness physics careers pipeline safety podcast PPE PPE enforcement pre-trip inspection pretrip inspection Professional development psychological safety risk management road safety Robin Postnikoff safety safety advice safety article safety best practices safety communication safety compliance
Safety First – Is it True?
Home Blog Safety First – Is it True? Does the most common phrase in safety hold water? By Aldynne Belmont Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Every company says it. It’s on posters, hard hats, and PowerPoint slides. “Safety first.” But here’s the truth: you don’t prove that with a motto, and you know that. You prove it in moments of pressure—when timelines tighten, budgets shrink, and someone spots a hazard no one wants to deal with. The companies who truly put safety first? They show it. Every day. And they’re the ones workers trust! The ones that thrive in their industries. What “Safety First” Actually Looks Like ▸Deadlines don’t come first—people do. “When you’re outside at -50°, trying to get something done, safety needs to be part of how you think,” said Jeremy Desilets, founder of Clearline Safety. “That only happens when leadership walks the walk.” ▸ Training is built to stick. Robin Postnikoff of MI Safety built his entire business on that idea. “You can explain to someone how to turn a wheel,” he said. “But until they drive the car—on ice, in traffic—they don’t get it. That’s how it works with safety. Until you do it, it’s not real.” ▸ Leaders lead with safety. If the crew sees managers skipping PPE or brushing off hazards, they take that as permission. But when leaders show up prepared, stay curious, and prioritize safety over shortcuts? That’s when culture shifts. ▸ Safety lives in trust—and action. Here’s how Allan Moore described it: “When I worked on the rigs, everything was manual. No automation, no iron roughnecks. Just heavy tools, fast rhythms, and a thick injury report filled with things you never want to read about. I was new. Nobody knew me. And still—these guys had my back. They’d say, ‘Don’t stand there. My buddy did and now he’s missing fingers.’ Or, ‘Come with me, I’ll show you the right way to do this.’ They didn’t lecture me. They protected me. That’s safety. If they hadn’t stepped in, I might not be here today. That experience taught me what a real safety culture feels like. It’s about watching out for each other. Every day. Without being asked.” Five Ways to Put Safety First 1. Pause the job. If something feels off—stop. Fix it first. Your team needs to know that safety pauses are not only allowed, they’re expected. 2. Train hands-on. Don’t rely on lectures. Get people doing, practicing, problem-solving. The goal isn’t memorization—it’s confidence. 3. Track what prevents problems. Measure what matters: near-miss reports, hazard fixes, team engagement. That’s where real safety lives. 4. Empower every voice. If workers hesitate to speak up, your system needs attention—and fast. Build trust by showing that concerns lead to action. 5. Lead visibly. When execs model the same safety standards as frontline crews, the message is clear: this isn’t optional—it’s who we are. Safety Culture Is a System, Not a Slogan Companies that prioritize safety do what they say, and say what they’ll do. They build systems that reinforce safety —daily, visibly, consistently. They don’t wait for a serious incident to take safety seriously. They learn from close calls. They improve from feedback. And they make safety part of how the whole team thinks. Does your company prove “safety first” with action? Because the difference isn’t just about productivity. It could be the reason your people go home safe. Be proud of when and how you prioritize safety – for yourself and others, BIS Social Media Stay connected with BIS Safety Software for the latest in safety innovations, training tools, industry insights, and company news. Click any icon below to follow us and keep BIS updates just a tap away. Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Related Articles All Posts 360 Immersive 360immersive Alberta safety courses Allan James Moore awareness BambooHR integration biometric sensors BIS Podcast BIS Safety Software black holes Brave Leadership chemical chronic injuries Coming Soon community safety programs Compliance compliance courses compliance tools compliance vs protection Construction advocacy Construction education Construction industry construction safety training crane customized training daily trip inspection Danny Sellers data-driven safety digital forms Dr. Joanna Pagonis driver file management driver training early intervention EHS Einstein emergency preparedness emergency supplies emotional training employee health employee safety employee training ergonomics exoskeletons fall protection field safety field safety services fire prevention first aid kit first week on the job fleet management frontline safety gravitational waves hands-on training hazard communication hazard prevention Health & Safety Podcast heavy equipment safety high voltage systems HR automation HR software human-centered safety humor in safety immersive learning Imposter Syndrome incident data incident reporting industrial safety injury prevention injury reporting injury response internal audits Jennifer Lastra job site hazards job site risks job site safety Jody Young KBR Safety Training Leadership leadership accountability leadership and empathy LIGO LMS lone workers mental health at work MI Safety new workers Northern BC NRCA NSC Standard 13 occupational health occupational safety oil and gas safety onboarding safety Online safety training OSHA compliance OSHA standards overhead crane courses pain awareness physics careers pipeline safety podcast PPE PPE enforcement pre-trip inspection pretrip inspection Professional development psychological safety risk management road safety Robin Postnikoff safety safety advice safety article safety best practices safety communication safety compliance Safety Conversations safety culture safety innovation safety insights safety inspection Safety Leaders safety leadership safety management safety management system safety metrics safety myths safety podcast Safety Spotlight safety systems safety technology safety theater safety tips safety training Sinogap Solutions smart helmets space science supervisor training Total Recordable Injury Formula training training courses training matrix training record management transportation Trust and Accountability vehicle safety Virtual Reality VR safety training VR Technology wearable technology WHMIS women in leadership work-alone training worker accountability worker protection worker safety workforce management workforce training workplace best practices workplace certification Workplace Culture workplace hazards workplace health workplace injury prevention workplace risk management Workplace safety workplace safety culture workplace wellness WSPS ASTEC Safety Named Member of the Year by Utility Safety Partners April 25, 2025 Home ASTEC
