A Rocky Start: From Cowboy Beginnings to Cultural Change
When Titan Environmental began, safety wasn’t top of mind. “To be frank, we were cowboys,” Burkard admits. “It wasn’t our priority.” Starting with just four people working out of a garage, the company’s early approach to safety was rudimentary at best. Burkard recalls safety reports scribbled on the backs of cigarette packs. “It was not good,” he says.
But as the company grew, so did the stakes. Minor incidents piled up, and near-misses served as wake-up calls. “We realized we couldn’t keep going like this,” he says. “We had to make safety a priority—not just for compliance but because it was the right thing to do.”
Burkard’s philosophy was simple: repetition builds habits. Safety meetings, which were once seen as a waste of time, became a daily ritual. “At first, people grumbled,” he recalls. “But over time, it became second nature. And when that happens, you stop having incidents.”
Safety wasn’t just about meetings, though. Burkard emphasized storytelling as a tool for cultural change.
“People don’t connect with numbers. They connect with stories. I’d share real incidents where shortcuts led to tragedy. That’s what sticks with people.“
Brett Burkard – Director
Tying Safety to Accountability
Burkard made safety a part of every operation at Titan from the jump. “We tied safety to daily reports and payroll,” he explains. “If you didn’t submit your safety paperwork, the system wouldn’t process your hours. And if the hours weren’t processed, people didn’t get paid.”
This integration ensured safety wasn’t an afterthought. I was a fundamental part of the workday. Automation played a big role in simplifying the process. “No more paperwork,” Burkard says. “It’s all done on phones. And when something’s easy, people actually do it.”
But technology alone wasn’t enough. Burkard understood that not everyone on a construction site was tech-savvy. “We had some old-school, alpha-male types who weren’t keen on automation,” he says. “So we told them, ‘You’re not responsible for doing it. You’re responsible for making sure it gets done.’”
The company delegated the task to younger, tech-savvy workers. This ensured compliance without resistance. “It was a game-changer,” Burkard says. “The paperwork came in, and everyone was happy.”
Titan’s approach also extended to accountability at all levels. They train supervisors to lead by example, ensuring safety protocols were always followed. “You can’t just talk about safety; you have to live it,” Burkard explains. “If the boss isn’t wearing their PPE, why would anyone else?”
Incentivizing Safety
Burkard also recognized the importance of incentivizing safety. At Titan, management rewarded safety coordinators for their efforts. “We gave them extra per diems,” he says. “If you were the safety lead on a site, maybe you got your own room instead of shared accommodations. Little things like that made a big difference.”
These incentives improved compliance and boosted morale. “When you recognize people for doing the right thing, it changes the culture,” Burkard says. “Safety stopped feeling like a chore and started feeling like something people wanted to do.”
Burkard also used recognition ceremonies to highlight outstanding safety practices. “We’d call people out in meetings and give them a round of applause,” he recalls. “It’s amazing how much a simple thank-you can motivate people.”
Lessons Learned: The High Cost of Complacency
Burkard’s early experiences in construction shaped his approach to safety. “I worked for companies that didn’t give a damn,” he says. “I spent a year working in pits with no shoring. Chunks of dirt would fall in, and we just kept going. We didn’t know any better.”
But those lessons came at a cost. Burkard recalls stories of colleagues who weren’t as lucky. One friend’s father—a lifelong construction worker—was killed in a cave-in. Another incident left a co-worker paralyzed. “It’s not like the movies,” Burkard says. “When something goes wrong, it’s instant. And it’s permanent.”
These experiences left a lasting impression. “When I started my own company, I knew we had to care,” he says. “We had to do better.”
“When you’ve done a job a thousand times, it’s easy to think nothing can go wrong, but that’s when you’re most at risk.“
Brett Burkard – Director
Looking Ahead: The Role of Technology in Safety
Although Burkard is retired, he remains optimistic about the future of safety. “Technology is the key,” he says. “Anything that simplifies safety and makes it easier for people to do their jobs is a win.”
From automation to AI, Burkard sees endless possibilities for innovation. Examples include digital platforms that track safety compliance. Also, wearable tech that monitors fatigue, and AI tools that predict hazards. “We’re only scratching the surface,” he says.
But he cautions against relying solely on tech. “You still need people to care,” he says. “Technology can help, but it can’t replace the human element.”
For Burkard, the future of safety lies in balance—combining the efficiency of automation with the empathy of leadership. “At the end of the day, it’s about making safety a part of the culture,” he says. “When it’s part of who you are, that’s when the real change happens.”
Burkard also envisions a future where safety training becomes more engaging. He believes that virtual reality and gamified training could change the industry. Interactive workshops could help, too. “People learn best when they’re engaged,” he says. “The more we can make training immersive, the better the results.”
Conclusion
Brett Burkard’s career is a story of transformation—both personal and professional. From his cowboy beginnings to building a culture of safety at Titan Environmental, he proved that safety isn’t just about rules. It’s about mindset, repetition, and a willingness to evolve.
And while he may have stepped away from the job site, Burkard’s legacy lives on in the systems, policies, and people he inspired. His message is clear: safety isn’t complicated. It’s about caring enough to make it a priority. And when you do, the results speak for themselves.
Work smart. Stay strong. Speak up.
Related Articles
- All Posts
- 360 Immersive
- 360immersive
- accident prevention
- AI in Safety
- Alberta safety courses
- Allan James Moore
- asking for help
- automation in safety
- avoidable injuries
- awareness
- Aztec Safety
- back strain
- BambooHR integration
- Behavioral Safety
- biometric sensors
- BIS Podcast
- BIS Safety Software
- BIS Safety Spotlight
- black holes
- BP Texas City Explosion
- Brave Leadership
- Brett Burkard
- burnout
- Canadian safety history
- carbon monoxide
- CCOHS
- chemical
- chemical vapors
- chronic injuries
- chronic pain
- Coming Soon
- community safety programs
- Competency in Safety
- Compliance
- compliance courses
- compliance tools
- compliance vs protection
- Construction advocacy
- Construction education
- Construction industry
- construction safety
- construction safety training
- continuous improvement
- continuous safety improvement
- crane
- 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
- Danny Sellers
- data-driven safety
- digital forms
- Dr. Joanna Pagonis
- driver file management
- driver training
- early intervention
- EHS
- Einstein
- electrical safety
- emergency preparedness
- emergency response
- emergency supplies
- emotional training
- employee engagement
- employee health
- employee safety
- employee training
- ergonomic risks
- ergonomics
- evidence collection
- exoskeletons
- fall protection
- field safety
- field safety services
- fire prevention
- first aid kit
- first week on the job
- first workplace injury
- fleet management
- frontline safety
- Global Hazmat
- gravitational waves
- hand injuries
- hands-on training
- Hazard Awareness
- hazard communication
- hazard prevention
- hazard recognition
- Hazmat Management
- Health & Safety Podcast
- hearing loss prevention
- heavy equipment safety
- hidden workplace hazards
- high voltage systems
- HR automation
- HR software
- human-centered safety
- humor in safety
- immersive learning
- Imposter Syndrome
- incident data
- incident investigation
- incident reporting
- Industrial Hygiene
- industrial safety
- Infrastructure Risk
- injury consequences
- injury prevention
- injury prevention tips
- injury recovery
- injury reporting
- injury response
- injury response plan
- internal audits
- invisible dangers
- Jeff Mulligan
- Jennifer Lastra
- job site accountability
- job site hazards
- job site risks
- job site safety
- Jody Young
- KBR Safety Training
- Kevin Swinden
- labor movement
- ladder safety
- Leadership
- leadership accountability
- leadership and empathy
- learning from incidents
- lifting techniques
- LIGO
- LMS
- lockout tagout
- lone workers
- mental health at work
- MI Safety
- minor injuries
- new workers
- no-blame investigations
- noise exposure
- Northern BC
- NRCA
- NSC Standard 13
- occupational fatigue
- occupational hazards
- occupational health
- occupational safety
- OHSA
- oil and gas safety
- onboarding safety
- Online safety training
- organizational safety
- OSHA compliance
- OSHA standards
- outdated practices
- overhead crane courses
- pain awareness
- personal protective equipment
- Pharmaceutical Safety
- physics careers
- pipeline safety
- podcast
- post-accident review
- post-incident protocol
- PPE
- PPE enforcement
- PPE improvement
- pre-trip inspection
- pretrip inspection
- proactive safety measures.
- Professional development
- psychological hazards
- psychological safety
- repetition in safety
- repetitive motion injuries
- respirator safety
- risk management
- risk reduction
- road safety
- Robin Postnikoff
- root cause analysis
- routine task risks
- safe work habits
- safety
- safety accountability
- safety advice
- safety article
- safety awareness
- safety best practices
- safety communication
- safety compliance
- Safety Conversations
- safety culture
- safety engagement
- safety follow-up
- safety gear
- safety habits
- safety incentives
- safety innovation
- safety insights
- safety inspection
- Safety Leaders
- safety leadership
- safety legislation
- safety lessons
- safety management
- safety management system
- safety metrics
- safety mindset
- safety motivation.
- safety myths
- safety podcast
- safety procedure updates
- safety review process
- safety shortcuts
- Safety Spotlight
- safety systems
- safety technology
- safety theater
- safety tips
- safety training
- safety transformation
- safety transparency
- Sarah Anderson
- silent dangers
- silica dust
- Sinogap Solutions
- slow-building hazards
- smart helmets
- space science
- storytelling and safety
- supervisor training
- team communication
- teamwork
- Titan Environmental
- Total Recordable Injury Formula
- tough guy mentality
- toxic air
- training
- training courses
- training matrix
- training record management
- transportation
- Trust and Accountability
- unseen workplace threats
- Utility Safety Partners
- vehicle safety
- veteran advice
- Virtual Reality
- VR safety training
- VR Technology
- wearable technology
- WHMIS
- witness statements
- women in leadership
- work-alone training
- work-related injuries
- worker accountability
- worker advocacy
- worker fatigue
- worker protection
- worker safety
- worker safety habits
- worker trust
- workers' rights
- workforce management
- workforce training
- workplace accidents
- workplace air quality
- workplace best practices
- workplace certification
- Workplace Culture
- workplace hazards
- workplace health
- workplace incident response
- workplace injuries
- workplace injury prevention
- workplace mindset
- workplace risk factors
- workplace risk management
- Workplace Risk Mitigation
- Workplace safety
- workplace safety culture
- Workplace Safety Leadership
- workplace safety rules
- workplace safety tips
- workplace safety training
- workplace stress
- workplace tiredness
- workplace wellness
- WSPS
Sticking to outdated safety methods leads to avoidable risks, injuries, and fatalities, evolving safety protocols protects workers, challenging the norm...
Jeff Mulligan explores safety’s evolution from compliance to strategy, covers rural infrastructure risks, AI's role in training, and leadership shifts,...
Brett Burkard helped transform Titan Environmental’s safety culture through repetition, real stories, and tech, proving safety is built, not born,...
