Building a Culture of Safety: How We Prioritize People on Every Site
- agascon0
- May 5
- 5 min read
Updated: May 7
At Sierra Construction, we know that our greatest asset is our people. Every employee, every trade partner, every visitor - every person involved in our projects matter. That’s why safety isn’t just a box we check. It’s a culture, a value, and a daily practice that guides every decision we make. This Construction Safety Week, we thought it’s the perfect time to highlight the steps we take every day to ensure our sites are not only productive but protected.
Our Safety Philosophy: A Shared Responsibility
Our Health & Safety Policy is the foundation of how we work at Sierra. Every member of our team recognizes every worker's right to a safe and healthy workplace and commits to taking all reasonable steps to ensure that safety is never compromised. This includes educating and training our team about hazards, maintaining effective safe work practices, and continuously improving how we operate. We believe safety is everyone’s responsibility: from the President to our subcontractors, right down to visitors. Together, we can eliminate all incidents and injuries on our worksites.
"Safety isn’t just a priority at Sierra - it’s the foundation of everything we do. Every person on site has a role to play, and when we all take ownership, that’s when real safety happens.” – Owen Hill, 2022 Jamie O. Award Winner and Sierra General Contracting Site Supervisor
How We Make Safety Tangible on Every Site
Every Sierra job site includes two key resources that make safety accessible and transparent:
The Sierra BlueBook: A comprehensive volume containing our HSE Policy, hazard controls and assessments, emergency preparedness plans, procedures for confined spaces, working at heights, safe work practices, and all relevant legislation and certifications.
The Site Safety Board: Housed in each site trailer, this station includes the Sierra BlueBook, site-specific safety binders, building permits, ministry notices, inspection reports, incident forms, and emergency preparedness information. It’s also typically our designated Muster Point for site emergencies, with first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and eye wash stations readily available.
Orientation Before Operation
Before stepping foot on any Sierra site, everyone (including employees, trades, clients, and visitors alike) must undergo a comprehensive orientation. This orientation includes an overview of Sierra's policies, mission, safety protocols, and the required HSE training to be on-site. Our Site Supervisors and Foremen also conduct site-specific orientations daily for all site visitors and workers, with a downloadable orientation video that can be provided for additional reference. No one begins work without proper onboarding!
Once on-site, we also uphold a robust Fit for Duty Policy, ensuring all workers are present and performing in a safe, unimpaired state. This policy helps us eliminate unnecessary risks from legal or illegal substance use and supports safe disclosure for prescribed medications.
"Safety isn’t about rules, it’s about getting everyone home at the end of the day. We hold each other accountable because we care." – Sarah Banville, Sierra HSE Coordinator
Standards That Set Us Apart
Sierra Construction proudly holds the following certifications:
COR Certification: As a COR-certified company, we meet the national standard for health and safety management systems. It confirms that we’re committed to a proactive, audited approach to safety.
ISO 14001 & 9001 Certifications: These international certifications ensure that our environmental and quality management systems align with global best practices—reinforcing our commitment to sustainable, accountable operations.
These certifications represent our commitment to doing things the right way, on every project. They hold us accountable through regular third-party audits and ensures our teams are working within a framework built to prevent incidents before they happen and helping us deliver consistent results across projects while minimizing environmental impact. Together, these certifications send a clear message to our clients, trades, and employees: Sierra doesn’t just meet expectations, we raise them.
Programs, Permits & Procedures That Keep Us Accountable
At Sierra, we’ve implemented several different initiatives to ensure our people stay safe on site, including:
Toolbox Talks: Held weekly on every site.
Job Assessment Review Cards: Filled out and signed by all workers, reviewed daily by the Site Supervisor, and submitted weekly.
Daily Equipment Inspections: All machinery is checked daily and must be ready for review at any time.
Work Permits: Required for high-risk tasks such as:
Working at Heights Permits
Hot Work Permits
Confined Space Permits
Incident Reporting: All incidents must be reported immediately to both your supervisor and the Sierra Site Supervisor.
PPE Requirements: CSA-approved boots (6" ankle support), hi-vis apparel and hard hats are mandatory on all Sierra sites, with eye protection as needed.
Digital Integration via Salus: All safety videos, permits, inspection forms, and checklists are tracked digitally to improve access and accuracy across all our projects.
“Accidents hurt. Safety doesn’t.” – Shawn Cosley, Sierra Infrastructure Estimator and past Site Foreman
Recognizing the Champions Among Us
Recognizing our safety efforts isn’t just about giving out awards! It’s allowing us to reinforce the behaviors that keep our sites safe every single day. At Sierra, we celebrate individuals who consistently go above and beyond, whether it's wearing the right PPE, maintaining clean and hazard-free work zones, or leading by example during toolbox talks. This recognition sends the message that safety leadership matters. These employees inspire their coworkers, set the tone on site, and help foster a culture where speaking up, staying alert, and watching out for each other becomes second nature.
We recognize those who go above and beyond with two powerful recognition programs:
Spring Kick Off Safety Awards
These awards are selected by our HSE team and senior management to celebrate exemplary behaviour seen on site. There are five awards, including:
Safety Champion - an individual employee who consistently demonstrates leadership, commitment, and exemplary behavior in promoting and maintaining a safe working environment (One Champion per Division)
PPE Advocate - an employee who consistently wears and encourages the correct use of personal protective equipment, setting a positive example for others
Site Safety Advocate - an individual who consistently maintains a clean and organized work area, reducing potential safety hazards
Jamie O. Award
Nominated by Sierra employees and presented at our Holiday Party, this award honours the memory of our fallen coworker, James "Jamie" Oosterhuis, and recognizes employees who embody his values of compassion, safety, leadership, and team spirit.
Past Jamie O. Award Winners Owen Hill (2022), Karl Ziegenbalg (2023), and Mike Chwastyk (2024) with Sierra Construction President, Brent Zaluski, and Vice President, James Garton.
Let's Build a Safer Tomorrow
Safety isn’t just about protocols, it’s about people. Every decision, every form, every conversation contributes to a stronger, more resilient team. At Sierra, we’re proud to be COR and ISO certified, but even prouder of the culture we’ve built where everyone feels responsible and supported.
This Construction Safety Week, we challenge everyone, whether you're in the field, at a desk, or visiting a site, to:
Ask questions
Speak up about hazards
Help a teammate
Stay hydrated and alert
Set the example
At Sierra, safety is not a seasonal focus. It’s who we are, 365 days a year! But May, and Construction Safety Week in particular, gives us a moment to reflect, realign, and recommit to the safety culture our team has built over the past 30 years. We’ve built systems, earned certifications, and implemented rigorous processes, but it’s the people behind those systems who truly make the difference. When our employees feel empowered, when leadership listens, and when everyone on site looks out for one another, safety becomes second nature.
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