Construction Today, Vol 20 Issue 6 - November 2023 | Page 58

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safe without also caring about a lot of other things . I ’ m drawn towards the operational end of construction , as that ’ s truly where safe production begins . Many companies don ’ t introduce safety until further down the line , but that ’ s reactive , whereas being proactive is the best way to ensure safety throughout the entire process .
“ As the Vice President of Safety and Operations , I ’ m involved in decision making and core processes , playing a key role in establishing who we are and what we do from an operational standpoint . It ’ s where differences are made ; it ’ s exciting and transformative .”
It ’ s clear that Stephen is genuinely passionate about the company ’ s safety standards , but how exactly does he translate this message across to the workforce ? “ If we all agree on our core values and principles , then it should be easy to adhere to them ,” Stephen proffers . “ One thing we can certainly all agree on is that we want to return home safely after work . We all come to work for a reason , and while earning money is important , having a happy home life to return to each day is often our main motivation .
Collaborative approach
“ We want people to understand these reasons behind our safety measures , so we spend a lot of time and effort explaining the importance of various policies and procedures . We get our managers involved in such conversations too , in an effort to demystify the myths and rumors around safety , ultimately shifting the paradigm of what safety means .
“ There are a lot of great safety professionals out there and some really informative programs that I ’ ve been lucky enough to be part of , which has influenced my own thought process and belief system ,” Stephen reflects . “ Safety can be very reactive in the construction industry , but it needs to be more proactive . Safety is the responsibility of every individual . Our goal is to get safety professionals involved early to create a helpful , collaborative team relationship .”
Stephen ’ s collaborative approach is key to ensuring a safe , zero-incident workplace that promotes safety culture in a positive manner . Through leadership , training , planning , and communication , CCG is embracing best practices while still delivering high-quality , efficient projects . “ We want to grow year-on-year at a sustainable pace ,” he concludes . “ Our goal is to continue to build an efficient team and broaden our reach into North Carolina . We also want to increase our presence in private markets for site development and expand our jack division .” ■
www . catonconstructiongroup . com
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