APRIL 2025CONSTRUCTIONTECHREVIEW.COM8IN MY OPINIONTHE FOUR PILLARSOF SAFETYBy Jeff Aaker, Regional Safety Manager, TopBuildJeff is a Safety Manager with a national special-ty construction company and has been a safety professional for almost 25 years and is a Certified Safety Professional with masters in occupational safety and health.Embracing Technology and TraditionAs I was considering what I might contribute to Construction Tech Review readers, I thought about my nearly quarter century in the business of keeping people safe and had to giggle a little to myself. While I love technology and the ways it transforms the work we do; it is also true that what we do in the safety profession, at its core, is the same today as it was so many years ago. I suspect that it will still be true 25 years from now. I have always been a consumer of technology in its various forms, not just in the safety profession.I love looking for the latest "thing", a tool, new fall protection, improvement to ladders, this list is endless. One area I have been heavily involved in for my organization is hard hats. From Edward Bullard's "hard boiled hat" in the early 1900's (well before my time) to the advances in type 2 hard hats with the latest in impact absorption and a Bluetooth connection that contains the user's basic medical info and emergency contact information. Yes, in your hard hat! It is exciting to experience the constant evolution of safety. So, what are the "low tech" fundamentals of the safety business that are at the core of what we do? I am quite sure that if you asked a hundred safety professionals you would receive a hundred different answers, but I'd like to share my four "pillars" or "cornerstones" of safety that have been the foundation of my career in safety. Employee Engagement Employees are our most important asset. Connecting with employees and developing a trust-based relationship is key. Supervision must do heavy lifting on this topic. Treating employees with respect and more than an employee number creates connections and loyalty . Appreciation for their hard work, which contributes to the mutual success of the organization, cannot be understated either. If employees feel like you have their back, that you care for them personally, it will lead to safer performance and increased production. When an employee trusts that you will take care of them, you will have a solid foundation for your safety program. It is easier to coach or Jeff Aaker
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