Safety Professional of the Year: Jay Wright

At Southland, safety is more than just a program, it's a core value embedded in every one of our projects across the United States. 

Jay Wright, Safety Manager, has played a pivotal role in fostering a culture of safety at Southland. Recognized as the 2024 Safety Professional of the Year in our Mountain West Division, Jay's leadership and dedication highlight the importance of creating safe environments for every employee, every day. 

A cornerstone of our safety program is the safety incentive program, which celebrates and acknowledges the achievements and active participation of all employees in safety, from management to new hires. This program takes various forms across jobsites and divisions, allowing teams to tailor the safety culture to their unique needs. In our Mountain West Division, this is exemplified through the Safety Professional of the Month and Year Program, a recognition that celebrates safety professionals who consistently demonstrate a commitment to upholding safe work environments in alignment with our core values. 

Jay's career as a safety professional

Jay joined Southland in November 2022 to support safety onsite at a project in Mesa, Arizona. Earlier in his career, he served in the United States Coast Guard as a Corpsman. After early retirement, he returned to the workforce looking to work for a union contractor with a robust safety program, which is how he found Southland. 

"Having a strong background in healthcare was a solid match for a transition to a safety profession. I've always felt gratitude for helping others and looking out for their health and well-being," Jay shared. 

One of his proudest achievements at Southland has been implementing and managing powered air-purifying full-face respirators for a semiconductor project. This solution significantly improved field employees' comfort and safety during high-risk tasks, including chemical line breaks and tie-in scopes of work. 

"Safety means creating a culture of care where every employee is empowered to protect their own health and those around them," Jay said.

He continued, "Many people say safety is just common sense. This is emphatically untrue. Every job needs processes, procedures, and controls to ensure everyone understands the expectations of safety performance." 

Why is safety important? 

At Southland, safety means more than compliance – it's about protecting everyone on our jobsites, in our vehicles, fabrication shops, and offices. 

"Everyone deserves a place of employment where they can return home to their families and loved ones unharmed and exactly as they came in," Jay expressed. 

One of the core tenets of our safety program is Stop Work Authority, which empowers employees to halt work whenever they perceive an unsafe situation. This program is available to everyone – from apprentices to seasoned trade employees and office staff. Jay continuously strives to instill in workers the confidence to embrace and use this program. 

"It's not enough to simply know a company has a Stop Work Authority program. Workers must feel empowered to act on their gut instincts when something doesn't look right, doesn't seem right, doesn't feel right, or doesn't smell right," Jay emphasized. 

Continuing to foster safety in construction 

His advice for creating a strong safety culture in construction is clear: avoid shortcuts and never compromise safety standards. By sticking to the rules — even when it's tempting to become complacent — teams can foster a culture of safety that endures. 

Jay's leadership is a testament to the importance of our safety culture at Southland. We are committed to protecting every team member and providing a work environment where everyone has the tools and resources to safely succeed.