Our podcast, Southland Speaks, showcases our people, highlighting the ways they apply their real-world experiences to their roles and weaving their stories into the fabric of our company.
With nearly three decades of experience, Sidney Ruiz, Senior Safety Manager, shares how construction safety has evolved throughout his career and highlights the significance of building relationships to foster a strong safety culture within an organization.
Sid provides examples that demonstrate the pivotal role played by every team member in ensuring the utmost safety and well-being of our jobsites and personnel. Supported by top leadership, he emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals to voice concerns and actively contribute to creating a safe work environment.
When asked how he would describe our safety culture, Sidney said, "I think how I describe it is, it truly starts from the top down. Ted Lynch, for example, started as a project engineer and worked his way up. He's always been a believer in safety, and all our vice presidents and construction managers share that belief. They give you the authority to stop the job at any time, and we stand behind you 100%. We tell our foremen, if you don't feel comfortable, stop the job, we've got your back."
From implementing a programmatic safety plan to conducting job hazard analyses and instilling an "if you see something, say something" mindset, Sid shares the intentional actions that effectively contribute to driving a strong safety culture.
About Southland
As an MEP building systems expert, Southland Industries provides integrated, full lifecycle solutions that optimize the design, construction, operation, and efficiency of buildings. Through collaborative partnerships with our clients and the collective expertise of our people, we create premier built environments and future-ready spaces where communities and businesses can thrive.
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