5 Keys to Building a Strong Culture of Safety

In construction, culture isn’t just about teamwork or company values—it’s about survival. Nowhere was this more evident than in the Tilikum Crossing Bridge project in Portland, Oregon. This wasn’t just another bridge. It was the first of its kind in the United States, designed exclusively for trains, buses, streetcars, bicycles, and pedestrians—no private cars.

This innovation came with complex challenges: marine traffic, cable-stay construction, and constant interaction with Portland’s bustling waterfront. But through it all, the leadership team embraced a single, unshakable belief: no design innovation was worth compromising the safety of a single worker.

They didn’t just talk about safety; they built it into their culture with five key practices. If you want to create a work environment where safety isn’t just a policy but a way of life, these principles are your blueprint.

1. Leaders Set the Tone for Safety

Safety starts at the top. At Tilikum Crossing, Senior Project Managers and Site Supervisors Reinforced This Every Day. Morning Huddles Weren’t Just about Tasks—They Were about Safety.

A typical message? “Yes, we’re pouring concrete on Pier 4 today, but not until we’ve double-checked harnesses and confirmed safety barriers.”

When leaders make safety the first and last word of every conversation, workers understand it’s not just talk—it’s a non-negotiable value.

2. Lead By Example

We’ve all seen leaders say, “Safety first,” and then rush to meet a deadline. Not on this project. If a superintendent required steel-toed boots, they wore them too. If management enforced lockout/tagout, they followed it to the letter.

One moment stood out: A senior engineer forgot his hard hat in his car. The site safety manager—technically below him in rank—stopped him at the gate. Instead of pulling rank, the engineer turned back, retrieved his hard hat, and apologized to the crew.

That act of humility sent a powerful message: Nobody is above safety.

3. Make Safety Visible & Unavoidable

Walking onto the Tilikum Crossing site, you couldn’t miss the safety commitment.

• Visual boards highlighted daily safety focus points and near-miss reports.
• Banners with the safety motto hung from scaffolding.
• Protocols were posted in multiple languages to ensure every worker understood expectations.

When safety is everywhere, it’s not just a policy—it’s a shared standard. Workers don’t have to guess what to do; the guidelines are always front and center.

4. Encourage Accountability - From Everyone

The project team formed cross-functional safety teams to assess risks and hold everyone accountable. If a worker spotted a hazard—like an unsecured load—they had the power to stop work immediately without fear of backlash.

This approach fostered a culture where speaking up wasn’t just accepted—it was expected. A worker who reminded a teammate to tie off wasn’t a “snitch.” They were a leader looking out for their crew.

Over time, peer accountability prevented countless potential accidents and created a shared responsibility for safety.

5. Recognize & Reward Safe Behavior

At Tilikum Crossing, safety wins weren’t taken for granted.

• When teams hit injury-free milestones, they celebrated—sometimes with a catered lunch, sometimes with a simple shout-out during the morning huddle.
• Individual workers who consistently followed best practices received company-branded gear or a personal note from leadership.

These small but meaningful gestures reinforced the right behaviors and made safety something to be proud of—not just a box to check.

The Takeaway: Safety is a Culture, Not a Checklist

When the Tilikum Crossing project wrapped up, it stood as a model for safety excellence—finishing without any major safety incidents. More importantly, the culture of safety didn’t stop at that site. Workers took these best practices to their next jobs, carrying the lessons far beyond Portland’s waterfront.

Wherever you work, you can build the same foundation of safety:

✔ Set the tone from leadership.
✔ Model best practices—no exceptions.
✔ Make safety clear, visible, and unavoidable.
✔ Foster accountability at every level.
✔ Recognize and reward safe behavior.

Your Next Step: Take Action Today

What’s one thing you can do today to reinforce a stronger culture of safety on your job site? Start small—whether it’s leading a daily safety huddle, ensuring protocols are clearly posted, or recognizing a team member for their vigilance.

Because at the end of the day, safety isn’t a regulation—it’s a responsibility.