Building a strong safety culture requires more than policies and procedures. It requires leadership in the field. At Five Star Electric, that commitment to safety is reinforced at every level of the organization, but it is ultimately carried out where the work is performed each day.
Forepersons are the backbone of that effort. They serve as the gatekeepers of safety on our job sites, ensuring the workforce is aligned and committed to working safely every day. With real-time visibility into the work and direct interaction with crews, they are in the best position to influence behaviors and set expectations.
At Five Star Electric, our superintendents, forepersons, and safety professionals all come from the field. They understand the work, the challenges, and the hazards crews face daily.
Their role goes far beyond oversight. Forepersons take the time to address safety concerns, educate the workforce on safe work practices, and reinforce the importance of doing the job the right way. Through pre-task planning and Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), they help crews identify and control hazards before work begins. They also ensure that safe work practices are consistently followed throughout the day, making adjustments as conditions change and keeping safety at the forefront of the operation.
Most importantly, they take safety policies and procedures off the page and put them into action. What is written in a program only becomes effective when it is executed in the field, and that responsibility is carried out every day by our field leadership.
That leadership is reinforced by superintendents, safety professionals, and journeypersons who continue to support and strengthen the culture through communication, mentorship, and leading by example.
At the end of the day, a strong safety culture is built through consistency, communication, accountability, and engagement in the field. When forepersons lead from the front, it drives the behaviors that keep our workforce safe.