By Chris G · Hard Hat to CEO
Contractors talk about bidding, estimating, growth, and money every day, but one topic we don’t talk about enough is safety. Not the corporate, clipboard, poster-on-the-wall version… but the real side of it:
Keeping your people alive.
Keeping morale high.
Keeping your business protected.
It sounds dramatic, but it’s true, when someone gets hurt, everyone feels it.
So today, I sat down with my friend Dez Link, all the way from New Zealand, to dig into the real-world version of safety: what actually works, what’s broken, and how contractors can protect their people and their business.
Let’s dive in.
Meet Dez Link – From Law to Forklifts to Safety Leadership
Before Dez became a respected voice in occupational health & safety, his story looked a little different.
He studied law in Western Australia while driving forklifts to pay the bills. He graduated, became a lawyer… and realized it wasn’t for him. So he went back to forklifts, then moved into transport safety, then oil & gas, then construction, eventually carving out a career as a safety expert with real frontline experience.
That’s why this conversation hits differently, Dez has lived the work, not just studied the rules.
The Million-Dollar Question: How Do You Prevent Accidents?
Everyone wants the “one trick” that keeps job sites safe. But Dez says the closest thing to a solution is simple:
Go talk to your people.
Not from an office.
Not from reports.
Not from security footage.
Go to the site. Watch the work. Ask real questions.
Most jobsite hazards don’t show up in paperwork, they show up in conversations.
Dez calls it understanding work as it’s actually performed, not how you assume it’s performed.
This is where most companies fail. Not because they don’t care, but because they don’t see.
Common Sense vs. Compliance: Balancing Safety & Productivity
In the U.S., OSHA creates blanket rules that don’t always match real jobsite realities and Dez sees the same issue worldwide.
So what actually works?
1. Know the regulations that apply to your work.
You can’t follow the rules if you don’t know them.
2. Make sure people are truly competent – not just “trained.”
Training ≠ competence.
A card, a license, or a class doesn’t make someone capable.
Competence is proven through repetition, coaching, and feedback on real tasks.
3. Monitor continuously.
Safety isn’t “set it and forget it.”
It’s a living system that requires daily attention.
When Should Contractors Hire a Dedicated Safety Person?
Most small contractors don’t have a full-time safety officer, so I asked Dez when it becomes necessary.
His answer:
When safety administration becomes a full-time job.
However, in construction, you shouldn’t need a “safety cop” to make basic work safe. Every tradesperson should be competent enough to know:
- how to work at heights
- how to operate their tools
- how to identify hazards
Safety starts at the crew level, not in an office.
Training vs. Competence: The Distinction That Saves Lives
Dez shared a great example:
He was licensed to drive forklifts early in his career, but he wasn’t good at it yet.
He was trained, but not competent.
A lot of contractors make this exact mistake:
Hiring → Quick training → Assume competence → Hope for the best
Competence is earned, not given.
A Real Construction Story: The “Carpenter” Who Wasn’t
Dez shared one of the most eye–opening stories from his construction work:
A carpenter injured his thumb when a circular saw kicked back. On the surface, it looked like user error, bad grip, bad spacing, and a hand near the blade.
But when they dug deeper, they discovered:
The worker wasn’t actually a carpenter.
His resume, references, and documentation were fabricated by a recruitment agent overseas.
The root cause wasn’t worker failure, it was fraud in the hiring pipeline.
This changed how the company vetted skilled labor forever.
What To Do Immediately When an Incident Happens
Most contractors panic when something goes wrong. Dez breaks it down into a simple 3-step process:
1. People
Who needs help?
Are they receiving it?
Do you need 911, first aid, or immediate care?
2. Property
Is there a fire?
A spill?
Electrical hazard?
Something about to get worse?
Make the scene safe.
3. Notifications
Who needs to know?
Who needs to stop the rumor mill?
Who needs to report the incident?
When does legal counsel get involved?
Yes, your attorney should often be contacted early, especially if:
- liability is unclear
- major injury occurred
- OSHA/state agencies may investigate
Drug Use, Marijuana, and Impairment: The Hard Conversation
With more U.S. states legalizing marijuana, contractors are stuck in a tough spot.
Many companies drug-test after every incident but testing isn’t the real issue.
The real issue is impairment, not THC in the bloodstream.
THC can stay in the body for weeks.
That doesn’t mean the worker was impaired at the time of the incident.
Alcohol tests show impairment.
Drug tests show history.
This is why policies matter.
Why Contractors Need Clear, Written Policies
Your employees should know:
- what’s allowed
- what’s prohibited
- how drug testing works
- when testing happens
- how incidents get reported
- what the chain of command is
Clear policies don’t just protect you, they protect your workers from confusion, fear, and assumptions.
Do Foremen Need Safety Training Too?
Absolutely, even more than others.
Your working foreman is often the first responder, decision-maker, and communicator during an incident.
They must know:
- who to call
- what to check
- how to secure the site
- how to document
- how to initiate incident response
Small companies don’t need complicated systems but they DO need clarity.
Insurance and Investigations
Insurance companies won’t usually help conduct investigations but they absolutely want documentation.
Many policies require:
- incident reports
- statements
- photos
- timelines
- evidence
- internal findings
Failing to investigate can jeopardize coverage.
Final Thoughts from Dez and Chris
Safety isn’t paperwork.
It’s not fear-based management.
It’s not about being perfect.
It’s about caring enough to know what’s really happening on your job sites and giving your people the competence, clarity, and leadership they need to stay alive and go home healthy.
Want to Build a Safer, Smarter, More Profitable Construction Business?
👇 Join Hard Hat to CEO – Your New Competitive Edge
📘 Read our free resources:
Visit HardHatToCEO.com
🎧 Listen to the Podcast:
Hard Hat to CEO Podcast
🤝 Get 1:1 Business Coaching:
Work With Chris
