When we think about workplace safety in construction, we often picture jobsites, fieldwork, or heavy equipment. In reality, safety is not confined to high-risk environments, nor does it start or end with the workday. Staying safe requires continuous awareness of your environment, no matter where you are.

In fact, most preventative injuries and close calls happen outside of the workplace. They can occur at any time, especially when doing day-to-day tasks. Stepping on a chair to reach things from the top shelf, getting distracted while doing routine work, or pushing through fatigue can all lead to situations that could have been more serious. These moments are easy to overlook, but it represents that safety is not something we can turn on and off. It’s a mindset we need to have throughout the day.  

What is SafeStart?

SafeStart is a behaviour based safety program that FWS first introduced in 2013 to complement and strengthen our already robust HSE framework. The program has contributed to a decrease in incidents and injuries by focusing on human factors and unintentional errors. It looks to increase personal safety awareness and help individuals recognize unintentional errors that can lead to personal injury.  

“It just made sense. SafeStart provides a clear and practical way to reinforce personal accountability,” says Ric Marleau, FWS’ in-house Safety Training Specialist.  

SafeStart is a cultural training program that uses storytelling and actionable techniques that can be taken away and used both at work and at home. Rather than trying to eliminate all risks entirely, SafeStart helps us better understand and recognize risks as they are happening. It’s about staying alert and keeping any potential hazards at the top of mind and recognizing when we may not be thinking clearly.  

Understanding Human Factors

SafeStart teaches that there are four common states that can increase our risk of making mistakes: rushing, frustration, fatigue, and complacency. These are not unusual or avoidable and are part of everyday life. Whether you are working in the field or sitting at a desk, everyone experiences these states. When we’re in one or more of these states, we’re more likely to make a critical error, such as not having our eyes or mind on task, placing ourselves in the line-of-fire, or losing balance, traction, or grip. The combination of states and critical errors greatly increases the risk of injury.

For example, rushing through a task, whether it is completing a report or handling equipment, can cause us to overlook important details. Fatigue can slow our reaction time. Frustration can lead to shortcuts. Complacency, especially during routine tasks, can cause us to operate on autopilot. These small moments may seem harmless, but they are often the starting point for larger incidents.

Learning from Close Calls

SafeStart helps individuals understand the states and errors that increase risk of injury, and more importantly, what we can do to manage them. Critical Error Reduction Techniques, or CERTS, are actionable techniques that, when practiced, can help prevent making critical errors in the first place.  

One of the most valuable takeaways from SafeStart is learning to recognize and reflect on close calls. We have all had moments where something almost went wrong. What SafeStart encourages is taking a step back and asking - what happened? How could that have been worse? These reflections turn everyday experiences into opportunities to learn and improve, rather than moments we quickly forget.

SafeStart also emphasizes simple actions we can take in the moment. Self-triggering on our state - slowing down when we feel rushed, resetting when we are frustrated, or taking a break when fatigue sets in are small adjustments that can make a significant difference. Staying focused and keeping our eyes and mind on the task at hand is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk, whether at work or at home.

At FWS, keeping these skills sharp is just as important as learning them in the first place. Employees are retrained on SafeStart every two years to reinforce these behaviours and ensure they stay top of mind. Safety is not a one-time lesson. It requires ongoing attention, reflection, and practice.


Safety Beyond the Workplace

These skills extend beyond the workplace. Many preventable injuries occur outside of work while driving, doing household tasks, or going about daily routines.

By applying the same awareness and habits in all areas of life, we not only protect ourselves but also those around us.


One Shared Responsibility. One Goal


This is why SafeStart training is a mandatory training requirement for all employees across the organization, including office teams. At FWS, we believe health and safety is not limited to one role or environment. It is a shared responsibility.

By building a common understanding of risk and reinforcing personal accountability, we strengthen our overall safety culture.

Our goal is simple. Everyone goes home safe. And that does not happen by chance. It happens through awareness, consistency, and the everyday choices we make.

Sources:

SafeStart. SafeStart Training Program (Units 1–4). 2021. Printed in Canada

Marleau, Ric. SafeStart Training Session. FWS, March 2026.

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