Erin is a Project Engineer at Dugan & Meyers, a company with a rich history in safety leadership.

Dugan & Meyers is a firm that takes great pride in its reputation for quality and for meeting the expectations of all its clients.

They’ve built office buildings, structures, manufacturing projects, mixed-use developments, parking structures, renovations and additions to many building types, interior tenant build-outs, water/wastewater treatment plants and other heavy industrial projects.

In doing so, the company always puts safety first, and so does Erin. In fact, her dedication to safety at Dugan & Meyers is what makes her our latest Safety Hero.

Let’s take a closer look at Erin’s advice for someone starting out in safety—and what she predicts will happen in the future in terms of safety.   

What’s your advice for someone starting out in a role that supports safety? 

Educate yourself as much as possible and don’t be afraid to ask questions. The quantity of rules and regulations when it comes to safety is abundant. In my experience the best way to follow the requirements is to educate yourself, have reference documents, and a helpline.

What do you think everyone should know about safety? 

Never do something you are uncomfortable or unqualified to do. You are responsible for your safety and the safety of those around you, an uneasy or uneducated worker is a safety hazard.

If there was one thing that you could change about how safety is managed, what would it be? 

Consistency and passion. Numerous people believe safety is a nuisance which creates a horrible stigma on job sites in companies. Some are afraid, and others do not care enough to enforce it. In my eyes, safety starts at the top of a company and trickles down; if managerial positions do not follow safety guidelines, then why would their staff?

Where do you think the future of safety is headed?

I believe safety is at a turning point in terms of technology in the office and field. We are starting to see products and applications that make following all safety guidelines more reachable, as well as faster to put in place. Training programs are more consistent and available, and more employers/employees are buying in to a safer workplace.