Safety Story: Matt Nilsson

I started as a Safety Intern with Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmvback in 2006 while studying at , where I was pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Safety and Health Management. Most of my internship was spent at the Ilani Casino project, and I fell in love with the company culture immediately. Unlike my colleagues who interned elsewhere, I felt like part of a family at Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmvrather than just a number.

I actually fell into safety somewhat unexpectedly. I originally wanted to be a police officer and was studying law justice, but quickly realized it wasn’t for me. When I took a construction-focused industrial engineering technology class, something clicked. My professor suggested safety might be a good fit for me, and he was right.

Safety appealed to my protective instinct – I’ve always been someone who prefers working behind the scenes. During my time at Central, I was profoundly affected when an 18-year-old worker was electrocuted and lost his life while working on a ship. That tragedy solidified my commitment to safety work. I never wanted another family to experience that kind of grief. At its core, safety is about being another set of eyes for workers, looking out for them and ensuring they return home to their families each day.

How do you foster open communication within your teams to promote a stronger safety culture?

Safety is never a “check-the-box” function. Every project has unique circumstances that require different safety strategies. The key is establishing a collaborative planning process that begins well before construction starts.

We focus on pre-planning with the project teams, particularly with Superintendents. We sit down together to review the schedule and develop Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) for all Â黨ÐÇ¿Õmvtasks and high-hazard subcontractor activities. This collaborative approach gives everyone a holistic understanding of what requires our focused attention.

I’m a strong believer in overcommunicating the “why” behind safety practices. When project teams understand the reasoning, they’re more equipped to foster that culture and implement safety practices in the field. We also work extensively with trade partners – especially smaller ones who might not have their own safety personnel – to coach and mentor them. My goal is to make the entire industry safer, one project at a time.

For me, safety isn’t about being the “safety cop” who’s just looking to write people up. I’m a safety professional focused on coaching and mentoring both our people and our trade partners. I can’t expect everyone to know every standard because, even after years in this business, I’m still learning. By taking this educational approach, we improve safety standards across the industry.

How does Swinerton’s approach to both mental and physical well-being contribute to a safer work environment?

Mental Health Awareness is something I’m passionate about. In Seattle, we partner with Associated General Contractors (AGC), and I’ve worked closely with Mandi Kime, AGCW Director of Safety, who heads up mental health awareness initiatives for AGC of America. We’ve brought her to various projects and department meetings to provide training on mental health awareness.

At Swinerton, we create toolbox talks specifically focused on mental health awareness for our craft workers and project staff. During Safety Week (May 5-9), we conduct daily talks rather than our usual weekly toolbox talk, with most focused on mental and physical well-being.

But sometimes it’s the simplest things that matter most, i.e. stopping to have a genuine conversation with craft workers, asking how they’re doing, and showing appreciation for their work. Construction has traditionally had the mindset of being tough and hiding feelings, but the industry is doing a fantastic job debunking that myth.

We also incorporate physical well-being initiatives. In our office, a group of us take walks around the building every few hours – just taking a break, enjoying the sunshine, and mentally checking out from work for those five minutes can make a huge difference.

What safety practice do you consider most essential?

Getting back to the safety basics. At Swinerton, we’ve found that focusing on the fundamentals consistently is what truly keeps people safe day in and day out.
Our Safety Program rests on a firm foundation of effective, industry-recognized strategies that promote safety and wellness on and off the jobsite. Through comprehensive safety plans, meticulous pre-planning, ongoing training, and daily mentoring, we maintain incident rates substantially lower than industry averages.

We emphasize clear communication when identifying, analyzing, and preventing risks. Our findings are shared with management, staff, supervisors, and workers to ensure continuous improvement in safety practices. Through ongoing assessment and planning of the jobsite and the site’s safety plan, we adjust for real-world conditions, whether large or small.

How do you recognize and show appreciation for team members who demonstrate safety excellence?

In the Pacific Northwest region, we recently started a recognition program featuring special lime green high-visibility shirts with the “Your Family Needs You” (YFNY) logo. These shirts stand out from our standard orange ones and are awarded to employees who go above and beyond with safety. The two individuals in a recent photo I shared on LinkedIn received these shirts after they used their Stop Work Authority to intervene when they saw a subcontractor employee getting dangerously close to a power line while operating a lift. They stopped the work before an incident occurred. Along with the shirt, we send a thank-you letter to their home, signed by our Division Manager and Operations Manager, expressing appreciation for their commitment to safety.

On specific projects, we also implement various recognition programs – from monthly crew recognition with lunch and photos displayed on the jobsite to supervisors carrying gift cards to distribute when they see good safety practices. Some clients even get involved, like the Tulalip Tribe recently hosted a barbecue just to thank everyone for working safely while not disrupting casino operations.

These recognition efforts are about creating a positive safety culture. Many companies misunderstand safety as only being about write-ups and negative consequences, but we take a positive approach – recognizing our people for doing things the right way.

Ìý