Health & Safety: From First Page to Industry Standard

What does it take to embed safety into every moment of a construction company—from planning to execution to culture? EllisDon’s approach reveals how leadership, innovation, and everyday action are redefining safety across the industry.

The Commitment That Started It All

Every great story begins with a guiding principle. Ours is simple:

“Everyone Goes Home Safe – Every Night.”

This isn’t just a slogan—it’s the foundation of our culture. At EllisDon safety is embedded into every role, project, and decision. From the CEO to the newest apprentice, this promise is lived daily.

Steve Chaplin, our SVP of Health, Safety & Environment, puts it best:

“We’re on a journey to continually build and strengthen our safety culture and be the industry leaders in health and safety.”

That journey has evolved from focusing on minor injuries to preventing Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs). These are incidents that have had – or could have had – life-ending, life-threatening, or life-altering results.

Our involvement with the Canadian Safety Research Alliance (CSRA) helped us adopt tools like the Energy Wheel, which research shows can improve hazard recognition by 30%. It’s not just about preventing slips and trips—it’s about protecting lives.

Leading the Industry Forward

To become #1, you don’t just follow standards—you help define them. We’ve done that, leading the charge on key innovations and adoptions like:

• Type 2 hard hats with integrated (four-point)chin straps for improved head protection.
• Lower fall protection thresholds, reducing the height from 8 feet to 6 feet.
• Mandatory gloves with higher cut-resistance ratings to reduce hand injuries.

These changes weren’t just adopted internally—they’re now becoming industry best practices, thanks to our involvement as a founding member of the Canadian Construction Safety Council (CCSC). Through this Council, we’re helping standardize safety expectations amongst member companies, making it easier for subcontractors to meet consistent requirements no matter where they work. Our leadership by example ensures that the most rigorous safety protocols are championed across the country.

Tools That Empower Our People

Safety at EllisDon means equipping people with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to make smart decisions in real time.

Here's how safety shows up across our projects and offices:

1. Pre-Construction
   Safety planning begins before the first shovel hits the ground with tailored plans built in collaboration with site teams and safety professionals.
2. Daily Operations
   Daily Safety Reports (DSRs) and weekly inspections track safety in real time, supporting our capacity to spot trends and prevent risks.
3. Ongoing Support
   EHS Insight and our WorkSafe Library provide instant access to tools and resources.
4. Corporate Commitment
   Safety moments start every meeting, on site and in the office, making safety a visible, daily practice across EllisDon.
5. Ongoing Reviews
   Safety is regularly reviewed and refined by teams across all levels to ensure every site meets our evolving standards.
6. Continuous Improvement
   Ongoing employee feedback shapes future plans and reinforces shared ownership.

To see how these systems come together on the ground, follow EllisDon Health and Safety Coordinator, Chris da Silva on an on-site safety walkthrough.

Results That Speak for Themselves

This safety culture is backed by national recognition:

• Safety Excellence Award (2025) from the Vancouver Island Construction Association
• 5-Star Safety Culture (2023) designation from Canadian Occupational Safety.
• Zero Frequency Safety Award (2023) from the Vancouver Regional Construction Association.
• Safety Award (2023) from the Vancouver Island Regional Construction Association.
• WSIB Award for Canada’s Best Health & Safety Culture - Finalist & Excellence Awardee(2023) from Canada's Safest Employers Awards
• BGIS Safety Leader of the Year - Finalist & Excellence Awardee (2023) presented to Senior Vice President, Health, Safety and Environment, Steve Chaplin from Canada's Safest Employers Awards
• Canada’s Safety Construction Employer - Finalist & Excellence Awardee (2022) from Canada's Safest Employers Awards.
• Superior Safety Record Award (2022) from the Vancouver Regional Construction Association.
• Outstanding Safety Culture Award (2021) from the Toronto Construction Association.
• Roy A. Phinnemore Award (2021) presented to Senior Vice President, Health, Safety and Environment, Steve Chaplin from Infrastructure Health & Safety Association for leadership in construction safety.

But behind every number is a story. These achievements reflect the daily decisions, conversations, and commitments made by our teams. They reflect a culture where safety isn’t just a goal—it’s a way of working.

And they reflect our belief that the most meaningful metric is simple: everyone goes home safe.

What Comes Next

Our safety journey is far from over. We’re exploring predictive safety analytics and investing in the next generation of safety leaders through mentorship and education.

As Steve Chaplin puts it:

“We want to lead the pack and define what the pack is doing. We want to make a difference, be simple, fluid, and effective. We want to entrench safety so deeply in EllisDon that we don’t think about it—we just do it.”

At EllisDon, safety isn’t just a process—it’s a mindset. We’re not just building projects; we’re cultivating a culture rooted in care, driven by innovation, and guided by values that put people first.