Leading by Example: Building a Culture of Safety That Lasts Beyond the Workplace

Safety is rooted in strong leadership.

Safety is a value that must be actively demonstrated from the top down. As a father to two young boys, I’m reminded daily of the importance of setting a positive example. Kids are incredibly impressionable, watching and learning from everything we do. Safety isn’t just a conversation we leave at the office door, it’s a mindset that follows us throughout the day, whether we’re on the job, commuting to or from work, or spending time with loved ones.

To build a culture of safety, I often emphasize a few key habits of effective safety leadership to my team:

1. Credibility – Be genuine and knowledgeable in safety practices. Trust is built when leaders walk the talk and are sincere in their safety mindset.
2. Accountability – Take ownership of safety, not just for yourself but for everyone around you. Safety is a collective responsibility.
3. Seriousness – Treat safety with the gravity it deserves. Emphasize that it is the most important priority that everyone of us should have.
4. Ambassadorship – Represent the company’s safety values at all times be it on or off the job. Every interaction is an opportunity to reinforce the importance of safe practices.

These qualities create a strong foundation for a culture where safety becomes second nature, reminding us that our commitment doesn’t end when the workday does—it’s a continuous responsibility we carry wherever we go. At Novus, we believe that safety is not just a practice but a culture, woven into everything we do. It’s something we teach, model, and reinforce daily. We look out for each other, recognizing that we are all each other’s keepers. Most importantly, we take this responsibility seriously because safety isn’t just about following rules, it’s about protecting what matters most—each other.

Novus Safety Commitment

In late 2023, Novus Technical Services successfully completed its ISO re-certification audit, a rigorous review of our Health, Safety, Environmental, and Quality Management systems. We’re proud to maintain accreditation in the following ISO standards:

• ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management Systems
• ISO 45001:2018 – Safety Management Systems
• ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management Systems

Safety Milestone: Zero Incidents

At the end of 2023, we were thrilled to celebrate another year without incidents or injuries across our global organization, reaching an impressive 12.7 million hours of zero lost-time incidents. We’re aiming even higher by the end of 2024—stay tuned!

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