Creating a strong safety culture isn’t about policing people. It’s about earning trust, communicating clearly, and helping employees understand why safety matters.
In this episode of Facility Rockstars, Jay Culbert sits down with Darin Goodwin, HSE Senior Manager supporting Takeda Pharma Global at CBRE Global Workplace Solutions. Drawing on more than 30 years of environmental health and safety leadership, Darin shares practical lessons on building a culture where people feel empowered to speak up, stop unsafe work, and take ownership of protecting themselves and those around them.
From improving training engagement and documentation to changing workplace behaviors through empathy instead of authority, Darin explains why safety professionals are at their best when they work with people instead of against them. The conversation also explores leadership, communication, technology, distracted workplaces, and why every safety decision has an impact that extends far beyond the individual involved.
Takeaways:
Communication removes uncertainty: Clear expectations and open dialogue eliminate the “gray areas” where misunderstandings and safety issues often develop. Great safety leaders communicate just as effectively with executives as they do with frontline employees.
People need to understand the “why”: Rules alone rarely change behavior. When employees understand why a procedure exists and the real consequences of ignoring it, they’re much more likely to make safer decisions.
Safety culture is built through relationships: Employees respond far better to leaders who coach and support than those who simply enforce rules. Working alongside people creates trust, accountability, and long-term buy-in.
Strong processes create safer outcomes: Checklists, documentation, supervisor approvals, and consistent procedures help remove uncertainty and ensure important safety steps aren’t skipped when work gets busy.
Every incident impacts more than one person: A workplace injury affects coworkers, families, productivity, and the organization as a whole. Safety isn’t just about preventing accidents. It’s about protecting people’s lives both inside and outside of work.
Never hesitate to stop unsafe work: Stop-work authority exists for a reason. Speaking up before something goes wrong is one of the most important responsibilities anyone can have in creating a safer workplace.
Quote of the Show:
“Always be open in communication with people so they know what you’re expecting. You get more with sugar than you do with spice.”
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