From Worst to First: Construction Firm Revolutionizes Safety Program

Client Profile

The client is a construction management and design firm supporting major capital projects within the food and beverage manufacturing sector.

Market Overview

Workplace safety pressures continue to intensify across the U.S.:

• Workplace injuries rose 7.5%, while work-related fatalities reached a 10-year high (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)
• Construction accounted for more than 1 in 5 workplace fatalities, the highest of any industry (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)
• The estimated total economic cost of work-related injuries was $167 billion (National Safety Council, 2021)

As manufacturing construction accelerates nationwide, these underscore a critical reality that safety performance can make or break project success.

The Challenge

Our client was managing a major expansion at a food manufacturing facility with stringent safety expectations. The client struggled to meet these requirements, resulting in:

• Poor audit scores
• Eroding trust with their customer
• A real risk of being removed from the project

They needed immediate support to stabilize the situation and regain credibility.

The Actalent Approach

Actalent has long been a trusted safety partner to the customer, having originally built the safety program the client was now struggling to uphold. Recognizing the urgency, the client engaged Actalent to evaluate the site and implement a corrective plan.

Given the urgency, Actalent deployed a tailored onsite safety solution to reset expectations, rebuild trust and establish a high-performance safety environment. Our approach aligned with the core principles which emphasized that true safety excellence stems from culture, not compliance alone.

Key actions included:

• Weekly contractor check-ins to reinforce each individual’s personal “why” for safety
• Monthly recognition lunches celebrating contractors demonstrating safety excellence and motivate broader participation
• Transparent and constructive coaching that aligned all corrective actions to their customer’s standards and expectations

This blend of accountability, recognition and open dialogue accelerated cultural change and strengthened buy-in across the workforce.

The Results

Actalent’s rapid intervention produced a dramatic turnaround:

• The site’s safety audit score increased from 51 to 85 within months
• The client’s customer adopted Actalent’s safety program as the benchmark for all its locations
• The client not only remained on the project but became a top performer in safety culture across their entire manufacturing network

Actalent’s expertise prevented project dismissal, restored confidence, and established a durable safety culture that now defines “what good looks like” at the customer’s sites nationwide.