Safety Starts with Conversation

At Allied Resources Group (ARG), safety has always been a shared responsibility. As our organization has grown across locations, disciplines, and industries, we recognized something important: safety programs cannot rely solely on documentation or training modules. They must be reinforced through consistent dialogue. That realization led to the creation of our Safety Committee. We didn’t start it to add another layer of process. We started it to strengthen communication.

“We value the commitment and leadership of our safety committee members who volunteered to contribute time, experience, and insight to our safety program. Their involvement strengthens our processes, supports our workforce, and reinforces a culture where safety is a collective priority.” — Lori A. Reising, Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Manager

Why We Created a Safety Committee

Safety policies and procedures provide structure. They outline expectations, define responsibilities, and align with regulatory and client standards. But policies alone do not create understanding, and understanding is what ultimately drives safe behavior. As our teams expanded geographically and professionally, we saw value in creating a structured forum where people could come together regularly to talk about safety in practical terms — not just what is written, but how it applies in real-world environments.

The purpose was simple: create space for discussion. By bringing together individuals from different offices and roles, we ensure that safety conversations reflect a range of perspectives. What a field professional experiences may differ from what a project manager or recruiter sees, and those differences matter. When shared, they broaden awareness and strengthen decision-making. Rather than relying only on top-down communication, the committee allows safety to be shaped by those closest to the work.

What Our Monthly Discussions Look Like

Each month, committee members meet to discuss relevant safety topics in a collaborative and conversational setting. Discussions may include lessons learned from recent projects, industry updates or emerging safety considerations, near misses and preventative takeaways, and opportunities to improve training or clarify existing policies and forms. Every participant brings a unique lens, and that diversity of experience ensures that safety conversations remain grounded in reality rather than abstraction.

Just as importantly, these meetings create continuity. Safety is not something addressed only after an incident or during annual training. It becomes part of an ongoing rhythm within the organization. Research consistently shows that organizations with strong safety cultures emphasize open communication, peer involvement, and continuous reinforcement. Regular discussion increases engagement and improves retention of safety practices. When employees feel comfortable sharing insights or concerns, overall risk awareness improves across the board. We view our committee as a way to formalize that openness.

Building a Culture Through Collaboration

A strong safety culture is not built through enforcement alone. It is built through shared ownership. The Safety Committee reinforces that safety belongs to everyone at ARG, regardless of role or location. By encouraging employees to contribute ideas, ask questions, and share experiences, we strengthen accountability in a constructive way while reinforcing trust across teams.

Open discussion also helps bridge gaps between policy and practice. When employees understand not only what is required but why it matters, compliance becomes intentional rather than routine. The goal is not to create more rules; it is to create clarity and reinforce consistency.

As our industry continues to evolve, safety considerations evolve with it. New technologies, new project environments, and new client expectations require ongoing awareness and adaptability. A standing committee ensures that we remain proactive rather than reactive, continuously refining how we approach safety across the organization.

The bottom line is this: safety is most effective when it is discussed consistently and collaboratively. By creating space for conversation across offices and disciplines, ARG continues to reinforce safety as a shared priority and a living part of our culture.

Safety starts with conversation.