Devon Gawlik was originally an intern with Skanska during college. He started his full-time career with Skanska in the summer of 2017 as a safety coordinator in the Seattle office. He worked on several projects with his mentor to learn the ropes and develop his skills. Prior to working with Skanska, he did not have any experience in the construction industry aside from what he had learned in school.
As Devon developed his safety skills, he began filling in on projects that were wrapping up or projects that did not have a full-time safety professional at the project site. He later worked on a $1.9 billion job where the safety team of 12 was broken up into different scopes of the project. He was responsible for looking after the job site and the utilities installation. After two years on that job, he then became a safety manager and transferred to the company’s San Antonio office, where he is currently serving as a safety manager on a project for the USDA.
For our latest Faces of EHS profile, we sat down with Devon to discuss how he got his start in the industry, setting safety standards during construction planning, and building relationships in safety.
Q: How did you get your start in the field?
I was a health and safety management major at Central Washington University. What interested me in the degree was a family friend who worked as a safety professional at Costco. They explained how great the benefits were, and the work was intriguing. I didn’t have any previous construction experience before working at Skanska. When I looked more into the construction side of safety, I liked the deep focus on keeping people safe. The construction side of safety was also appealing because I enjoy being a part of a team constructing new buildings and spaces that will shape my community.
Q: Who has been your biggest influence in the industry?
My biggest influence in the industry is my mentor, Bill Costin, who I worked under when I first joined Skanska in Seattle. He had already been in the industry for nine or 10 years when we met, and he helped me learn how to be a good all-around safety manager and care about my safety role in the construction process. He taught me to perform my job the right way without taking any shortcuts that could result in missing documentation or worse, someone getting hurt. He taught me to inspect everything we work on in detail, from the planning phase all the way to the close-out phase at the end of a project.
Q: What’s your best mistake and what did you learn from it?
My best mistake has been coming up with a safety plan and trusting subcontractors to strictly follow it. There is a certain level of trust that you can have with subcontractors in the field, but it is still our job as safety professionals to verify everyone on the job site follows the safety plan. I quickly learned the verification process ensures everyone is taking safety seriously and understands what we expect from them while working on the job site.
Q: What’s your favorite and least favorite part about working in the industry? Would you change anything?
The worst part about the industry is the stress that comes along with the job and its high-risk activities. The worry is always in the back of my mind that something could go wrong no matter how much planning, training, and PPE we put in place. The best part about the industry is being a part of building something that is going to be part of the community and working toward it as a team. I really enjoy being able to walk around the job site and having the combination of working indoors and outdoors.
One thing I would change in the industry is clients’ expectations of how fast we can complete a job. Time is of the essence for clients, but we must be cognizant of the risks we put on our workers by trying to finish a project faster. Rushing work does not make for a safe environment with the wear on workers and increases the risk of incidents. It is reassuring to know how seriously Skanska takes safety when agreeing to timelines.
Q: What are your thoughts on safety culture? How can company leaders make safety a value within their organization?
Safety culture in a company is very important and must go from the top corporate leaders to the job site. When all levels involved take safety as a priority from the start, it sets the tone for the entirety of the project. Safety culture is truly caring about the people you work with, not just enforcing rules because they are a regulation in OSHA or Skanska’s policy. I believe a safety culture truly starts at the top of a company and works down. Having upper management who will sit down and discuss safety, visit the job sites, and will not allow for issues like scheduling or budget to impact how we treat safety is essential to a strong safety culture.
Q: What safety concerns or issues do you think need more prioritization in EHS programs?
It’s important to set safety standards and precautions when creating the construction plan. It’s also important to make sure the safety incorporated into the construction plan is followed once the site work begins. This is currently a priority but having an even greater focus on safety when drawing up construction plans is important. It is also important to consider safety when adjusting the project plans and absolutely crucial to re-incorporate the safety measures once the plan is adjusted.
Q: What will be the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles on the EHS industry?
When it comes to government regulations, there isn’t much impact on my job as a safety professional because Skanska’s policies and standards are always up to or beyond OSHA requirements. It is important for companies to be on top of safety trends and do what is best for their workforce since federal regulations are not always as timely.
Q: How will new safety technologies influence the work being done by EHS professionals?
Some of the new technologies have and will improve safety. The use of digital programs and being able to compile paperwork and documentation has come a long way.
However, it is important for safety professionals to remember that new safety technology, when used in the field, can sometimes make workers more lax. We must communicate how important it is to still be safety conscious when working in the field, even with the newest PPE and other technologies. As we embrace technology and use it to become safer, we must still maintain safety protocols and checks.
Q: What are you most proud of?
I’m proud that I have been able to succeed in an industry that I started in without prior experience. I’ve learned a lot by observing and asking questions over the years. I think my time spent with my mentor was especially important and greatly impacted my career. As I began to work on projects more independently, I have learned various processes, sequencing of work and how we construct buildings. All these experiences have made me successful in my career and my role as a safety manager.
Q: Do you have any advice for people entering the profession?
My advice for anyone pursuing a safety professional career or just starting out is to get out in the field and connect with people. Build relationships. I think once you’ve built a solid relationship with a contractor or coworker and shown you care for them, it greatly improves your work together. I think it’s also important to ask a lot of questions and understand what everyone is doing on the project. Having a relationship with someone is also important when needing to discuss a safety dilemma that may need to be corrected or changed. I’ve found that people are more understanding and willing to work with you on a safety concern when you have an established rapport.