A strong safety culture lays the foundation to address the construction industry’s hardest challenges

MAKING SAFETY EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY

Exxel Pacific seeks to empower our workforce by instilling the belief that safety is everyone’s responsibility. This mindset transforms safety from being perceived as an obstacle to a shared goal, ingrained in every aspect of their operations. By fostering this culture, Exxel Pacific ensures that safety is not just a box to tick but an integral part of the construction process.

In 2017, Exxel Pacific transitioned to a 100% employee-owned company. This shift has further reinforced the importance of safety, as all employees now share in the company’s successes and challenges. As owners, they are acutely aware of the consequences of safety-related incidents and are motivated to proactively identify and eliminate hazards. This collective ownership creates a powerful incentive to maintain a safe working environment, benefiting both individual employees and the company as a whole.

A COMMITMENT TO MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Photo courtesy of Exxel Pacific [enlarge]

Exxel Pacific’s safety team (Sorensen at center left).

Beyond addressing physical safety hazards, it is essential to focus on the mental health and well-being of all employees. Driven by our core value of “taking care of each other like family,” Exxel Pacific actively promotes a culture where mental health conversations are encouraged and normalized. This commitment is a testament to the understanding that mental well-being is just as crucial as physical safety in creating a supportive and productive work environment.

Supporting mental health is an ongoing process that requires continuous effort and adaptation. By actively promoting discussions around mental health, companies can remove stigma and ensure employees feel comfortable seeking help and support. For us, a focus on treating each other like family creates an atmosphere of trust and support, essential for addressing mental health issues.

ADDRESSING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC PROACTIVELY

Photo by Shelly Oberman Photography [enlarge]

Exxel Pacific’s team at the 2025 AGC Build Washington Awards in January.

One focus for Exxel Pacific has been the growing opioid epidemic and overdoses in the construction industry. Statistics indicate that overdoses in construction are a predominant cause of death in Washington State, highlighting the urgent need for intervention. This is a grave issue, and it’s essential to take proactive steps to safeguard construction workers from this growing threat.

As part of this effort, I organized company-wide sessions featuring guest speakers such as Mandi Kime, the Director of Safety at the Associated General Contractors (AGC), and Cal Beyer from the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.

These experts provide valuable insights into the importance of suicide prevention and the opioid epidemic, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to worker safety. These discussions aim to educate construction workers about the risks associated with opioid use and the importance of mental health support.

These sessions not only focus on raising awareness but also advocate for a holistic approach to safety that integrates mental health resources, substance abuse support, and physical safety measures. By addressing these topics, Exxel Pacific aims to create a robust safety net for all employees.

EQUIPPING EMPLOYEES FOR OVERDOSES

We also partnered with The Alliance for Naloxone Safety in the Workplace (ANSW.org) and introduced Naloxone response to our first aid standard, providing much-needed help to opioid overdose in the construction industry and enabling employees to have the best possible resources to react quickly to accidental overdoses and save lives. Naloxone, a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdoses, is now a critical part of Exxel’s safety toolkit.

By introducing Naloxone response measures, Exxel has equipped its employees with the necessary resources to respond effectively to accidental overdoses. This initiative not only enhances the safety of workers but also underscores the company’s commitment to saving lives and fostering a supportive work environment.

REMAINING VIGILANT AND ALWAYS ADAPTING

Safety success is not static; it requires ongoing effort and adaptation. Our safety team must remain vigilant in identifying potential risks and improving safety protocols. They have revamped their safety training program and developed an interactive “living” safety manual on an electronic platform.

The safety manual is built with the end-user in mind – it is easily digestible, with activity-specific safety standards laid out to follow the hierarchy of controls. Each safety standard has hyperlinked resources to WAC and OSHA codes as well as company forms associated with the standard. This allows employees to understand how to properly manage risk by eliminating it first, having access to codes a click away, and having the most up-to-date resources.

Our electronic platform is an efficient and effective way for employees to complete safety-related documents via the app on their phone, tablet, or desktop. These analytics provide Exxel’s team live statistics relating to items like nature of injury, frequent body part affected, incident severity, reporting times, and frequency of inspection, which assists us in determining themes and trends to aid the project team in planning, training, toolbox talks, etc.

By continuously updating safety measures and encouraging employee feedback, we can ensure that safety practices evolve to meet new challenges and standards. Exxel Pacific’s dedication to safety, coupled with our commitment to mental health and well-being, underscores a holistic approach to employee care. This commitment not only enhances its organizational culture and productivity but also sets a benchmark for safety excellence in the construction industry. Prioritizing safety, mental health, and continuous improvement paves the way for a safer and more supportive work environment.

Brian Sorensen is Exxel Pacific’s Director of Safety, and was named the AGC Build Washington’s Safety Professional of the Year in 2025.