Building a safety culture that works

Having been an avid reader of Richard Fredenburg’s column for many years, I want to begin by saying what an honor it is to have been asked to continue the “Safety First” column following his retirement.

His contributions helped shape important conversations about safety culture in the propane industry, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help carry that forward.

Safety in our industry is more than a professional obligation for me. It is a personal commitment and a shared responsibility, regardless of role, title or where someone fits within the organization. Every decision we make, from the office to the field, has the potential to impact the safety of our employees, customers and communities.

▶ About me

Currently, I serve as the operations and safety manager for the propane business at CHS Inc. Over the years, I have contributed a number of shorter “Safety Minute” pieces, primarily focused on seasonal awareness and practical reminders tied to daily propane operations. Through this column, I look forward to expanding on those ideas and exploring the deeper principles that help build strong, sustainable safety cultures.

One of my core beliefs is that safety culture cannot be built with a single binder, written process or training class. It must be woven into the fabric of day-to-day operations with intentionality and consistency. That starts with how we hire, how we train, how we communicate and how we design and follow our processes. When these elements align, safety stops being something we simply talk about and becomes something we actively practice.

▶ Safety culture

Safety culture begins with hiring. It starts with the questions we ask prospective employees, the expectations we set and the values we demonstrate during recruitment and onboarding. Skills can be taught, but a safety mindset is essential. Building a solid foundation means bringing on people who understand that speaking up, slowing down and following procedures are not inconveniences, but markers of professionalism and care for the customers they serve.

▶ The importance of training

Training is the next critical building block. Training should never solely exist to check a box.

Effective safety training is engaging, relevant and continuous. It reinforces not just the “how,” but the “why” behind processes and procedures.

Many industry standards were developed as a result of incidents and injuries that could have been prevented. Sharing those lessons, and the consequences of shortcuts, helps employees see the value behind every step and avoid normalcy bias, where they think that nothing bad will happen to them because nothing bad has happened so far. The most effective training environments encourage questions, discussion and real-world scenarios, backed by leadership that consistently supports doing the right thing, even when the cost is time, money or convenience.

Throughout my career, I have seen that safety culture is the strongest when leaders set the tone. Leadership is not about having all the answers; it is about listening, asking the right questions and reinforcing expectations through actions. Leaders who model safe behaviors, address concerns early and treat near-miss reporting as opportunities to learn earn trust.

And trust is a powerful driver of safety performance.

Through this column, my goal is to share practical insights and lessons learned that apply across our industry. I hope to encourage reflection, discussion and continuous improvement within your organizations. Safety is a journey with no finish line, and as our industry evolves, our approach to safety must evolve with it. That requires ongoing commitment from every one of us, and I look forward to continuing this conversation through “Safety First.”

Bryan Wendt is the propane operations and safety manager at CHS Inc. He can be reached at 651-355-8546 or bryan.wendt@chsinc.com.

NOTE: The opinions and viewpoints expressed herein are solely the author’s and should in no way be interpreted as those of LP Gas magazine or any of its staff members.

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