If there’s one thing we know at Maxim, it’s this: you can’t build a culture of safety without buy-in from every person involved.
Construction Safety Week is an annual opportunity for the construction industry to come together and reinforce the importance of making safety the foundation of everything we do. Construction Safety Week runs from May 4th through May 8th, 2026.
At Maxim, safety isn’t a single initiative or a once-a-year focus. It’s built into every decision, every jobsite, and every role across the organization. To reflect on what that looks like in practice, we spoke with members of the Maxim team across different roles and regions.
Troy Wagner, Vice President of Safety, Wilder, KY
At the organizational level, safety starts long before a jobsite is active. For Vice President of Safety, Troy Wagner, that begins with investing in the right equipment and infrastructure. Ongoing efforts to modernize Maxim’s fleet help ensure equipment is more reliable and requires less maintenance, reducing potential risks before they ever reach the field.
“Safety Week is important to us because it fits the mold of our culture here,” Wagner said. “The number one thing is making sure our people go home to their families at the end of the day in the same shape that they showed up.”
John Costello, Sub-Regional Safety Representative, Philadelphia, PA
On the ground, safety is built through preparation, repetition, and clear communication. Safety Representative John Costello describes a structured, hands-on approach that begins before any lift takes place. From reviewing job details on company-issued iPads to walking through plans with operators and drivers, each step is designed to ensure alignment across the entire team.
This process includes equipment checks, rigging reviews, and full jobsite audits, all completed before work begins. The goal is to eliminate uncertainty and ensure that every person involved understands the plan.
Zachary Degoursey, Sub-Regional Safety Representative, Boston, MA
A strong safety culture depends on empowering employees to speak up. For Safety Representative Zachary Degoursey, one of the most important tools in reinforcing that culture is Maxim’s Stop Work Authority program. Every employee is given the authority to pause work if something feels unsafe or unclear.
When that authority is used, teams come together to reassess, align, and move forward safely. It’s a proactive approach that prioritizes preventing incidents before they occur.
William Tinch, Heavy Haul Foreman
Even with strong planning, jobsite conditions can change. Heavy Haul Foreman, William Tinch, emphasizes the importance of adapting in real time and communicating when something no longer aligns with the plan.
“If you notice something changes, you have to speak up,” Tinch said. “We are all working together, and we all have the same goal.”
Doug Shaw, Heavy Haul Superintendent
At its core, safety comes down to one outcome: making sure everyone goes home safe. For Heavy Haul Superintendent Doug Shaw, that priority outweighs everything else.
“If doing a job safely means it takes a little longer, so be it,” Shaw said. “That’s the way it is.”
Across every role, from leadership to the field, safety at Maxim is a shared responsibility. Construction Safety Week highlights that commitment, but the mindset behind it continues year-round.
