Webinar Recap: Securing Safety Series – Featuring Thomas Concrete Group

When it comes to workplace safety, compliance alone is not enough—it’s about building a culture where employees make the right choices, even when no one is watching. In our latest episode of the Securing Safety Series, we had the pleasure of hosting Jon Swierenga, Director of Health, Safety, and Environment at Thomas Concrete Group, to discuss how his organization fosters a best-in-class safety culture while leveraging Safety Plus solutions to drive compliance, training, and operational efficiency.

About Thomas Concrete Group

Thomas Concrete is a family-owned business based in Sweden with operations in Sweden, Germany, Poland, and the southeastern United States. With over 1,400 employees and 800 concrete mixer trucks operating daily across 80 locations, maintaining a safe work environment is critical to their success.

Jon, who has spent 35 years in health, safety, and fleet safety, shared invaluable insights on his journey, major industry shifts, and the transformative impact of prioritizing safety culture over mere compliance.

Key Takeaways from the Webinar

1. Compliance ≠ Safety

While regulatory compliance is essential, Jon emphasized that true safety is about behavior and culture. A company can meet all OSHA requirements—fire extinguishers at the correct height, proper hazard communication, and thorough lockout/tagout protocols—but if employees don’t make safe choices, risks remain.

“Safety is not just about compliance; it’s about the choices people make every day.”

By instilling values and accountability, companies can create an environment where employees remind each other to wear helmets, use equipment properly, and follow best practices—not because they have to, but because they want to.

2. Building a Safety Culture from the Top Down

Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping safety culture. Many employees come from diverse backgrounds—some from safety-conscious workplaces, others from environments where shortcuts were rewarded. It’s the responsibility of leadership to set clear expectations, provide the right tools and training, and foster an atmosphere where safety is a shared responsibility.

Jon described an ideal scenario:

“If one worker gets out of a truck without a helmet, their colleague should remind them—not in a confrontational way, but as part of a shared commitment to safety.”

This peer-driven approach ensures safety standards are upheld across all levels of the organization.

3. Leveraging Technology for Systematic Safety Management

Jon highlighted how technology is revolutionizing safety programs, particularly for fleet safety and training compliance. Prior to partnering with Safety Plus, Thomas Concrete managed safety records using Excel files, which made compliance tracking inefficient and inconsistent.

Since adopting Safety Plus Web, the company has benefited from:

• Centralized training management through a Learning Management System (LMS)
• Automated OSHA compliance tracking across 80 locations
• Robust fleet safety monitoring, ensuring DOT compliance for 800+ drivers
• A scalable solution that grows with their workforce

“There’s an old saying: ‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure.’ Safety Plus provides the metrics and tracking we need to ensure compliance and improve safety outcomes.”

4. Training Strategies for a Diverse Workforce

One of the biggest challenges in safety training is engaging a multi-generational workforce. Jon noted that:

• Seasoned employees often prefer in-person classroom training
• Younger employees expect digital, interactive content

By utilizing Safety Plus Web’s LMS, Thomas Concrete delivers tailored training experiences that resonate with different learning styles while ensuring that every worker—whether they’ve been on the job for 20 years or 20 days—has the knowledge they need to stay safe and perform at their best.

5. The Measurable Impact of Safety Plus

The partnership between Thomas Concrete and Safety Plus has led to tangible results:

• Higher DOT compliance rates, reducing fleet incidents
• More effective OSHA audits and faster regulatory responses
• Improved employee training completion rates
• A stronger safety culture across all locations

Jon emphasized that an employee who feels confident in their safety training is also more effective on the job—ultimately leading to better customer service, improved company reputation, and long-term business success.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Thomas Concrete?

Safety is an ongoing journey, and Thomas Concrete remains committed to refining and enhancing their safety strategy. Their goals include:

• Expanding digital training initiatives
• Leveraging data analytics for predictive safety insights
• Continuing to integrate best practices from top-tier organizations like Rolls-Royce and Disney

For safety leaders looking to innovate their own programs, Jon’s advice is simple:

“Spend time in the field. See firsthand how safety practices are applied, and make sure there’s no disconnect between corporate policies and frontline realities.”

Final Thoughts

The Securing Safety Series is dedicated to bringing industry leaders together to share best practices, challenges, and success stories in workplace safety.

A huge thank you to Jon and the Thomas Concrete team for sharing their insights!

Want to learn more about how Safety Plus can transform your safety program? Request a Demo.

Stay tuned for upcoming webinars featuring more industry leaders! Follow us on LinkedIn for updates.