Webinar Recap: Securing Safety Series – Featuring Jack Nix of Shelby Erectors

At Safety Plus, we believe safety is a journey—one that requires continuous improvement, innovation, and a culture that values every person on the job site. In this episode of our Securing Safety Series, we had the privilege of sitting down with Jack Nix, Chief Operating Officer of Shelby Erectors and President of the Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA), to learn how his team is raising the bar on safety standards in steel construction.

With over 40 years of experience in the trades, Jack shared how Shelby Erectors evolved from traditional, old-school construction practices to one of the safest, most innovative steel companies in the industry—all while leveraging technology, building a values-driven culture, and investing in their people.

About Shelby Erectors

Shelby Erectors is a family-run rebar and steel installation company that has grown through hard work, commitment to values, and a focus on continuous improvement. Jack’s journey from field ironworker to COO embodies the company’s hands-on leadership style and commitment to evolving the industry’s safety standards.

Key Takeaways from the Webinar

1. The Power of Defining and Living Your Core Values

Years ago, Shelby Erectors took a critical step: identifying their core values. For Jack, this was more than an exercise—it was the foundation for aligning every decision, innovation, and safety practice with what truly matters to the company.

“We don’t adopt new technologies just for the sake of change. Every change we make must align with our core values and make us better.”

This value-driven approach guides everything from hiring and training to evaluating new safety innovations.

2. From the Wild West to Safety-First: Jack’s Evolution in Construction Safety

Jack reflected on how far the construction industry has come since his early days. No PPE, minimal fall protection, and a “get it done” attitude were once the norm. Today, Shelby Erectors enforces 100% tie-off rules and zero-tolerance safety policies.

But the true turning point came after a tragic incident where a long-time friend and employee lost his life on a job site. That moment reshaped Jack’s outlook:

“That flipped the switch for me. I promised my family that if I could help it, it would never happen again.”

Since then, Shelby Erectors has completely redefined their safety culture, earning a 1.02 DART rating and surpassing 500,000 man-hours without a recordable injury—a remarkable feat in rebar and steel erection.

3. Embracing Digital Transformation for Safer Jobsites

Eight years ago, Shelby Erectors made a bold move—going fully paperless. Today, everything from contracts and daily logs to safety audits and toolbox talks happens digitally.

Why?

• No lost paperwork
• Real-time reporting
• Accountability at every level
  

Their partnership with SafetyPlusWeb has been critical in delivering:

• Digital Toolbox Talks with video and Spanish translations
• Comprehension checks to verify understanding
• Streamlined, trackable safety audits

“With SafetyPlusWeb, everyone hears the same message, every time. It’s a game changer.”

4. Embedding Safety into Leadership and Accountability

Jack shared a simple but powerful innovation: requiring every foreman to complete a safety audit monthly. This shift

• Puts safety in the hands of production leaders
• Forces foremen to view jobsites through the lens of safety, not just productivity
• Creates true ownership and accountability

“Since implementing that change, our incident rates dropped. It’s not luck. It’s culture.”

5. Leveraging Technology & AI to Take Safety Further

Always looking forward, Shelby Erectors is now pioneering AI-powered safety monitoring. Instead of adding another safety officer, the team deployed AI cameras on jobsites to detect unsafe conditions in real-time.

The result?

• Instant alerts for fall protection issues
• Identifying unsafe crane operations
• Proactive coaching moments

“It might feel like Big Brother, but it’s making us better—and the AI keeps learning. This is the future of safety.”

6. Leadership and Industry Collaboration Through SEAA

Jack’s role as President of the Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) has been another driver of Shelby’s safety success. SEAA fosters industry collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and elevates safety standards across steel erection.

“Surrounding yourself with peers facing the same challenges helps you borrow ideas, innovate, and raise the bar.”

Jack encourages companies of all sizes to join trade organizations and engage fully to maximize value and accelerate safety improvements.

Advice for Safety Leaders

For companies just starting their safety evolution, Jack shared:

• Pick one thing that’s manageable to improve first
• Invest in training—not just the “how,” but the “why” behind tasks
• Join industry associations to learn from others

“If people understand the why, they’ll be better and they’ll be safer.”

Final Thoughts

Shelby Erectors is proof that even in the toughest industries, safety excellence is possible—and it’s good for business. With innovation, accountability, and a people-first mindset, they’ve created a program that any company can aspire to.

A huge thank you to Jack Nix and Shelby Erectors for sharing their journey and inspiring safety leaders everywhere.

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Learn more about Shelby Erectors and SEAA:
https://shelbyerectors.com | https://www.seaa.net

Stay tuned for more episodes in our Securing Safety Series, featuring leaders who are raising the bar in safety every day.