Rethinking Safety Culture: Lessons in Leadership and Learning from Ron Gantt
Ron Gantt, Vice President of EHS at Beale Infrastructure and co-host of Punk Rock Safety
What does it really take to build a safety culture people genuinely believe in? For Ron Gantt, the answer starts with understanding that safety isn’t a paperwork problem; it’s a people problem. Across every industry, workers face the same pressures: deadlines, risk, and the constant drive to keep production moving. The real difference, Ron argues, lies in how organizations engage their people and design systems that learn, adapt, and improve instead of assigning blame.
In this episode, Ron draws from two decades of experience in construction, utilities, and large-scale data center projects. He explains why engagement begins with listening to those who face risk firsthand, how to balance production goals with safe operations, and how to recognize small drifts before they grow into major failures. Ron also explores what it takes to create feedback loops that strengthen safety systems, why true leadership means learning with your team, and how the phrase “start when safe” can become more than just a slogan.
From his early days as a touring musician to earning a PhD in resilience engineering, Ron’s journey shows that great safety leadership isn’t about enforcing compliance. It’s about understanding people, purpose, and the realities of work.
