Why Safety Leadership and Damage Prevention Go Far Beyond Checklists
Jeff Mulligan reflects on how safety evolved from a checklist task to a core leadership priority—and why underground infrastructure is the next major safety challenge.
What happens when a former banker steps into the world of infrastructure safety? You get a powerful blend of strategy, advocacy, and a deep commitment to protecting people and places.
In this episode of Safety Spotlight, Jeff Mulligan—COO of Astec Safety and co-founder of Utility Safety Partners—shares his journey from finance and politics to becoming a leading voice in safety leadership and damage prevention. His career path may be unconventional, but his message is clear: safety isn’t just about following rules—it’s about foresight, accountability, and long-term impact.
“The folks who built our infrastructure are retiring,” Jeff warns. “And we’re not capturing their knowledge fast enough. That’s a serious threat to safety.”
From early work in fiber optics to leading Alberta’s damage prevention movement after the Sherwood Park explosion, Jeff has seen firsthand what happens when safety is sidelined—and how transformational it can be when it’s prioritized. He recounts how Astec Safety turned around a $2.7M deficit by embedding safety into business strategy, not just policy.
Jeff also shares what’s on the horizon:
- The invisible hazards of buried infrastructure in rural areas
- Why safety shouldn’t fall under HR or finance alone
- How AI can support, not replace, experienced trainers
- The urgent need to transfer knowledge across generations
His call to action is simple and personal: Take safety seriously. Rethink what risk really means. And stop assuming danger is always visible.
For any organization ready to elevate safety leadership and damage prevention, Jeff’s story offers more than insight—it’s a challenge to think differently and lead boldly.
