By Melanie Fry
Being safe on a construction site isn’t a choice — it’s a job requirement. And if you aren’t being safe, according to Design Systems Builders assistant superintendent Angel Gonzales, you’re being selfish.
“If you’re not being safe, then I don’t need you on the job site,” said the 35-year-old Nashville resident. “If you’re not going to be safe, you are going to go home. … Because if you aren’t going to take care of yourself, you probably are not going to take care of anyone else.”
Angel, whose career in construction has spanned 15 years, has been named the eMOD Construction Safety Hero for the month of February. According to Nathan Heppler, an environmental health and safety manager with T.W. Frierson, Angel is a “safety hero through leading by example. The expectations that he has for his crew within safety, quality, and production are displayed through his everyday work.”
Angel and his team have also become avid users of the eMOD app. “When beginning to use eMOD, Angel fully embraced the new tool and hit the ground running,” Nathan said. “He was able to get his crew fully engaged in performing pre-task plans, completing Toolbox Talks, and participating in site audits.”
I recently had the chance to speak with Angel to talk about his day-to-day experiences with construction, his views on today’s safety practices, and his experiences using the eMOD Safety App.
What are you most proud of in your career?
To be honest, I think it’s just to be where I am right now. I’m able to run a crew and to get jobs for myself and my own crew. When I first started, I never thought I would make it this far. Back then, I was young and dumb. And I really didn’t care about my job. But as I’ve grown up, I have a lot more responsibility. I got married and we had a baby girl — and it opened my eyes. It changed how I think and how much I care about how I work.
You have a daughter?
Yes, she’s 6 years old. She’s spoiled. She’s the only one I have so I want to give her everything. She’s my baby.
What would you have to say is the best part of your job?
Oh, well, to me, the best part of my job is that — we preach so much about safety — the best part of each day is that we go home the same way we came to work in the morning. No injuries or anything like that. Because I have a family that is waiting for me to come home. That’s the best part.
So let’s talk safety. For people getting started in construction, how do you explain the importance of safety?
Well, first of all, I tell them about a typical (busy) day working in construction — and how you start to take things lightly. That’s when we make a mistake. That’s when we have injuries. Everything can go wrong in a split second. We have to be aware of everything around us. People around us. Even people above us. You never know what’s going to happen. We need to always be aware.
Is there an example of a new person you can think of that wasn’t taking safety seriously?
This past summer, I had two guys working in an area, where one was drilling some holes in metal with his safety glasses on. But the other guy next to him wasn’t wearing his safety glasses. So I told them they needed to stop. I told him, “You’re standing next to him, shavings are going everywhere. What happens if the wind picks up? You could lose your eye.” Anything could go wrong in a split second.
How did he take it?
He was grateful. I told him, “You don’t want to lose your sight.” And he said, “You’re right.”
We’ve heard that you’ve been using eMOD a lot. What do you think of it?
To be honest, in the beginning, it was hard because I’ve never used anything like it before. But as I’ve gotten used to it, I like it. I like the whole setup.
Has it changed how you do your job?
It has changed my job a lot. We use it to talk about all the steps we need to do in our daily work. … It helps with all the safety hazards — it helps a lot.
What do you think is the biggest challenge when it comes to construction safety?
The biggest thing is everyone using their PPE. Everyone needs to respect the hazards and wear PPE every day. If you’re not being safe, then I don’t need you on the job site. If you’re not going to be safe, you are going to go home. … Because if you aren’t going to take care of yourself, you probably are not going to take care of anyone else.
So what does that mean to you to be honored as a safety hero?
To be honest, I thought they confused me with somebody else. (Laugh)
Nathan told us you’re doing a great job and wanted to honor you.
That feels good, you know. I think I’m doing a good job, but you know, I didn’t expect it. I’m glad. And I’m improving myself every day.
Congratulations, Angel! And thanks for spending a few minutes with us.
What is the eMOD Safety Hero Award?
Once a month, eMOD highlights someone working in the commercial construction industry who practices their craft with a safety-first approach. We recognize heroes who put safety ahead of productivity, who take action today to make our work safer tomorrow, who do the right thing rather than the most convenient. They promote accountability among team members, champion the latest safety practices, and encourage transparency about hazardous situations as they arise.
In addition to being featured on our blog, each winner receives a great prize package!