By Hannah Aguilar-Mota
Having a family changes everything. That includes our perspective on safety, especially working in one of the most dangerous professions. Just ask Fred Mendoza.
This month’s eMOD Safety Hero, Fred started in the construction industry as an ironworker. He would regularly witness injuries to his crew, ranging from smashed fingers and cuts to serious falls. Admittedly, though, in his early days, he was more focused on simply getting his job done than safety. That is until he had a family.
“Now that I have a family, safety is very important — I want to go home safe to my family,” Fred told me. “I want everyone to have that mindset, too.”
After more than 15 years in construction, Fred, 45, is now a foreman for Dome Construction — and the father of two children. And he is passionate about safety not just because of his own family, but because of the families of all the workers on the jobs that he helps manage.
“Fred takes safety to the next level by ensuring paperwork is completed and that all safety requirements are followed by Dome and trade partners,” said Dome’s Javier Garcia, an EHS manager. ”In addition, Fred brings a positive attitude to the job site, day in and day out.”
I recently had the chance to talk with Fred about his work — and his perspective about construction safety.
What does being safe mean in your day-to-day work?
Well, safe for me means that the way you come to work, we want you to go back home the same way.
What’s the biggest hazard you see in your daily work?
We do a lot of work in elevated heights. So we do a lot of making sure everyone’s using the ladder the right way, making sure there’s nothing above their heads when they are climbing ladders.
Many people in construction just want to get to work. Do you find it difficult to talk openly about safety issues?
No, not really. There are always ways to talk about things. I try to be polite — try to help everyone understand how important safety is for them and for all of us. So far, I haven’t had a hard time with anyone.
Javier Garcia said you take safety to the ‘next level.’ What do you think that means?
Well, I make sure that everyone going into a job site is safe, and they’re wearing the right gear, make sure they’re tied off, and make sure everything’s clean. I sweep and make sure there’s no debris on the ground anywhere. I don’t want anyone tripping or getting hurt.
Do you think you look at safety differently than others?
Yeah, I think so.
Why is that?
I think about when I used to be just a worker. I just wanted to get in there and get the job done and just get out of there. But now that I have a family, I know safety is very important — and I want to go home safe to my family. I want everyone to have that mindset, too.
I know you’ve been using eMOD. Has it changed how you work?
It’s changed a lot because it helps me do the audits every day. It helps me go through everything make to make sure everything is compliant and safe. So it helps me out a lot.
So, what kinds of things are you checking with eMOD?
Say we’re doing a scissor lift — it reminds me to check the inspection of the scissor lift. It tells you that if guys are using a harness to check and make sure they’re tied off. It helps you remember all that stuff.
Do you feel like eMOD is easier than doing paper-based forms?
It’s much easier. When you do paperwork, and you leave it somewhere, it might get lost. With eMOD, everything’s there. And everybody can see it.
Have you ever been at a job site when people were seriously injured?
I used to do ironwork. I saw guys smash their fingers, cut their fingers. I saw someone lifting up some rebar with the forklift and another guy was holding it with a rope. It slipped off the forks, and it landed on his foot. I got interested in safety but not as much as now. I just had a mentality of a worker and let’s get this job done and move on to the next one. But now I have a different job. And I have a family.
What do you think is the biggest industry challenge when it comes to safety in construction?
Just having everybody with the same mindset. Sometimes we get new trade workers and you explain it to them over and over and they just don’t care about safety.
So how do you ultimately convert them to a safety mindset?
I explain to them in a nice, polite way, the first time, second time, and third time. And then if that doesn’t work, then I go to our safety officer and get them involved.
Do you ever find it difficult to balance safety with the pressure to keep a job on schedule/budget?
No, because safety is the number one thing. You don’t want anyone to get hurt. That’s my number one thing. Yes, we have deadlines to meet, but we have to work safely.
What does it mean to you to be honored as a ‘Safety Hero?’
I’m just shocked. It’s awesome that eMOD recognized me as a safety hero and I really appreciate it.
Thanks Fred — and congratulations!
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.