Safety coordinators play a critical role in organizations, yet their effectiveness often depends on far more than technical and regulatory knowledge. This session explores what truly makes a safety coordinator effective, based on the results of a national survey and feedback from safety professionals across Canada. The findings highlight what helps coordinators succeed, what holds them back, and what it looks like in practice.

Participants will learn the key qualities, habits, and organizational supports that lead to stronger safety outcomes and working relationships on site. The session will also share simple, practical tools to help develop and support coordinators. This presentation is grounded in authentic experiences, not theory, and reflects a genuine desire to strengthen the profession by listening to those on the front lines of safety.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the top traits and skills that contribute to effective safety coordination.
• Recognize the key organizational supports that help coordinators succeed.
• Understand the common challenges coordinators face and how to address them.
• Apply practical strategies to enhance safety coordinator development and engagement.