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January 26, 2026

General Contractor Highway/Civil (under 500K hours)

Photo courtesy of AGCW
Orion Marine Contractors work on Washington State Ferries’ Slip 3 VTS replacement.

Orion Marine Contractors

The boldest idea to shape this company’s safety culture came straight from the field. During routine work, a superintendent radioed for someone to pick up a blown-over Sani-Can. A craft worker replied, “Well, be someone.”

That simple phrase sparked a movement. “Be Someone” became a cultural compass — appearing on hardhats, whiteboards, and jobsite signs — reminding everyone that safety isn’t about waiting for others; it’s about taking ownership.

At the same time, leadership was rethinking traditional zero-based goals. Chasing “Target Zero” didn’t make work safer, so the company shifted from compliance to capacity, introducing two field-driven ideas: “Be Someone” and “The Sh*t That Kills.”

Instead of paperwork-heavy JHAs, crews now use STK whiteboards to identify high-energy hazards and controls in real time. These conversations are live, visual and collaborative — turning safety from a checklist into a shared responsibility that crews actually look forward to.


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