About this episode

Perry Silvey discusses his journey in construction safety and the importance of trench safety initiatives.

Perry Silvey, safety manager at BT Construction in Colorado, shares his journey from working at a driving range to becoming a leader in construction safety. He is the founder and chairman of the Trenching and Excavation Safety Task Force (TEST), a volunteer group dedicated to raising awareness about trenching and excavation safety. Perry's career in construction safety began after a layoff from his maintenance job, which led him to work in excavation. Perry's transition into safety was influenced by his first boss, who encouraged him to leverage his degree and move into office roles, eventually leading to project management and safety coordination. His involvement with industry groups, such as the Construction Safety Round Table and the National Utility Contractors Association, has been pivotal in his career, providing mentorship and collaboration opportunities. The TEST initiative was sparked by a tragic trench collapse incident in 2019, which motivated Perry to take action and form the task force to prevent similar accidents. The group promotes trench safety through campaigns like "Think Inside the Box" and collaborates with various partners to spread awareness and improve…

People in this episode

Guest: Perry Silvey

Topics covered

• construction safety
• trenching safety
• career transition
• mentorship
• safety advocacy

Keywords

• safety manager
• excavation safety
• construction industry
• safety practices
• TEST initiative

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BT Construction, Trenching and Excavation Safety Task Force, Construction Safety Round Table, National Utility Contractors Association

Places: Colorado

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