Where Safety Meets Respect: Built on Accountability
For Greg Lear, safety isn’t about following rules, it’s about respect. “Being a renegade means refusing to stay quiet when something is wrong, especially in the construction world, where safety is not optional, it is everything,” he says. “It is about calling out shortcuts, standing tall when pressure says ‘just get it done,’ and putting people over profit every single time.”
Coming from the highly regulated petroleum industry, Greg noticed something different about RNGD’s safety culture immediately. “In petroleum, safety can sometimes feel like checking boxes to meet standards. At RNGD, it is built into the way people think, communicate, and lead on site. It is less about rigid protocols and more about real time awareness, trust, and empowerment.”
That empowerment isn’t just talk. Greg recalls a specific morning during a steel lift when high winds changed the conditions. “Even though the lift plan had been approved, I made the call to stop and reassess. We waited until conditions stabilized, adjusted our tag lines and repositioned the crew before proceeding.” The response? Complete support from the team and leadership.
“Everyone is expected to speak up, stop work, and make the call when something feels off. No red tape, no hesitation,” Greg explains. “That ownership makes the safety culture here not only feel different, but more effective.”
At RNGD, Greg has found that safety leadership means being “proactive, responsive and grounded in real-time decision making.” For him, being a renegade in safety means leading loud, acting bold, and making sure everyone goes home in one piece. “It is not rebellion,” he says. “It is respect.”
Originally featured in Biz New Orleans, this story dives deeper into the people and mindset shaping how we build. To read the full article visit Biz New Orleans.
