Safety is a process, not an outcome to be achieved. Safety is doing the job the right way, safely.
Tracy Lawson is a leader and innovator in the ever-changing field of Occupational Safety and Health. Working for the last 30-years in the male-dominated construction industry, she is a sought-after subject matter expert for her field-experience and technical expertise.
In December 2008, Tracy started Lawson & Associates, Inc., determined to share all that she had learned while being the Safety Director for her family’s construction company, Corporate Vice President of Safety at Dick Pacific, and part-Owner of an insurance agency. As President and founder of Lawson & Associates, Tracy manages the largest OSH support services firm in the State of Hawai‘i, while also serving as a role model for other women interested in her industry. Her impact and safety leadership can be seen across the state, having mentored and trained thousands of safety professionals, business leaders, and workers.
Recently, Pacific Edge awarded Tracy with its Business Woman of the Year Award, which she described as “a tremendous honor,” that “gave her team a platform to share their vision and values.” Tracy noted that her team “looks forward to the next ten years of learning, building, and making a positive impact on our community and industry.”
Today, the Lawson & Associates, Inc. team is 28 strong and growing, working with construction, general industry, and film clients. Their team of safety management professionals focuses on one thing—business improvement through effective Safety Management Systems (SMS). Safety isn’t just about following the rules; it’s about doing the job the right way the first time.
Tracy knows firsthand the positive impact safety can have on businesses, and she can often be heard repeating her philosophy of success: “By integrating safety into an organization’s core operational elements, your safety culture can pivot from being something that is often an unwanted but obligatory business operation into a game-changing tool—helping operations be effective, smart, and profitable.”
In 2020, Tracy and Chief Operating Officer Nalani Jenkins took a bold step by opening the Safety Intelligence Institute. Located in Kapalama, this 2,400 square foot, state-of-the-art training facility was built to create a space where the Safety Intelligence BluePrint could be shared with anyone who would listen.
“Not all safety training is equal,” says Tracy. “We are Board Certified Instructional Trainers and virtual speakers. We have worked hard to provide classes that workers can relate to and convert to better performance in the field.” Tracy and her team offer free Safety Leadership courses and are recognized for their engaging, high-quality, and local technical safety training for businesses.
2020 has been a challenging year for Lawson & Associates, Inc.; however, Nalani Jenkins notes that “Our key to surviving and thriving is to focus on the ‘why’ behind what we do. Hawai’i’s workers and businesses are our ‘why.’ We want everyone to be safe and their businesses to prosper.”
Continually innovating and finding ways to go from good to great, Tracy and her team are already leveling up. They are continually expanding their capacity to create their desired results through employee involvement, collaboration, and accountability. They have also already begun implementing a new operating system for 2021, which Tracy believes is an essential step to helping her company and clients grow.
