At Integrity, safety isn’t just a priority—it’s a core value that guides everything we do. Whether it’s in the workplace, on the road, or even in our personal time, we believe in fostering a culture of safety. That’s why we recently completed an internal safety campaign, focused specifically on safe driving practices.
“At Integrity, our employees put over 2 million kilometres per year on our fleet of vehicles including long-haul and short-haul deliveries, mobilizing crews to building sites across Western Canada plus our sales activities. There are also all the hours spent behind a wheel commuting and in our personal lives. As a company, we recognize the critical importance of promoting safe driving habits,” explains Shanna Groeneveld, Chief Strategy Officer for Integrity Group. “We are committed to ensuring our drivers and employees return home safely every day.”
Key Focus Areas for Safe Driving
The Drive Safe campaign focused on six key areas: winter preparedness, wildlife awareness, speed, distracted and impaired driving, seat belt usage and vehicle maintenance. “These key areas are not limited to Integrity’s drivers,” explains Hilda Hoogstraten, Health and Safety Specialist at Integrity. “They are relevant to all of Integrity’s employees.”
We engaged all of our employees to gather their insights on driving safely. When asked how they prepare for winter driving, Kevin, Integrity’s IT manager shared “I always have an emergency pack in my vehicle.” Sam, one of Integrity’s short-haul drivers adds, “It’s important to keep extra distance between you and other vehicles, that will give you time to stop or change lanes without incident.”
Wildlife on the roads is a challenge year-round. “It doesn’t matter the time of year, I am always on the lookout for animals on the road,” explains Bruce, an Integrity long haul driver. “I avoid driving during peak animal movement hours, usually an hour before and after sunrise and sunset. As well, I use off-road lights for extra visibility at night.”
Watching your speed and avoiding speeders is always important. “I make a point of leaving earlier so I can take my time and drive within the speed limit,” explains Romano, a wood processor for Integrity Building Products. “Managing my speed is easier when I give myself time.”
As we know, the risks of distracted driving continue to plague our roads. “I’m on the road a lot, travelling to our customers’ sites, so avoiding distractions while driving is crucial,” explains Troy, an Integrity Post Structures sales representative. “I keep my phone out of reach and rely on hands-free tech for calls. Staying focused on the road is my top priority, so I always plan stops to handle anything that requires my attention.”
Regardless of the distance you drive, wearing your seatbelt is always important. “I commute to work, and wearing my seatbelt is a no-brainer,” explains JP, an Integrity designer. “It helps keep me safe, especially in winter when the roads can get slippery. Knowing I’m reducing the risk of injury gives me peace of mind every time I drive.”
To wrap up the campaign Scott Myer, Chief Operations Officer of Integrity Group, emphasized the importance of proper vehicle maintenance. “Part of driving safely is ensuring your vehicle is well maintained. Integrity invests a lot in our fleet of vehicles – good preventative maintenance keeps our drivers safe and minimizes downtime.”
Integrity’s Unwavering Commitment to Safety
At Integrity, we firmly believe that safety is not just a practice—it’s a core value that defines who we are. From our professional drivers to our building crews to every employee who commutes to work, we are all part of a shared responsibility to make the roads safer for ourselves and others. Our focus on key driving practices is another step in reinforcing our commitment to this core value.
