David A. Ward Sr. SPEAKS
With over 4 decades of experience in Occupational Safety & Health, Fire Protection, and Security, David has dedicated his career to protecting lives and building a humanistic approach to safety across government and private sectors. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he served in the Security Police Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England, and Offutt AFB, Nebraska, before embarking on a distinguished 23-year tenure with the Federal Bureau of Prisons as a National Safety Examiner.
David later served as a Federal Investigator with OSHA, specializing in the Surface Transportation Assistance Act and Federal Railroad Administration regulations. Following federal service, he founded Safety By Design Consulting Services LLC, focusing on making safety affordable for small and medium-sized companies and emphasizing Hispanic employee safety across various industries, and concluded his career as a safety consultant for Sentry Insurance/Parker Services.
The author of three influential books: “The Faces of Safety” and “Coloring Your Way to Safety” at Home, School, and Play, and “The Humanistic Side of Safety.” David blends personal stories with practical guidance, inspiring leaders to advocate for proactive safety strategies and to make safety a core value by investing in employee safety and their families' futures.
I also provide four workshops for executives, supervisors, and employees as noted below:
Executive Accountability
Supervisor Accountability
Hazard Recognition
Emergency Planning
“Safety is not just about compliance - it’s investing in the lives of your employees,” says David A Ward Sr. “I look forward to sharing actionable insights that help executives weave safety into every strategic decision.” lives.
David A. Ward Sr. SPEAKS
Dyer, Indiana
Self Employed
Indiana
Sentry Insurance
DYER, IN, Indiana
Provided comprehensive safety consulting services across diverse industrial environments, including manufacturing, automotive, warehousing, machine operations, and retail. Leveraged extensive field experience and analytical expertise to strengthen safety culture, reduce risk, and lower workers’ compensation costs.
Key Responsibilities & Achievements:
Loss Analysis & Risk Reduction
Conducted detailed reviews of loss data and incident trends to identify root causes and determine targeted safety program requirements.
Developed strategic recommendations that directly contributed to reducing workplace injuries and controlling workers’ compensation expenses.
Safety Program Planning & Execution
Designed, planned, and executed full‑scope safety consulting operations tailored to each facility’s unique hazards and operational demands.
Collaborated with leadership teams to align safety initiatives with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
Audits, Assessments & Technical Guidance
Performed comprehensive safety audits and hazard assessments across multiple industries.
Delivered expert technical guidance to management and frontline personnel, ensuring corrective actions were practical, sustainable, and compliant.
Training & Workforce Development
Developed and delivered specialized safety training programs to enhance employee competency and readiness.
Provided OSHA Outreach Training for General Industry, ensuring workers and supervisors understood regulatory requirements and best practices.
Site‑Specific Safety Program Development
Created and implemented customized safety programs, including:
Job Hazard/PE Assessments
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
Confined Space Entry
Respiratory Protection
Machine Guarding
Electrical Safety
Ladder Safety
Ergonomics
Reviewed existing written programs and provided expert recommendations to strengthen compliance and operational effectiveness.
Specialized Competencies
Recognized as a Fall Protection Competent Person, providing advanced oversight and guidance for elevated work activities.
Safety By Design Consultant Services LLC
DYER, IN, Indiana
Senior Safety Leader – National & Global Operations
Strategic Safety Operations
Planned, coordinated, and executed nationwide and global safety consulting operations across diverse industries.
Conducted comprehensive safety audits, inspections, and compliance evaluations to identify hazards, reduce risk, and strengthen organizational safety culture.
Training & Workforce Development
Delivered General Industry and Construction safety training programs, ensuring regulatory compliance and workforce competency.
Initiated and conducted on‑site safety evaluations for manufacturing, fabrication, plastics, automotive, welding, warehousing, distribution centers, logistics, health care, food industry, railroad, and retail operations.
Provided AHA CPR/First Aid/AED training and OSHA‑required safety courses, utilizing bilingual instructors to reach diverse workforces.
Data‑Driven Risk Analysis & Program Development
Reviewed OSHA 300 logs to identify trends, root causes, and injury‑specific insights.
Authored detailed safety inspection reports with corrective actions, timelines, and follow‑up recommendations.
Updated and strengthened safety manuals and written programs to align with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
Developed Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans to ensure environmental compliance.
Transportation & Logistics Safety Programs
Designed and implemented safety programs for transportation and logistics companies, identifying operational hazards and DOT compliance violations.
Provided strategic guidance to reduce incidents, improve fleet safety, and enhance regulatory readiness.
Leadership & Team Development
Managed a team of more than 22 safety consultants nationwide.
Built and developed a high‑performing team with expertise in Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Compliance, Construction Safety, Process Safety Management, Fire Prevention, and OSHA Outreach Training (General Industry and Construction).
Fostered a culture of continuous improvement, professional development, and technical excellence.
Subject Matter Expertise & Specialized Reviews
Recognized as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Safety, Discrimination, and Food Service operations.
Conducted comprehensive reviews of safety, discrimination, and foodservice practices in state, local, and privatized correctional facilities, ensuring compliance, fairness, and operational integrity.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Federal Investigator
Illinois
Whistleblower Investigations & Federal Statute Enforcement
Executed complex investigations under the Whistleblower Protection Program, ensuring compliance with 21 federal statutes designed to protect employees from retaliation, discrimination, and wrongful termination.
Investigated allegations involving environmental safety and health violations, nuclear safety concerns, transportation and security issues, railroad safety, and corporate fraud.
Intake Screening & Case Development
Conducted comprehensive intake screenings to evaluate jurisdiction, merit, and statutory coverage of complaints.
Assessed cases involving high‑risk industries and sensitive regulatory issues, ensuring timely and accurate case initiation.
Stakeholder Engagement & Evidence Collection
Built strong working relationships with safety professionals, legal counsel, medical personnel, and federal trade investigators to gather critical evidence.
Conducted structured interviews with complainants, witnesses, and management officials to establish timelines, verify facts, and determine credibility.
Managed all administrative and documentation requirements to maintain accurate, defensible case files.
Case Management & Reporting
Oversaw full lifecycle investigative case management, from intake through final disposition.
Prepared and submitted respondent and complainant notification letters, investigative findings, and final reports to the Area Director for review and approval.
Mediation & Settlement Negotiation
Facilitated negotiations between complainants, respondents, and legal representatives to resolve cases efficiently and equitably.
Achieved settlements that addressed statutory violations while promoting corrective actions and future compliance.
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Prisons
Illinois
National Safety Examiner
Federal Bureau of Prisons • 03/1984 – 05/2006
Reported to Various Wardens and BOP Directors
Institutional Safety Oversight & Emergency Response
Conducted comprehensive cell inspections, random searches, pat searches, and oversight of unit safety and sanitation programs to ensure compliance and operational integrity.
Responded to institutional emergencies, supporting incident stabilization and ensuring staff and inmate safety.
Monitored inmate movement and control systems to maintain secure and orderly operations.
Program Development & Federal-Level Safety Leadership
Developed, implemented, and facilitated Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) programs across the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Planned and executed in‑depth operational reviews to evaluate institutional readiness, compliance, and safety performance.
Organized and trained internal emergency response teams; collaborated with Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) to align institutional response strategies with community resources.
National Audits & Compliance Enforcement
Directed internal and external audits of all U.S. Federal Prisons and Contract Facilities to identify and correct violations related to safety, construction, fire prevention, sanitation, and policy compliance.
Provided high‑level technical expertise and consultation to safety managers, wardens, and executive leadership.
Occupational Safety Program Evaluation
Assessed the effectiveness of occupational safety programs including Sanitation, Lockout/Tagout, Respiratory Protection, Machine Guarding, Powerhouse Operations, Confined Space Entry, and Hazard Communication.
Conducted safety observations across diverse industrial operations within correctional facilities, including textile, sewing, cable manufacturing, furniture production, printing, power press operations, Humvee repair, powerhouse operations, carpentry, welding, plumbing, transportation/fleet management, and warehousing.
Fire Protection & Life Safety Compliance
Evaluated fire protection and life safety programs for compliance with OSHA, EPA, NFPA, NEC, and Life Safety Code requirements.
Identified deficiencies and provided corrective action guidance to ensure safe, compliant operations.
Cross‑Functional Audits & Joint Commission Alignment
Partnered with Food Service and Health Services inspection teams to conduct comprehensive audits addressing safety, healthcare, food safety, sanitation, and chemical control.
Developed safety and health programs to meet Joint Commission standards and participated in external Joint Commission accreditation reviews.
U.S. Air Force, Security Police
Indiana
Security Police Officer – United States Air Force
RAF Lakenheath, England & Offutt AFB, Nebraska
Nuclear Security & High‑Risk Asset Protection
Provided armed security for nuclear weapons storage sites and high‑value assets in accordance with USAF and NATO security directives.
Served as Squad Leader, supervising and directing a team of 15 Security Police Officers responsible for flightline and weapons‑area security operations.
Emergency Response & Tactical Operations
Participated in KLAXON exercises and other high‑intensity readiness drills to ensure rapid, coordinated response to security breaches and nuclear‑related emergencies.
Led Armed Response Team operations, conducting weapons‑storage site inspections and responding to all alarms and security incidents.
Flightline Security & Access Control
Conducted credential verification for all personnel accessing the flightline and responding aircraft, ensuring strict compliance with USAF access‑control procedures.
Maintained continuous surveillance and enforcement of restricted‑area protocols to protect aircraft, equipment, and mission‑critical operations.
Security Operations at Offutt AFB, Nebraska
Secured flightline operations and managed the Security Control Section, coordinating personnel movements, dispatch operations, and emergency communications.
Participated in recurring training exercises, weapons qualifications, and readiness drills to maintain peak operational capability.
Dyer, IN | August 2024
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Contractors Compas
September 2020
Our current generation is all about technology and moving quickly. The next generation will be forced to work in a construction industry that has more dangerous work conditions, due to the potential lack of skilled labor, with those skilled laborers working longer hours, where fatigue may set in. Currently, construction companies and manufacturing companies are finding it difficult to hire and/or attract new millennial employees. Millennials can be seen as very independent and difficult to manage, as they believe they can move from job to job if it’s not what they want. Millennials bring technology savvy with them, but I have heard complaints from some managers about their work ethic. I have several manufacturing clients that cannot keep millennials employed, as some move from job to job for just a few pennies more. Even in “normal” times training is very difficult to complete on a construction site. Now with COVID-19, that training has become even more difficult, as most companies will not allow you on their worksite unless you are an essential worker. In construction, training is hampered by language barriers. Being safe today has several steps before you’re allowed on anyone's property. Taking your temperature is first, filling out the COVID-19 questionnaire is second, and then having the appropriate PPE (mask, gloves, face shields), just to name a few. Keeping the hand sanitizer available and properly stored and located through the work area is important. I can’t say if there is a PPE “best practice,” since this is a new concept and everyone is trying to do all they can to protect their employees. Employees must be held accountable for properly wearing the required equipment. But it’s tough when employees don’t feel it’s important. I recently had a safety manager say, “What can I do, as they just won’t wear the mask? It's the law.” I advised her to make it personal. Tell her, “If you don’t want to protect yourself, you have that option. But my job is to protect you and everyone else on this worksite. If you can’t protect those around you, including your family, I have to. Not wearing your mask could cost you your job…is it worth it?” Construction sites bring up many challenges when it comes to safety. Now add to that the additional emphasis of COVID-19 into the mix, and you see how demanding protecting employees can be. Construction workers many times need to work close together, so social distancing guidelines are a challenge. Working with the same tools, ladders, and other equipment is another virus area they have to think about. The next generation of workers in the construction industry will face new technology. Technology that requires more training, since the equipment will be even more expensive. Employers are no longer looking for just a warm body, they are looking for individuals with certain skills and abilities, including a strong work ethic. Companies see the value in building a strong safety culture. Employees that are more engaged in safety activities create a safer work environment that makes the company more profitable. The employee then has a higher value of themselves and of the company, which increases productivity and a reduction in injuries. Safety Training Safety training may include but is not limited to the list below: • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Lockout/Tagout • Globally Harmonized Systems (GHS) • Fire Extinguisher • Machine Guarding • Hazard Recognition • Electrical Safety Work Practices • Confined Space Entry • Trenching • Powered Industrial Trucks (PIT) • Walking-Working Surfaces • Fall Protection • Ladder Safety • Emergency Plans • Respiratory Protection • Injury Reporting • Near Miss Training should be hands-on face to face and not just sitting in a room watching videos. The purpose of training is to ensure that the employee understands the expectations, and then you must explain the consequences for not following the requirements. Training should consist of some means of ensuring that the information provided is understood - either through testing, quizzes, or even better - practical evaluation. It is critical to make sure that all employees fully understand the emergency action plans, and that all plans have hands-on training. Knowing what to do in an emergency is lifesaving, but many companies don’t place enough emphasis on making sure all employees on all shifts are properly trained. Just the basic fire drill training is critical. I have completed emergency action plan training for several companies in which several supervisors had valid concerns when it came to conducting fire drills. They actually wanted to know if they were going to be held accountable if someone was injured or killed in an actual emergency. According to OSHA, training should be conducted in a language that they understand (Spanish, Polish, Chinese, etc), and it is mandatory. In construction there are many hazards, and if not properly trained to recognize these hazards, employees are exposed to fall hazards, electrical hazards, struck-by hazards and caught in between hazards. Safety training emphasizes the importance of recognizing safety hazards that employees could have the potential of being exposed to and how to correct those issues. Safety training is critical in reducing the potential risk of injury/death. Once the initial training is completed then they should receive more specific training from the department they will be assigned to. Training should be mandatory and it’s required by OSHA. In the construction industry, falls are in OHSA’s top 10 list of injuries. Employees are exposed to working at heights, and if not properly trained in the equipment necessary to protect them, the risks become enormous - not only for the employee but the employer. The focus of safety and health programs in construction is to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths, as well as the innocent suffering and financial adversity experienced by employees, their families, and employers. Working around heavy equipment and Powered Industrial Trucks (PIT) create another significant hazard. Employees need to be trained on how to become more aware of their surroundings. Training is a critical component for any company with the hazardous conditions identified in the construction field. It’s important to understand the hazards, conditions, and the environment as you work because they can change rapidly. The new generation is going to be faced with tremendous opportunities. And they must be ready to take on the challenges ahead. It’s up to everyone involved to make sure they are. About the Author David A. Ward Sr, Senior Safety Consultant for Sentry Insurance and former owner and CEO of Safety By Design Consultant Services, Federal Investigator, OSHA and National Safety Examiner, Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons and Security Police, USAF. My focus is to provide quality customer service with effective solutions to resolve your safety concerns, and reduce your loss of revenue, production, profits, accidents, injuries, exposure to workplace hazards, and fatalities. For questions about this article or additional Information, please contact David at david.ward@sentry.com, or dward@ sbdcs.com THE CONTRACTOR’S COMPASS SEP TEMBER 2020 2
Safety Council Bob Momany, COSS, COSM Executive Director Safety Council of Northwest Ohio 419-662-7777 — Safety Council Of Northwest Ohio 8015 Rinker Pointe Court Northwood, Ohio 43619 Phone #: (419) 662-7777 Fax #: (419) 662-8888 www.scnwo.org
May 2025
FACES OF SAFETY and Those Left Behind When Tragedy Strikes KEYNOTE SPEAKER Author DAVID S. WARD SR.
Safety Council Bob Momany, COSS, COSM Executive Director Safety Council of Northwest Ohio 419-662-7777 — 1772 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee, Ohio.
January 2025
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