22 | Winner ‘lights the health and safety spark’ Glen Sturgess of Naylor Love won recognition as a dedicated health and safety champion at Site Safe’s 2025 Health, Safety and Wellbeing Awards. Naylor Love T T Kim Newth REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Site manager Glen Sturgess of Naylor Love has won recognition as a dedicated health and safety champion at Site Safe’s 2025 Health, Safety and Wellbeing Awards. At the March awards’ event, Glen received the Coversure Safety Contribution Award in acknowledgement of his outstanding contribution to health and safety in construction. The judges’ comments were effusive. Glen was praised for his effective communication around site logistics – the safe movement of vehicles and personnel – as well as his leadership during Toolbox Talks. The judges noted that while health and safety is not in Glen’s job title, that focus is clear in everything he does and they described him as an individual who lights the health and safety spark in all around him. “I was very surprised to get this award – literally speechless,” says Glen, who began his career in construction 36 years ago as a building apprentice with Fletcher Construction. “It’s helped me understand that the way I look at health and safety is working. That’s huge for me after so many years in this industry. I’ve got other awards through Naylor Love, but to get something like this from Site Safe feels quite surreal and humbling, to be honest.” Since joining Naylor Love three years ago, Glen has worked above and beyond to ensure excellent site safety. “The goal is always to get people home at the end of every day with all their fingers and toes intact. I like to get out and see people onsite every day, and make sure they’re all right, even if all we do is exchange a thumbs up. I want people to know I’m there to help them and make sure they get home to their families every night.” The first project for Glen as a site manager with Naylor Love was a data centre project (AKL01) in North Auckland, acknowledged as an exemplar for its strong health and safety practices. That same standard of health and safety is now being carried forward to the next phase of data centre development, (AKL02). Glen says Naylor Love runs health and safety courses to target specific gaps in training for their subcontractors, with the focus very much on positive education. “Our messaging can range from ensuring people are wearing PPE, to safety procedures when doing highly complex crane lifts. With projects like data centres, we go through electrical safety procedures to make sure people don’t touch or hit the wrong thing. It’s all about giving them the training they need to thrive and succeed. We do a lot of planning on every project too, so everyone on-site knows exactly what’s going to be happening well in advance.” Glen says each fortnightly Toolbox Talk is concise and clear. For example, the first one may cover what hasn’t gone so well, along with workers’ feedback and suggestions. The next one will then focus on what’s been happening for Naylor Love around the country and include an invited speaker on a topic of interest. Meanwhile, Naylor Love’s Auckland team includes another up-and-coming safety star – health and safety cadet Fern Harper, who was a finalist for the 2025 Dominion Constructors Future Safety Leader Award. KEEP YOUR SITE SAFE. KEEP YOUR PROJECT MOVING. Secure your next project - visit redbadge.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=