How can stronger contractor partnerships help prevent serious injuries and fatalities?

In this episode of Beyond Prequalification, David Tibbetts sits down with Vic D’Amato of the National Safety Council to discuss how owners, contractors, and safety leaders can move beyond checkbox prequalification and build more effective partnerships around high-risk work.

Vic shares lessons from nearly four decades in EHS, including why contractor risk cannot simply be transferred, how lower-tier subcontractors can introduce hidden exposure, and why lagging indicators like TRIR and EMR only tell part of the story. David and Vic also explore how SIF prevention requires better planning, stronger field monitoring, direct controls for high-energy hazards, and a culture that empowers workers to stop work when conditions change.

Whether you’re an owner, general contractor, safety leader, or trade partner, this episode offers practical guidance on using prequalification insights, humble inquiry, and shared learning to strengthen contractor relationships and prevent serious incidents before they happen.

To learn more about the National Safety Council, visit nsc.org.