Making Safety Personal: Jeremy Gibbs

My son is turning 14 and recently told me he wants to start working and earning his own money. This year, he began mowing and weed eating around our farm.

Earlier this week, after a long Monday at work, I came home Tuesday evening and he met me at the door, ready to get started. I took him out on the porch and walked him through everything he needed to know before weed eating the property. I pointed out every obstacle—holes, creek banks, bee nests, snakes, ticks—and reminded him to watch his footing near water. I even told him to stop every hour to drink a bottle of water, and I asked his mom to help make sure he did.

Then we went inside, and I fitted him with the right safety glasses and PPE. It wasn’t until I was in the shower later that night that it hit me: I had just done a full JTSA (Job Task Safety Analysis) with my own son—at home. I even assigned my wife as the hydration monitor.

That moment made me realize something powerful. I’ve never worked anywhere that not only prioritizes my safety, health, and well-being, but also equips me to extend that same care to my family. The training and culture at SUI aren’t just changing how I work, they’re changing how I live. They help me keep my family safe and teach them how to protect themselves too.

And without even thinking about it, we did a post-job review that evening. I asked him how it went, if anything unexpected happened. He said everything went smoothly—he finished the job safely and without incident.

I’m incredibly grateful for the time and effort SUI invests in each of us. It’s not just about safety at work—it’s about creating a mindset that follows us home. When we truly buy in, safety becomes second nature. It becomes part of who we are—at work, at play, and at home.

This story is a powerful reminder that the capacity model is more than a workplace tool—it’s a way of life.

Thank you, Jeremy, for sharing this meaningful experience.

To learn more about The Capacity Model, visit learning.thecapacitymodel.com