This April, Danella gathered the safety professionals for the 2026 Safety Manager Boot Camp — a two-day intensive designed to sharpen skills, share knowledge, and strengthen the foundation of Danella’s safety culture. Hosted by Viking Utilities at the DoubleTree in West Palm Beach, Florida, the event brought together 17 attendees representing divisions from across the organization.
The boot camp was led by Jim Danella alongside the Risk and Safety leadership team, including Kevin Coe, Taylor Murray, and Joseph Morris. Their collaborative approach set the tone for two days of focused, meaningful learning.
Day One: Building the Foundation
The first day opened with a review of Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) — a framework that examines how human factors and organizational systems interact to influence safety outcomes. From there, the group dove into Learning Teams: what they are, how to structure them, and how to run them effectively. Participants didn’t just hear about the concept — they experienced it firsthand through a live exercise. The afternoon turned to Visual Literacy and Hazard Recognition, where attendees worked through practical exercises to improve their ability to identify hazards in the field.
Day Two: Taking It to the Field
Day two kicked off at the Viking Lantana Yard, where the group put the previous day’s learning to work with live crews in the field. Attendees conducted real-world observations applying the previous day’s skills. This field component was a highlight of the boot camp, offering a direct line between classroom concepts and on-the-ground application.
The afternoon sessions covered several important operational topics. Incident Investigation best practices were presented, with an emphasis on proper documentation and photo evidence. The group also reviewed the updated Safety Monthly Meeting Tracker. Additional sessions introduced the New Work Risk Review process, clarifying when to request a review and what information is needed. The day concluded with a discussion on the Hard Hats to Helmets transition, including a review of the divisional rollout schedule as Danella moves toward modern head protection across its workforce.
What Comes Next
As Mr. Danella reminded those in attendance, the real question is: what do we do once we walk out the door? The work doesn’t end at the boot camp — it starts there. The safety managers who attended are now charged with bringing these skills, frameworks, and a renewed commitment to safety back to their teams, their crews, and their divisions across the Danella family.