Built From the Field.
StartSafe was built on years of hands-on experience in construction and workplace safety. We’ve seen what good safety looks like in practice, where it breaks down, and what it takes to make it work in the real world. That experience shapes how we train, how we support our clients, and how we approach every safety problem: understand the risk, give people clear answers, and deal with what needs attention.
It Started With a Simple Question.
I didn’t know I wanted a career in health and safety.
I was working in an administrative role when a mentor gave me an opportunity to become more involved in safety. What caught my attention wasn’t the paperwork or the procedures. It was the problems.
I wanted to know why.
Why did someone get hurt? Why was the job being done differently than it was written? Why wasn’t the system working? And most importantly, what could we change so it didn’t happen again?
Every answer seemed to lead to another question. Before long, that curiosity had taken me from the office into the field, talking with workers, watching how jobs were actually being done and learning that the best answers rarely come from behind a desk.
I found a career that rewarded something I had always done naturally: ask questions until I understood what was really going on.
That became the foundation for how I approach safety. Understand the work. Listen to the people doing it. Find the real problem. Then do something about it.
Eventually, that approach became StartSafe.
— Kelly Widdop, Founder & Owner
Curiosity Became a Career.
Respect isn’t given. You earn it by showing up, knowing your work, and treating people right.
What started with a simple question became a career spanning more than 15 years in construction health and safety.
Since 2009, Kelly has built her reputation by doing what came naturally from the beginning: asking questions, getting involved and refusing to settle for an answer until she understands what is really happening.
That approach earned her trust in an industry where trust isn't given easily. She's as comfortable talking with a worker on-site as she is sitting across the table from senior leadership, because the goal never changes: understand the problem, protect the people and find a way forward that actually works.
Kelly has also built her career in an industry where women have historically had to work harder to be heard. Today, she's proud not only of the place she has earned for herself, but of the women coming up behind her in construction, the trades and health and safety.
StartSafe may have begun with Kelly asking why. What she built from that question is now much bigger than one person.
Your Safety is Our Priority.
The people behind StartSafe.
Our team supports safety training, coordination, customer communication, and workplace safety work across the business.
Kelly Widdop
Founder & Owner
Bio
Kelly built her career in safety from the ground up, and over more than 20 years she has earned the respect of some of the toughest people in construction. She works hard, listens closely and treats every worker with respect. She’s often the first on-site and the last to leave, not because anyone asks her to be, but because she cares deeply about the people counting on her. Kelly knows safety inside and out, but she never forgets who it’s for.
Andrew Van Vlack
Health & Safety Coordinator / Trainer
Bio
Andrew has an energy that’s hard to miss. He genuinely loves safety, loves the work and loves sharing what he knows with others. That enthusiasm comes through whether he’s on a jobsite or standing in front of a class. Behind it is a remarkable depth of knowledge around safe work practices and years of practical experience. Andrew has a way of making safety interesting, approachable and relevant to both new workers and seasoned crews.
Lyndia Cooper
Health & Safety Coordinator / Trainer
Bio
Lyndia is firm, fair and never afraid to speak up when something isn’t right. Years of experience have given her a sharp eye for hazards and the confidence to act quickly when a safer plan is needed. In the classroom, she brings that same direct approach while getting people involved in the conversation. Lyndia doesn’t just want workers to hear the material. She wants them asking questions, sharing experiences and understanding why it matters.
Jason Gordon
Health & Safety Coordinator
Bio
Jason brings a steady, thoughtful presence to the jobsite. His background in the trades gives him an immediate understanding of the work and the people doing it. He’s organized, detail-oriented and never afraid to ask another question if it means getting something right. Jason genuinely cares about the people around him, and that shows in the way he works. He takes the time to understand what’s happening, spot what others might miss and make sure nothing important gets overlooked.
Lauren Austin
Health & Safety Coordinator
Bio
Calm under pressure and naturally organized, Lauren approaches safety with a steady eye for detail. Her background as a paramedic taught her how to assess situations carefully, communicate clearly and stay composed when it matters most. Although she’s newer to construction safety, she’s adapted quickly and has already proven herself to be reliable, thorough and eager to learn. She asks questions, follows through and makes sure the work gets done properly.
Matt Taylor
Operations & Marketing Manager
Bio
Matt plays a big part in keeping StartSafe organized, moving and growing. He leads our marketing, coordinates training and supports the day-to-day operations of the business. He’s constantly looking for better ways to do things, building systems that save time, keep the team organized and make work easier for everyone. Matt is always thinking ahead, bringing new ideas to the table and finding practical ways to help StartSafe improve.
We understand construction because we work in it.
High-rise construction moves quickly. Conditions change, multiple trades work side-by-side, responsibilities overlap and schedules create pressure. Contractors and subcontractors bring different workers, systems, and expectations to the same project. Safety must work in that environment.
That means understanding more than what a procedure says. We need to understand how the work is being done, how trades are working around one another, where responsibilities overlap and whether the controls in place are working the way they're supposed to.
Sometimes the answer is a better procedure. Sometimes it's better planning, clearer communication or stronger supervision. And sometimes you need to get out there, talk to the people doing the work and understand what's getting in the way.
Stronger Due Diligence
Clear expectations, meaningful inspections, effective follow-up and documentation that shows hazards aren't simply being identified they're being addressed.
Better Supervision & Coordination
Supervisors, contractors and trades understand their responsibilities, communicate expectations clearly and know when action is needed as conditions change.
More Control Over Risk
The focus stays on the hazards that matter most. We help make sure critical controls are understood, in place and working not just written into a procedure.
A Stronger Safety Culture
Workers understand what's expected, feel comfortable asking questions and raising concerns, and have a voice in making the work safer. Training and documentation support the work instead of becoming exercises in simply checking a box.
Built with experience. Leading by example.
We are a proudly woman-owned company! Kelly built her career in an industry where women have historically been underrepresented. She earned her place by knowing the work, asking questions, speaking up when it mattered, treating people fairly and earning trust over time.
Those experiences shaped the way StartSafe was built. We’re grounded in respect, strong relationships and the belief that credibility is earned through the work you do and the way you treat people. Today, we're proud to see more women building careers and taking on leadership roles across construction, skilled trades, supervision, health and safety and industry leadership.
We believe strong workplaces benefit from different experiences, perspectives and people having a voice. Construction is changing. We're proud to be part of that change.
Safety Always Starts With a Conversation
Whether you're training your team, strengthening your safety program or dealing with a challenge in the field, tell us what's going on. We'll listen, ask questions, and work with you to find a solution that works.