Live Demos
Safety training will never be the same.
Most safety training is boring. To provide engaging, memorable, and impactful safety training, Live Safety Demos give workers the experience of an injury without actual harm. The demos incorporate hyper-realistic human body parts, physical simulations of tools and equipment, and high-speed videography.
Our Team
We are the world’s leading experts in Energy-Based Safety (EBS). Together, we combine decades of industry experience with the most advanced scientific research to focus on one goal: preventing Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs). Our work bridges the gap between academic rigor and practical application, helping organizations implement proven methods that make high-risk work safer.
Dr. Matt Hallowell
President and CEO
Matt has dedicated his career to the mission of eliminating Serious Injuries and Fatalities through science. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Construction Safety Research Alliance and a Chaired Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. Matt is the author of the international bestselling book “Energy-Based Safety” and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal papers that translate safety science into practical, field-ready methods. His work is grounded in firsthand experience as a construction laborer and project engineer. For Safety Function, Matt leads strategy, oversees the translation of new research into practice, secures strategic partnerships, and delivers high‑profile keynote addresses and technical advising.
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Brad MacLean
Master Trainer and Advisor
Brad is a senior safety executive specializing in Energy-Based Safety and Serious injury and fatality prevention. He has more than 35 years of experience leading safety in heavy construction and operations across both owner and contractor organizations. Brad serves as Technical Advisor to the Oil and Gas SIF Prevention Forum and previously chaired the INGAA Foundation’s Health & Safety Committee. He is also Advisory Board Chair Emeritus of the Construction Safety Research Alliance and Executive Director of the Safety Leadership Institute. For Safety Function, Brad provides strategic and tactical advising to organizational leaders and safety teams to implement energy-based safety and delivers high‑impact presentations and training across the full curriculum.
Dr. Elif Erkal
Trainer and Technical Advisor
Elif is the Associate Director for Research and Outreach at the Construction Safety Research Alliance, where she supports global industry partners in advancing Energy-Based Safety. She played a foundational role in the development and implementation of High-Energy Control Assessments, contributing to metric design, field data collection, training and calibration, rulebook development, and analytical evaluation. Elif specializes in safety data architecture, analysis, and systems support, helping organizations turn complex data into practical decisions and sustained performance improvement. Her experience in construction management and collaboration with organizations including EEI and the INGAA Foundation give her a strong perspective on SIF prevention and energy-based hazard management. For Safety Function, Elif supports technical advising for EEI, leads data analytics initiatives, and provides education and advising for companies interested in Energy-Based Safety.
Dr. Arnaldo Bayona
Training Specialist
Arnaldo is a construction safety researcher with the Construction Safety Research Alliance and faculty at Central Washington University. His work has advanced SIF definition and classification, high-energy control assessment, and pre-job quality evaluation, providing empirical evidence that Energy-Based Safety reduces serious injuries over time. Arnaldo’s research is grounded in field experience across North America, where he has trained front-line workers to improve the control of hazardous energy. For Safety Function, Arnaldo delivers foundational Energy‑Based Safety presentations to frontline field audiences and safety professionals in both English and Spanish.
Dr. Antoine Tixier
Digital Tools Creator
Antoine leads the development and implementation of digital tools that support Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) prevention initiatives. He designed and maintains the system that powers the Safety Classification and Learning (SCL) initiative, supporting participating organizations and coordinating the collection of data used to advance shared learning across industry. Antoine specializes in artificial intelligence and natural language processing and previously served as a researcher at École Polytechnique in Paris, where he led work on large-scale industrial AI projects supported by the French government’s innovation fund. He completed his doctoral work at the University of Colorado Boulder and received multiple awards for excellence in research and teaching.
Ayleen Perez
Client Relations and Administrative Support
Ayleen is an operations and organizational systems specialist with two decades of experience supporting high-performing teams and complex initiatives. Driven by intellectual curiosity and a strong attention to detail, she specializes in organizational design, process improvement, and operational coordination that enable organizations to thrive. She is the Operations Manager for the Construction Safety Research Alliance. For Safety Function, Ayleen oversees organizational operations and client relationships.
Contact Us
Please direct inquiries to our team coordinator at:
Prof. Matt Morris
Executive Vice President and COO
Matt is an award-winning Teaching Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and previously taught at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He is a registered Professional Engineer and a key contributor to CSRA research focused on advancing Energy-Based Safety. Before academia, Matt led more than 160 construction projects as a civil engineer officer in the U.S. Air Force and a project manager with a large general contractor, bringing robust field perspective to his work in safety education and innovation. For Safety Function, Matt runs operations, finance and accounting, leads the virtual course program, and delivers high-profile presentations and keynote addresses.
Dr. Sid Bhandari
Master Trainer and Advisor
Sid is the Director of Research at the Construction Safety Research Alliance and Research Faculty at the University of Colorado Boulder. He leads the CSRA’s research mission to eliminate Serious Injuries and Fatalities and is a foremost expert in energy-based safety. Sid is an award-winning instructor with more than a decade of experience training construction workers and has been recognized with the National Safety Council’s Rising Star of Safety Award and ELECTRI International’s Early Career Award. For Safety Function, Sid delivers training and presentations across all energy-based safety topics for every level of an organization and provides insight into future research discoveries based on his pivotal role at the CSRA.
Luke Bowley
Trainer and Technical Advisor
Luke brings over a decade of experience in the electric utility sector, progressing from a meter reader to a Journeyman Lineworker. His quest for more effective safety programs led him to transition into the safety department, where he found his calling. Luke joined the CSRA full-time, dedicated to translating research findings into practical solutions for frontline workers. His approach to training is deeply influenced by his time as a trainer and small unit leader in the Marine Corps, equipping him with a unique perspective and a genuine passion for SIF prevention. For Safety Function, Luke delivers foundational Energy-Based Safety presentations to frontline and professional audiences, leveraging his own implementation experience and his deep connection with field crews to make the concepts real and actionable.
Dr. Steve Ayer
Training Specialist
Steve is a tenured Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and an award-winning educator in construction safety and management. He teaches the principles of Energy-Based Safety and researches how emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality can strengthen safety learning and improve the control of hazardous energy. Steve brings practical experience from engineering and construction management roles, combining innovation with real-world application to prevent Serious Injuries and Fatalities. For Safety Function, Steve delivers foundational Energy‑Based Safety presentations to frontline field audiences and safety professionals, leveraging his exceptional communication skills to connect with diverse audiences and translate complex ideas into practical action.
Kai Jin
Data Analyst
Kai is a Data Analyst with six years of experience applying data analytics to improve decision-making across the utility, construction, and civil engineering industries. He currently works as a Business Analyst, developing dashboards and data pipelines that help organizations transform complex operational data into actionable insights. Kai is passionate about using analytics to tell meaningful stories. His work focuses on High-Energy Control Assessments (HECA), where he applies his knowledge of energy hazards to help organizations better understand and manage risks, contributing to safer work. For Safety Function, Kai maintains dashboards that are being used to inform decision-making within large industry associations such as the Edison Electric Institute (EEI)
Martha Gavelan
Operations and Accounting Support
Martha is a business operations and client support professional with a strong background in project coordination, communication, and relationship management. She has exceptional attention to detail, functional thinking, and an ability to manage complex workflows with clarity and precision. For Safety Function, Martha manages accounts receivable, contract administration and administrative coordination across all services and products.
