David Centomo – Director, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) has over 11 years of experience in this field, backed by a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a master’s degree in ergonomics. He also holds the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation. A member of the CIMA+ team since 2016, David has been instrumental in advancing HSE practices through cross-functional projects with a significant organizational impact.
In this interview, discover his vision of HSE leadership, his perspective on current challenges, and the drivers he identifies for building safer, more inclusive and efficient workplaces.
Why did you choose engineering? What do you like about it?
My career in the engineering sector began unexpectedly when I joined the CIMA+ team. Over the past nine years, I have had the opportunity to work with enthusiastic professionals who are driven by curiosity and innovation and always seeking practical solutions. Their thoroughness, creativity and commitment towards continuous improvement resonate deeply with my own approach to occupational health and safety. Working in an environment where these values are omnipresent fuels my motivation every day and drives me to excel in my practice.
Your career path has led you to make health, safety and the environment (HSE) a priority. What made you aware of this issue?
Contributing to people’s wellbeing has always been at the heart of my aspirations, as evidenced by my academic background in kinesiology and ergonomics. Occupational health and safety is a natural extension of this, placing people at the centre of priorities—not only by protecting their physical integrity, but also by ensuring their psychological wellbeing. What motivates me most is the belief that my role has a real and meaningful impact on their daily lives by helping to create safer, healthier and more sustainable workplaces.
In your opinion, how is the HSE dimension essential to achieving an organization’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives?
For me, a company’s performance is measured not only by its ability to create value, but also by its contribution to a society’s growth. This includes having a positive impact on the health and safety of our employees, subcontractors, business partners and the public. Putting people at the centre of the decision-making process is one of the key elements in achieving our ESG objectives.
How can a meticulous HSE approach become a driver of innovation and performance for CIMA+ projects?
By identifying and analyzing hazards at the earliest stages of a project, we can reduce risks exponentially. Proactively integrating health and safety principles from the design phase onwards enables us to transform work environments by eliminating hazards at source with innovative and tailored solutions. This approach is not limited to incident prevention; it also translates into significant improvements in operational efficiency and overall performance for both our clients and our business partners. It is a win-win strategy that combines safety, innovation and added value.
What do you consider to be the main challenges in terms of HSE in engineering and construction today? And how can CIMA+ adapt in a proactive and sustainable way?
In my opinion, one of the most pressing challenges in HSE today is mental health in the workplace. Although attitudes are changing, this topic is still surrounded by many taboos, which makes it difficult to address. To respond effectively, it is essential to adopt a structured approach focused on identifying, analyzing and controlling psychosocial risks. By integrating these dimensions into our practices, we can not only promote a healthy work environment but also support the full development of our teams. Focusing on the overall wellbeing of employees means investing in a resilient, inclusive and forward-looking organizational culture.