Strong governance is the foundation that enables KBL to operate with integrity, accountability, and long-term vision. Our approach ensures that every decision – from daily field operations to executive-level strategy – is aligned with our values, complies with applicable laws and regulations, and contributes to our long-term sustainability goals.
KBL maintains a robust internal governance framework supported by formal policies, delegated authorities, compliance systems, and structured operating processes. Oversight of ESG matters is integrated into our executive leadership team and reviewed regularly through internal performance tracking, safety audits, financial controls, strategic planning sessions, and project-level reporting. While we are a privately held company, we voluntarily align many of our governance practices with recognized standards for transparency, accountability, and stakeholder trust.
In 2025, KBL was recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, a milestone that reflects our commitment to operational excellence, strategic growth, continuous innovation, and sustainable performance. The designation also served as a catalyst for continued improvement, helping KBL formalize its three-year strategic plan, strengthen cross-functional alignment, and reinforce accountability across business units.
We prioritize ethical conduct in all areas of our operations. Our Code of Conduct, procurement policies, and third party contracting standards are designed to prevent conflicts of interest, ensure fair competition, and uphold human rights – including a strict prohibition on forced and child labour in our supply chain. In 2025, KBL continued refining internal systems, supplier expectations, and ESG reporting processes to support responsible growth and evolving stakeholder expectations.
KBL also continues to strengthen quality governance across the organization. Our quality management practices are aligned with ISO 9001 principles, including document control, traceability, defined roles and responsibilities, internal audits, non-conformance tracking, and corrective action processes. Looking ahead, KBL is working toward formal ISO 9001 certification in 2026, building on our existing project controls, QA/QC practices, and continuous improvement systems.
Good governance is about more than rules – it is about fostering a culture of responsibility. At KBL, this means ensuring that every employee understands their role in upholding our standards and that leadership is held to the same expectations. Our commitment to responsible governance enables us to grow with confidence, partner with integrity, and deliver environmental and social impact at scale.
KBL upholds safety as a non-negotiable priority, reflected in our field culture, operational procedures, leadership accountability, and focus on continuous improvement. In 2025, KBL improved key safety performance indicators year over year while continuing to work across complex, high-risk environments.
Our Total Recordable Injury Rate improved from 2.04 in 2024 to 1.53 in 2025, while our Near Miss Frequency Rate improved from 9.46 to 6.90. Our Motor Vehicle Incident Rate also improved slightly, moving from 1.26 in 2024 to 1.22 in 2025, and KBL maintained a Lost Time Incident Rate of 0. These results reflect stronger reporting discipline, improved corrective action follow-through, targeted training, and increased focus on proactive prevention.
KBL continued to track leading indicators such as safety observations, toolbox talks, field-level risk assessments, SiteDocs submissions, hazard identification, and employee participation in training. In 2025, employees completed 5,955.25 hours of health and safety training, and KBL recorded 53,593 proactive efforts, averaging 135 proactive efforts per employee. These proactive activities help identify risk earlier, support field-level decision-making, and strengthen KBL’s safety culture across all regions.
KBL rigorously tracks environmental releases and spills, no matter how small. In 2025, our internal compliance audits, spill response protocols, corrective action processes, and increased use of digital reporting tools supported rapid response and mitigation. All releases are investigated for root cause and used as learning opportunities across the organization.
KBL’s safety management approach is grounded in its internal responsibility system, which recognizes that every employee and contractor has a role in maintaining a safe work environment. The 2025 HSE Manual also emphasizes hazard identification, risk assessment, worker involvement, corrective actions, and continuous improvement as core elements of the Health and Safety Management System.
In 2025, KBL continued strengthening the systems that support resource planning, training, compliance, and field execution across the organization. Building on the rollout of WorkHub and SiteDocs, KBL expanded its use of digital platforms to improve real-time visibility into employee training, certifications, hazard assessments, safety documentation, and field-level compliance. These systems support consistent onboarding, supervisor oversight, and access to key reference materials across both office and remote project environments.
KBL also continued to formalize competency tracking and documentation. The 2025 HSE Manual reinforces that employees must be trained on the tasks they perform, verified as competent before working independently, and assessed through documented competency processes for critical or high-risk tasks. It also confirms that KBL retains competency documentation as evidence of training and readiness.
The company also strengthened contractor and carrier management in 2025. Contractors and carriers are required to meet prequalification requirements before working on behalf of KBL, including HSE review, insurance, workers’ compensation, good standing, and acknowledgement forms. Where exceptions are required, variance approvals must include added controls and be endorsed by HSE and operational leadership.
In 2025, KBL continued updating and reinforcing employee policies, safety expectations, and workplace standards through its Employee Handbook, HSE Manual, and digital training platforms. The 2025 HSE Manual is built on an Internal Responsibility System, recognizing that every employee and contractor has a role in maintaining a safe work environment.
KBL’s updated systems also reinforce expectations around safe work, documentation, training, and accountability. Workers are responsible for completing corporate orientation, attending safety meetings, reporting hazards and incidents, participating in required training, submitting required documentation, and maintaining current safety certifications. Supervisors are responsible for coaching workers on safety documentation, completing inspections, reviewing corrective actions, and ensuring employees are fit for duty and competent for assigned tasks.
In 2025, KBL continued strengthening data integrity, subcontractor compliance, and ESG reporting systems to support transparency and trust among clients, partners, employees, and Indigenous stakeholders. This included continued use of digital compliance platforms such as SiteDocs and WorkHub, which support real-time tracking of training, certifications, hazard assessments, and field-level safety compliance. The 2024 ESG report highlighted that these platforms improved training visibility, reduced paperwork, and enhanced supervisor oversight across remote and field based operations.
Trust & Accountability
Doing the right thing, every day.
Cybersecurity remains an essential part of responsible governance. In 2025, KBL continued to strengthen its IT infrastructure through upgraded firewalls, endpoint protection, encrypted email services, access controls, and mandatory cybersecurity training. These measures help protect the information of clients, employees, partners, and project stakeholders while supporting reliable and secure business operations.
KBL also continued regular vulnerability assessments and maintained multi-factor authentication for remote access to sensitive data and software platforms. These efforts support KBL’s broader goal of aligning with recognized information security standards, including IS0/IEC 27001.
KBL is constantly looking for opportunities to hear from, and work with forward thinking people and organizations. Reach out today!
