My Journey into Safety
I was recently asked how I got into safety by someone looking to enter the industry and I had to confess it probably wasn't the most conventional method but an interesting story none the less. Here it is.
I had quite a comical introduction to safety actually… It was 6 months into my first full time job, employed as a graduate, sitting next to the State Manager in a new safety induction. I remember, in all seriousness, asking him what a “mobile plant” was... I had a visual of a potted palm tree on wheels. He laughed and thought I was joking then asked me if I was interested in safety? Pondering his question, I decided it would probably be quite an enjoyable challenge to firstly, learn about an area I wasn’t familiar with, and the second challenge would be in convincing others to take an interest in safety because it is so important.
My first experiences in safety were more positive than I expected. I had prepared myself for resistance to safety initiatives and figured most of the predominately male employees would just dismiss me as a blonde, female, in skirt and heels, thinking I knew nothing! I think my background with a Public Relations, Journalism and Marketing degree certainly helped. I used these skills to help develop relationships with the guys, I learnt their names, I asked them questions and asked for input and was able to develop such good relations with them, they helped me create an amazing safety culture in the workplace… mostly just by involving them in the process, respecting their ideas and avoiding that stereotypical ‘dictator’ safety officer approach!
Seeing the result of a new safety system being implemented grow into such a safe and positive work environment gave me a sense of pride, knowing it is rare to easily gain compliance with a broad range of generations. Despite some of the new young employees who were “too cool” to wear gloves and others who have “been doing it for 25 years,” making an effort to talk to them and present ideas in a way that was relevant had made all the difference.
Now I provide training to organisations and individuals helping them develop safety cultures at workplaces by engaging employees.
Previously focusing on the mining industry, with so many employees and so many different high risk processes happening, ensuring a safe workplace was critical.
Lately I’ve been passing on the knowledge gained in the mining industry to the construction industry. There are so many dimensions to construction it has been keeping me busy for years and I am always learning something new.