Safety Ambassador Brendon Clark
Background information
I am a Safety & Environment Officer and Training Co-ordinator for Forestry Tasmania (Mersey District). I have been performing this role for the past 18 months after having spent approx. 20 years in the civil, commercial and residential construction industry. I am trained/training in OHS; Workplace Assessment; Quality, Environmental and Safety System Auditing; and have a particular interest in streamlining and improving safety management systems.
I am continually searching for ways to keep the safety message fresh, vibrant and at the forefront of employees’ minds. Installing in personnel a culture or mind-set where safety is the first thought when required to perform a task, either at work or at home, is one of my priority goals.
Why workplace safety is important to me
Having lost a brother to a workplace accident, who was tragically killed in 1992, I lack little motivation in realising the importance of workplace safety.
If I can contribute toward alleviating one family from the pain and trauma associated with a workplace fatality that our family experienced, that would be reward enough in itself.
My plans for national Safe Work Australia Week
Internally (at Forestry Tasmania) we shall be running safety workshops/sessions throughout the week on a variety of forestry task-specific topics. A major morning tea shall be held one morning where field based and operational staff shall join administration and office based personnel in acknowledging the importance of SWAW.
In the past we have tried to keep the morning tea somewhat light-hearted and humorous just to put a different twist on safety. Whilst workplace safety is an extremely serious topic, looking at some funny instances (with a safety theme) seems to lighten the mood, relax people and make the gathering less formal.
Externally, I shall be attending as many of the various SWAW related seminars/presentations scheduled for our area as possible. Some events already earmarked for attendance include sessions on eye safety; sun protection for outdoor workers; eating well at work; and the integration of new workers into the workplace.
Why I accepted the role as a national Safe Work Australia Week Safety Ambassador
Because I aim to perform whatever role is necessary to convey the safety in the workplace message. I have the motivation and just need the avenue/medium to be able to communicate the importance of SWAW and general workplace safety.
Page last updated: 18/10/2009