What's your job about?
Currently working within the Injury Management department at MRL. I’m responsible for working with employees that have sustained an injury at work or developed an injury/illness whilst away from work. From this, our team is responsible for implementing a safe and efficient plan for the employee to return to work. Each day within this role is different and no two employees are the same, which makes every day an exciting challenge. The injury management team is responsible for liaising across various levels of the business from site personnel to medical practitioners, and through to insurance companies in certain instances. This diversity allows for exposure to areas of the business that most employees would never normally experience.
What's your background?
I grew up In Scotland with a short stint in South Africa when I was very young. My family & I moved to Perth when I was 12 and haven’t looked back since. I’ve been very fortunate to travel extensively both before and after attending university. Most notable was a 4-month road trip across America with my now wife, getting to experience multiple states meet heaps of people and all whilst living in a bright green & pink van was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I was introduced to MRL through a family member who was already within the business. Before coming on board as a graduate I had been working as a corporate relations manager, and this was a change in career that I had been looking for since completing my qualifications. Up until the end of April, I was a Graduate Health & Safety Advisor, however, I have recently been offered a full-time Safety Advisor role within MRL which commences in mid-April. I look forward to the challenge and the exciting opportunities that lay ahead within the business.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes, safety is a very diverse discipline that means people from many walks of life can succeed. If I had to pick one characteristic a safety professional should possess, this would be the ability to build a relationship with those around them. Having a personality that allows you to engage and understand a workforce whilst still being able to communicate safe work practices is paramount. Safety is one of those roles that require a balance between knowing technical safety information such as legislation, along with practical knowledge of the work being conducted around you. By doing this you will be able to align your business's needs with the requirements of the workers undertaking the work.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
I love being busy!
There is always something to do!
There are always people to talk to and engage with!
There is always something that can be improved!
Working with a huge variety of people from operators to operations managers means that you are constantly learning new things, whether it be how to drive a dozer or develop a scheduling plan.
What are the limitations of your job?
There are always negatives to any role as no role is perfect. For me, it’s working away from my young family. My kids and wife are the most important things in my life and being away from them on a FIFO roster is hard. In saying this, it’s about balance. Being on a family-friendly roster such as 8-6 means that when I’m back in Perth I get to spend quality time with them. Additionally, all of the sites that we operate on have amazing connectivity, so even when I’m away at work I can still keep in contact and feel connected at all times.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...