With over 41 years of experience under his belt, Warrick Smith’s career is a testament to the importance of safety culture, which he will keep pushing for as a Health, Safety and environment (HSE) trainee.
Warrick's journey commenced in 1983 amid the bustling yards of Bunning's timber mill, where he first mastered the art of load handling.
Witnessing the evolution of safety first-hand in the construction industry, Warrick observed its transformative impact and recognised a calling to contribute to its continuous improvement.
"I can remember when safety became a big thing in the late '80s/early '90s, and the amount of work we did to get sites up to standard was phenomenal," Warrick said.
"Though we initially saw a lot of pushback from workers, we noticed a positive shift in the safety culture over time.
“Over the years, I noticed how inexperienced some safety advisors were, and I felt inspired to become one myself."
After spending many years training and mentoring riggers, Warrick obtained a CERT IV in OH&IS in 2012 and hasn't looked back since.
"I’ve been an advisor on many tier three sites and HSR on multiple tier one sites," he explained.
"The most enjoyable aspect of my current role is interacting with and advising the workers on safe ways to achieve their goals."
"I would advise anybody with a passion for safety who wants to progress into an HSE advisory role to first get some experience in the field. If you are not already working in the field, a trades assistant role is a good, ground-level job to see all aspects of our industry," he said.
The EC HSE Trainee Program offers employees and others who are new to the industry the opportunity and support to develop the skills and competencies required to work as a technical, field based HSE Advisor.
About the program
Throughout the program, trainees will receive coaching and support from experienced HSE Advisors and will experience a wide range of HSE activities.
All trainees are required to successfully complete the HSE Trainee Passport, be observed performing a range of HSE activities and achieve a minimum of Certificate IV Occupational Safety and Health within 12 months.
On successful completion, HSE trainees will be fast-tracked into the selection process to be considered for a full-time role as an HSE Advisor with Monadelphous.
An overview of the Program can be found here.
Who is Eligible for a Trainee Position?
Trainee positions are limited. To be eligible to apply, you must:
How to apply?
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact your site HSE Team. Once a trainee position becomes available applicants will be short-listed for an interview.