Lynda Berry, Health and Safety Coordinator
Basic Facts
Employer: Midwest Food Products Inc.
Typical Education: College Diploma
Salary Range: $30,500 - $63,500
Skill Type: Science & Technology (NOC 2)
Industry Sector: Manufacturing (NAICS 31-33)
NOC Code: 2263
NOC Occupation: Inspector in Occupational Health & Safety
Useful High School Subjects:
- Math
- Physics
- Mechanics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- English
Safety Equals Productivity
Safety Equals Productivity(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"If you have a safe workplace you'll have the productivity. Productivity has to go hand in hand with safety."
My Job
MY JOBTitle: Health and Safety Co-ordinator
Key Tasks and Responsibilities:
- ensure that employees have a safe workplace and that they do their jobs safely
- make sure all health and safety standards are met
- handle illness and injury claims and 'return to work management'
Started Job: 1995
Works with:
- management
- front line workers
- support staff
- government agencies
Reports to: Director of Operations TOC
New Field
New FieldYears ago, when I was an operator, safety wasn't a big thing. Then our government got concerned about workers being hurt, so stronger legislation came in. Nestle had also just taken over at that time and they're very, very strong on safety.
Health and Safety became a full time activity, so they asked me if I would take that position in 1995. It was frightening, because I didn't know what to do. But thank goodness for the University of Manitoba; they were there for me.
Important Work
Important WorkEvery injury is not just an injury to the person, it's an injury to their family and even their friends and neighbours in these community settings. It makes sense for the company to be safe too.
If you have an unsafe workplace, then you have downtime when somebody's injured, the extra cost of replacing the position, and then you have the costs of following up with the injured worker.
Products
Products(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
“We mainly supply McDonald’s food restaurants; its frozen french fries. And then we do a small line of dehydrated potato products and we do pre-formed products. And that’s basically our business.”
Team Work
Team WorkI'm the eyes and ears of Midwest on all health and safety matters, but I can't do my job alone. The Department of Labour gives me the regulations and I work with the corporate health and safety person in Nestle head office.
When I have the documentation together, I work with managers and supervisors. Then there's also a Health and Safety committee to make sure everybody has a voice.
Where I Work
Where I WorkMidwest Food Products is one of western Manitoba's major employers, with between 400 and 500 people on staff. They produce french fries, potato patties and dehydrated potatoes using both locally grown and imported potatoes. Over 17,000 truckloads of potatoes are processed every year.
Midwestern has been a local success story since 1962, supporting alternatives to grain crops. They are co-owned by Nestle and Simplot.
About Me
ABOUT MEBackground
- grew up in North Kildonan
- now living in Cypress River
- married with 6 daughters
- husband is a millwright at the plant
- one daughter also works at Midwest
Interests/Activities
Going to school is one of my major hobbies. TOC
Small Communities
Small CommunitiesI grew up in Winnipeg and I knew my neighbours by name, but I wasn't involved in their lives. Now that I'm in a small community, they're like family. My neighbour is there if I need him and I'm there for him.
It's the same here at Midwest Foods. It's like a tiny community in itself. We're concerned about each other and we know what each other is doing.
Potatoes?
Potatoes?(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"I'll never give up potatoes. Mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes, raw...I like potatoes; period!"
My Day
MY DAY8:00 am: Meet employees coming off shift
8:30 am: Read and answer emails
9:00 am: Health and Safety training
10:00 am: Management presentation on Weekly Safety Reports
11:00 am: Product Sensory Panel
12:00 pm: Lunch
12:30 pm: Health and Wellness paperwork
1:30 pm: Work on safety policies, procedures, reports
2:30 pm: Plant tour, safety observations
4:00 pm: End of day reporting, telephone calls
5:00 pm: Go home! TOC
Health & Safety Committee
Health & Safety CommitteeWe have a 12 member Health and Safety Committee. We meet monthly to discuss safety issues, review documentation and conduct risk assessments of potential hazards.
Some hazards are due to procedures or employee behaviour and others due to maintenance issues: how the equipment is laid out.
Our committee will go out on the floor and look at the concern, do a risk assessment and then make recommendations to the Maintenance Department.
Work Together
Work Together(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"Well our business cannot succeed unless you all work together. And to work together, you have to be a team.
"So we have a Director of Operations...he has a vision. But it has to go through the team to meet that vision. So that's our team. We all have to work together to get our goal."
Accident Investigation
Accident InvestigationWhen an incident happens, a report is filled out and investigation begins right after first aid is given.
For instance, we had someone who cut his chin with a trim knife. After investigating, the root cause analysis determined that he'd had an itch and used his knife to scratch himself.
So our recommendation was: 'Don't use your knife to scratch yourself. Put it down, take off your gloves and scratch!'
Holding a Mirror
Holding a MirrorWe've just implemented a behaviour-based safety program. You're trained to observe people at a task then talk to them in a non-intimidating way about what was good and what could be improved.
We say, 'we're holding a mirror, and this is what we observed.' It could be something like lifting with poor body mechanics. No names, other than the observer, so it's not about discipline.
We hope to get everyone in the plant doing it for each other by year-end.
Work Pace
Work PaceMy pace is a fast pace. I like to do a lot of things at the same time.
There are slow days where I do my 2 hours in the plant observing, then I'll work on updating policies, writing a safety presentation or meeting with a worker about their new work position.
Other days it's move, move, move from one meeting to another. It's a good pace but I wouldn't want it any slower.
Me and My Job
ME AND MY JOBLikes
- the company is people-oriented
- the people I work with are like family
- potatoes!
Dislikes
- nothing (Really!) TOC
Mission
Mission(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"It's my goal, that I would love to see every employer in Manitoba have zero accidents.
"Not only do I take ours personally, but if I read something in the paper, because of my profession, I take those personally too.
"And I get very angry, like...'that shouldn't have happened!'."
Commitment To Safety
Commitment To SafetyYou have to be committed to this position to do it properly. If you think of it as just a job, if you're not committed to safety, then it probably isn't for you.
You likely wouldn't get the results that are required to make the workplace safe either.
Stress
StressSometimes, when there's a deadline, I'll work very long hours.
If there's a serious accident I find it very stressful because I take it personally, thinking there's something I should have had in place for it.
To deal with it, I usually just go for a walk in the parking lot. People see me there and know I'm just trying to clear my head, so they let me be. I'll come back in 10 minutes and everything's fine.
All Viewpoints
All ViewpointsIt's about working with everybody and their ideas, not just management, and not just Nestlé, but with the people on the floor.
I'll say, 'I have this problem and I need to know what your opinion is.' So we work really closely together.
My Resume
MY RESUMEEducation
2000: Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety from the University of Manitoba (4.5 years of evening courses)
1985: Finished high school
Experience
1995-Present: Health and Safety Co-ordinator
1989-1995: Supervisor (first female!)
1985-1989: Equipment Trainer
1982-1985: Equipment Operator
1979-1982: Trim Inspector TOC
Education
EducationThe certificate course that I took at the University of Manitoba is no longer offered, but other courses are available from various sources.
There's a lot out there. You just have to look for it.
(For educational options in Manitoba, click on the "More Info" button below.)
1st Female
1st Female(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"First female supervisor at this plant, I'll have you know! Actually, the person that put me in the position said, 'You know, you're opening the door for other women here'.
"So there was a lot of pressure that way. But I worked with many of the supervisors for years, so they were wonderful. I mean, they helped push me through this. So it's been good and we have many female supervisors."
Advancement Advice
Advancement AdviceYou have to be willing to show that you're ready to move on. If you sit back and hope some day they'll notice you, they probably won't, especially in a large organization.
You can talk to your manager and tell them what some of your ideas are. That way, they'll think of you when an opening comes up.
And you can prepare yourself by taking some small courses to show your interest is genuine.
Skills
SkillsPeople Skills
You have to be willing to work with people.You work very closely, one on one, or in small groups.You have to be able to appreciate that everyone has their own personality and be able to deal with it.
Paperwork
You have to do your due diligence. That means you document everything. All that takes paper, so if you don't like sitting and doing paperwork, it's probably not a position for you.
Development
DevelopmentTraining and Development
· Management certificate courses at Brandon University
· Industrial Audiometric Technician
· Hazardous Materials Technician
· Computer courses at Assiniboine Community College
Affiliations
· Member of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineers
· Workers of Tomorrow (schools program-volunteer)
My Future
MY FUTUREGoals
Zero accidents. After that, I'm not quite sure right now. My husband and my daughters keep asking me what I'm going to be when I grow up!
Further Education
My goal is to write the Canadian Registered Safety Professional exam and receive my official designation. TOC
Safety Education
Safety EducationI volunteer for Workers of Tomorrow and we go to schools and talk to students. We make presentations on their rights as a person going into the workplace. That way, they're better prepared and not left to their own defences, not knowing anything.
Also, I understand that education on safety is going to start right in elementary school. Small pieces at first. Then, as they get older, it'll become more explicit and linked to the workplace. So that's really exciting.
No Accidents
No Accidents(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"Actually, in 1994 we had 1895 lost days for that year. We're down to, right now, 7. So we've come a long way. We're not where we're supposed to be. Our goal is zero. Zero accidents. And we will get there."
Safe Future
Safe FutureI expect that regulations and legislation will get more and more stringent in the area of workplace health and safety:
There's going to be a stronger message going out there to employers to make sure that their workplaces are safe. Employers are being held accountable for their accidents. If they don't have a safe workplace, they'll have to pay.
Useful Links
MORE INFOHeath and Safety Coordinators/Officers work for government agencies as well as businesses in the private sector, evaluating safety and health practices to make sure codes, guidelines and regulations are met.
Lynda worked for several years within the same company, gaining valuable hands-on experience before assuming the her current role. A degree or college diploma in a related field such as food science, environmental studies, chemistry or health and safety is often required.
However, as in Lynda's case, some companies will accept work experience in a similar field with in-house training on their specific health and safety issues. This path may take longer but can still provide you with a rewarding career.
Regardless of how you attain the job, regular upgrading of skills and information is necessary to keep pace with technological and health/safety advances. TOC
Job Market Info
Job Market InfoThe links below take you to federal and regional government information on employment, education, salary ranges and long range prospects for this career.
The official title for Lynda's occupation is 'Inspectors in Public and Environmental Health and Occupational Health and Safety' and its NOC* code is 2263.
Job Futures
Manitoba Labour Market Information
Human Resources Development Canada
*Each occupation has an official name and unique number called the 'National Occupation Classification' code or 'NOC'.
Education
Education
Useful High School Subjects*
- Math
- Physics
- Mechanics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- English
*Source: Job Futures.ca
Red River College
Full Time Programs
(then click on 'Evironmental Protection Technologies')
University of Manitoba
Courses in Workplace Health and Safety and Occupational Health and Safety are part of:
Labour and Workplace Studies
Food Science
Industry Association
Industry AssociationFrom french fry factories to fish markets; from fresh herbs to food-based pharmaceuticals, the Manitoba Food Processors Association exists to support and promote Manitoba's food industry to the world.
The MFPA gives Manitoba's food producers a powerful voice in the global marketplace and ensures continuous health for our province's food industry, through ongoing training initiatives, networking, industry publications and sales promotions under the "Manitoba Made" logo.
Related Careers
Related CareersRelated careers from Human Resources Development Canada web sites:
Ergonomist 4161
Occupational Health and Safety Prevention Officer 4165
Health and Safety Instructor 4131
Professional Associations
Professional AssociationsThe Manitoba Quality Network (QNET) is a network of individuals and organizations that focuses on organizational effectiveness and quality improvement. Their membership includes the service, manufacturing, health care, government, education, and not-for-profit industries.
The Province of Manitoba Workplace Health and Safety Division web site has information on Health and Safety Officers working in the public sector.
You can learn more about Safety Professionals in Canada from the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering