Elizabeth Barnette, EHS Leader, Damuth Trane
Years as an ASSP member: 18
Years in the safety industry: 29
Key responsibilities of your job
Managing all EHS programs and processes for our field personnel, office staff and our 3 parts centers while working with other departments to continually improve our programs and processes. We have a great team, and my role is to provide them the tools and understanding to identify hazards and to mitigate them and remove roadblocks.
Most significant accomplishment in your career
I can’t say there is one that is most significant. I’m very proud that I was able to build the US Safety Program for a previous employer; when I started, I was the only EHS Person in the US and by the time I left that role as the US Manager of Safety & Health there were EHS Professionals at every site in the US and a large reduction in employee injuries. I am also very proud of obtaining my degree later in life, and also the CSP, ASP and SMS certifications.
What do you/did you love the most about your job
I love the opportunity to do something different every day, and to make a difference in the lives of my coworkers and the community. Often, people will approach me and tell me something that they did safely at home because of the information they’ve received from our programs, or that they realized something that they had been doing on a jobsite previously wasn’t safe and changed the way they performed that task.
What advice would you give someone just starting out in the safety industry
Don’t underestimate yourself! I was so nervous when I first got into safety, and felt like I was in over my head. I put off completing my degree and sitting for the certifications because I didn’t know everything. I have since realized that I’ll never know everything, or even close, but I know a lot of really smart people who can fill in the gaps on the items I don’t know. Network, network, network!! People get into this field because they want to help people, and your peers are willing and eager to share their experiences.
List your some of your hobbies
Traveling, reading and wine tasting . . . a lot of tasting.
What is something people don’t know about you
I’m pretty much an open book, so there’s not a lot.
What hashtags describe your personality best
#nevermetastranger, #don’taskifyoudon’twantmyopinion, #lovemylife
What is the #1 TV show that you recommend for everyone to watch
The Big Bang Theory- I will watch rerun after rerun
Biggest Pet Peeve
People who don’t do what they say they are going to do.
If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be
Steak, baked potato and salad
What is the first concert you ever attended
Kingdom Come and Warrant at the Boathouse