Debbie Whitford
Rouse Hill,Australia
Summary
With over 35 years of experience in workplace health and safety, this candidate has developed a strong work ethic and a self-driven, highly motivated approach to their work. Their excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, have been instrumental in their role as a Safety Auditor, where they have gained extensive knowledge and experience with safety management systems and self-insurance requirements. Throughout their career, they have effectively communicated with staff at all levels, including Managing Directors, Executive teams, leadership teams within a store environment, and team members from various backgrounds. As a hands-on safety specialist, they prefer to learn how the jobs are done rather than simply observing. Their expertise extends to Retail, Manufacturing, and Logistics environments, where they are well-versed in the plant and equipment specific to each industry. Managing demanding workloads and leading small teams have allowed them to establish themselves as a recognized leader. As a results-driven management professional, they have consistently led teams to success by fostering collaboration, ensuring operational efficiency, and achieving measurable outcomes. Their strategic planning skills, coupled with a focus on process improvement and fostering a culture of accountability and excellence, have consistently met changing organizational needs. Known for their adaptability, they are adept at navigating evolving environments while maintaining high standards of performance.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager, Safety Systems & Assurance
NSW Ambulance
12.2022 - Current
- Develop and manage the WHSMS to drive continuous improvement of processes, procedures, and systems and assurance activities
- Coordinate, plan and execute the activities for certification of the WHSMS to ISO 45001 and ISO 45003
- Coordinate, plan and execute the organisational WHS and Recovery internal audit program
- Coordinate, plan and execute the organisational WHS assurance program
- Contribute to the design of organisational key performance indicators pertaining to Work Health and Safety
- Monitor and report on the performance of compliance assurance activities against the WHSMS
- Monitor and report on corrective action plans arising from internal audit, assurance, and investigation activities
- Monitor, analyse and report on safety and recovery performance and WHSMS maintenance, including KPI’s, statistics and causation trends
- Oversee the development of cascading reports at all levels of the organisation in collaboration with the Coordinator, Occupational Violence and Safety Reporting
- Contribute to WHS strategy and business planning activities under the direction of the Associate Director, Safety
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with relevant regulatory and industrial bodies to positively influence work health and safety and recovery practices and regulatory outcomes
Safety Business Partner
NSW Ambulance
11.2021 - 12.2022
- Drive a safety culture that will positively influence morale and achieve a safe and healthy work environment within NSWA, ensuring continuous effective service delivery within a performance based, innovative, responsive and accountable customer focused work culture
- Coach and coordinate work health and safety practices and processes, in consultation with the Team Leader Safety Partners
- Assist the development, implementation and review of the NSWA work health and safety management systems and compliance which supports effective work health and safety and delivers genuine, practical and measurable safety improvements; and proactively promoting and influencing a safety culture across the organisation
- Coach, advise and direct business units and managers on work health and safety processes, practices and responsibilities including systems and ways to identify and monitor safety building work health and safety capability in business unit managers and staff
- Eliminate and/or control risks, reduce injury and illness and improve work health and safety performance managing issues to achieve the expected performance, benefits and value; includes monitoring accidents and incidents and develop proactive approaches to minimise risks and improve performance
- Establish and maintain effective business partnerships through customer engagement with both internal and external stakeholders, including SafeWork NSW and industrial associations; including developing skills and effectiveness of HSR and consultative committees
- Work with managers to conduct reporting on work health and safety issues, reviewing trends, measures and outcomes
- Participate in the preparation, and conduct where necessary, of workplace safety audits, risk assessments and investigations particularly in the area of work health and safety management and practice
Business Owner/Operator
DMW Audit & Consultancy
04.2019 - 11.2021
- Safety Management Systems - Review, update and development of safety management systems for Woolworths Group Limited (three Divisions - Metro, Property Group and Endeavour Drinks)
- Review and development of the safety management system framework
- Audit preparation - Review, update and consult on evidence to be submitted for audit including Self Insurance certification
- Audit corrective actions - Assist with the review and preparation of evidence to be submitted to satisfy corrective actions identified from previous audits
- Provide advice and guidance on elements of the safety management system
- Prepare written reports as a result of Safety Management System reviews and audits
- Coaching and training for all levels of staff in relation to the Safety Management System
WHS Specialist
Luxottica
08.2020 - 04.2021
- Responsible for the day to day management of Workplace Health and Safety and Workers Compensation/Injury Management (ANZ)
- Provision of high level advice to all levels of the business in relation to WHS and WC
- Development and implementation of the WHS Strategic Plan 2021 including the identification of objectives and targets in consultation with the Executive Team
- Responsible for the management of projects including consultation with Executive and Management Teams (e.g
- Asbestos, COVID-19)
- Responsible for the action and closure of corrective actions from internal audits (WHS)
- Preparation and presentation of Executive Safety Committee on a quarterly basis and assisting HR Business Partners in preparing for HR meetings where WHS and WC is presented
- Development of statistical reports for safety and workers compensation performance
- Monitoring of current workers compensation claims in consultation with Insurers, Injured Workers and Management Team
- Development and monitoring of return to work plans to assist injured workers return to work safely and in compliance with current restrictions (both work and non-work related)
- Identification of improvements in the safety management system
WHS Regional Supervisor
Costco Wholesale Australia
08.2019 - 11.2019
- Provide day to day advice and guidance to Costco Whole Australia and New Zealand in relation to safety and injury prevention
- Research and provide technical advice to the business including keeping up to date on best practice and legal requirements for Australia and New Zealand
- Identify areas for improvement in the Safety Management System and review the Risk Management Manual
- Development and implementation of the Risk Management Manual for New Zealand
- Develop and facilitate workshops and training specific to the safety program
- Reporting and data analytics for senior management identifying trends and opportunities for improvement
- Act as point of contact for all Regulator contact throughout Australia and New Zealand
- Assist sites when Notices have been issued to ensure that actions are closed out in a timely manner
- Complete serious incident investigations, including ICAM investigations, and provide assistance to sites
- Develop and implement an annual Safety Month program
- Identify and implement safety initiatives to assist in the prevention of injuries across the Costco business
- Conduct audits and provide reports to locations and senior management on a periodic basis
- Review and provide advice on external safety audits including the monitoring to completion of corrective actions
- Development and implementation of environmental safety procedures for Australia and New Zealand
- Frequent travel to Costco locations across Australia
Senior Safety Business Partner
Coles - Retail Ready Operations Australia (RROA)
02.2019 - 08.2019
- Develop, implement and drive systems to support the Business to achieve goals required in safety and environment strategy and compliance
- Perform consistent reporting to management, track issues; develop procedures, training documents and programs, to assist to drive the right behaviour and outcomes
- Ensure compliance across the facility in relation to safety and environment
- Integral role of the Safety Team to analyse trends and solutions in order to minimise the number of incidents that occur and assist with the delivery of a compliance program
- Provide coaching and training for management and team members in relation to safety and environmental issues on site
- Management of various projects including Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO), Emergency Preparedness and Self Insurance Renewal preparation
- Maintain safety databases including the use of Paradigm3 and Rapid
- Conduct data analysis of weekly and monthly incident and hazard reports to assist in the identification of trends
- Attendance at senior management and team meetings on a daily basis
HSE Advisor - NSW/ACT (Parking & Security)
Wilson Group
12.2018 - 02.2019
- Responsible for the integration of WHS into core operational activities
- Coordination, development, review and delivery of WHS initiatives
- Proactive approach to leadership in WHS and Risk prevention
- Provision of consultancy and advisory support across WHS, training and compliance to both Managers and Employees
- Compliance to Wilson WHS objectives and targets as defined in the Strategic Plan
- Building relationships with Managers and Supervisors in order to effectively deliver and support a consistent service to the business
- Conduct risk assessments on properties (Parking) and tasks (Security)
- Assist with the preparation of WHS evidence for internal and external audits
- Providing coaching and assistance to Managers when completing hazard and incident reports in RiskWare
- Monitoring and analysing data to assist in identifying trends
- Attendance at WHS meetings for both Parking and Security
Safety Systems Administrator (Contract)
Unilever Australasia
08.2018 - 12.2018
- Advising and coaching management and employees on WHS matters
- To provide support and commitment to the implementation of the Health and Safety Policy and SHE Management System
- ANZ SHE Management System Administration and Maintenance aligned to legal and other updates (SHE IT Mgmt System)
- Development, tracking and completion of SHE Improvement Plans in ANZ non manufacturing business units
- Execution of Risk Management program within ANZ non manufacturing business units
- Maintain and update the SharePoint system on a daily basis including providing support to Australia and New Zealand with technical support
- Maintenance of ANZ SHE Legal Registers
- Coordinate and participate in SHE Committee Meetings and other consultation structures (eg first aid officer committee/Emergency planning committee/vehicle safety committee)
- Maintain document control standards and review processes
- Assist in the development of training needs analysis and training schedules
- Ensure operational control standards relevant to the ANZ non manufacturing business units are developed and adhered to
- Play an active role in the emergency preparedness and response and security requirements for each non manufacturing site
- Ensuring Behavioural and workplace Inspections (e.g
- Job Observations/Safety Walks) are scheduled and implemented
- Execute the annual Audit program for ANZ Non-Manufacturing business
- Lead incident Investigation ensuring close out timelines are met
- Ensure records management processes are implemented
- Develop routine and ad hoc data trend reports for Safety, Health and Environment
- Analyse internal KPI data and identify/flag trends
National Safety Compliance Specialist
Woolworths Group - BIG W
03.2016 - 08.2018
- Self Insurance audit completed in Victoria in FY18 resulting in one single non conformance issued by WorkSafe Victoria
- Incident investigations - wall collapse, truck drive offs, pallet racking failures
- Complete review, update and implementation of the entire BIG W Safety Management System to reintegration three (3) Distribution Centres into the system
- Establishment and implementation of a database to assist in the monitoring of pressure vessel, plant and pallet racking compliance inspections
- Management and launch of Health and Wellness Calendar, My Moves and My Health initiatives throughout the BIG W Division
- Development and monitoring of SHARK report for BIG W (high risk control plan)
Regional Safety Specialist - South Eastern Region
Woolworths Group - BIG W
10.2015 - 03.2016
- Reduction in Lost Time injuries by 51.03% and 45.94% in Total Recordable Injuries across the South Eastern Region (as at end of FY17)
- Training facilitated and presented to Store leaders throughout the Region including Fuel Division
- Development of a database to assist with the analysis of hazard reporting across BIG W nationwide to identify trends
- Incident investigations - pallet racking failure, significant injuries to both customers and team members, escalator and travelator related incidents
Senior SHE Assurance Auditor WA/NT/SA/VIC/TAS & NZ
Woolworths Ltd
09.2013 - 10.2015
SHE Assurance Auditor SA/NT
Woolworths Ltd
11.2010 - 09.2013
Safety & Injury Management Advisor SA/TAS
Myer
11.2007 - 11.2010
Various Administrative and Safety roles within the South Australian State Government
03.1986 - 10.2006
Education
Year 12 Certificate -
Findon High School
Skills
- Workplace Health and Safety
- Safety Management System Development and Review
- Team leadership
- Decision-making
- Complex Problem-solving
Affiliations
- Australian Institute of Health & Safety, 03/01/21
- NSCA Foundation Ltd, 04/01/21
Name
Debbie, May, Whitford
Telephone
0401 270 557
References
References are available upon request.
Professional Development
- 01/01/24, Certificate 4 in Workplace Health & Safety (Recertification)
- 01/01/24, Six Sigma - Black Belt (including all levels)
- 01/01/24, Working With Children (WWC2076838E)
- 05/01/21, Managing for Team Wellbeing - Black Dog Institute
- 03/18/20, Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check
- 12/01/13, Root Cause Analysis - Quality Management Systems (SAI Global)
- 12/01/11, Advanced Diploma in Work Health and Safety
- 02/01/11, ICAM – Incident Investigation Training
- 02/01/11, Lead Auditor in OHS Management Systems (SAI Global)
- 07/01/05, Certificate 4 in Occupational Health and Safety
- 12/01/04, Advanced Diploma of Government
- 12/01/03, Certificate 3 in Occupational Health and Safety
Timeline
Manager, Safety Systems & Assurance
NSW Ambulance
12.2022 - Current
Safety Business Partner
NSW Ambulance
11.2021 - 12.2022
WHS Specialist
Luxottica
08.2020 - 04.2021
WHS Regional Supervisor
Costco Wholesale Australia
08.2019 - 11.2019
Business Owner/Operator
DMW Audit & Consultancy
04.2019 - 11.2021
Senior Safety Business Partner
Coles - Retail Ready Operations Australia (RROA)
02.2019 - 08.2019
HSE Advisor - NSW/ACT (Parking & Security)
Wilson Group
12.2018 - 02.2019
Safety Systems Administrator (Contract)
Unilever Australasia
08.2018 - 12.2018
National Safety Compliance Specialist
Woolworths Group - BIG W
03.2016 - 08.2018
Regional Safety Specialist - South Eastern Region
Woolworths Group - BIG W
10.2015 - 03.2016
Senior SHE Assurance Auditor WA/NT/SA/VIC/TAS & NZ
Woolworths Ltd
09.2013 - 10.2015
SHE Assurance Auditor SA/NT
Woolworths Ltd
11.2010 - 09.2013
Safety & Injury Management Advisor SA/TAS
Myer
11.2007 - 11.2010
Various Administrative and Safety roles within the South Australian State Government
03.1986 - 10.2006
Year 12 Certificate -
Findon High School
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