For Aaron Laurent, workplace safety is about more than compliance. It’s about what happens every day on the factory floor.
As Milling and Compliance Officer at Windoor Joinery in St Marys, NSW, Aaron’s firsthand observations, regular communication and both physical and mental wellbeing has helped him stand out as this year’s NSW Safety Champion.
Rather than introducing rules that may not work in practice, he looks at what is happening around him and makes changes based on real-time feedback from the team.
“The way I’ve been managing the safety myself has been using what I observe instead of just inventing ideas, like what’s actually going on, on the floor, what we’ve got in place, and then modifying it to best suit the real-time feedback,” he said.
Since joining Windoor Joinery in 2021, Aaron has progressed into leadership and supervisory roles, giving him an opportunity to address safety practices and steadily introduce improvements.
“One of the first things I cracked down on was forklift usage, pre-operation checklists, the regular maintenance schedules and recording of those things,” he said.
This included building a backlog of records, both physical and on the company’s cloud system, to document checks and maintenance.
He has also focused on securing timber packs stored above the second tier of cantilever racking, including shorter offcut material, which can be particularly slippery.
Keeping safety front of mind
With approximately 48 staff across the business, including around 35 on the factory floor, consistent communication is central to Aaron’s approach.
“When it comes to communicating with the team, it is all about repetition and listen. Repetition,” he said.
Monthly toolbox talks provide an opportunity to discuss safety issues and reinforce everyday practices, from wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) to using designated loading zones and following painted yellow walkways when moving through the mill.
Aaron meets with other supervisors and management to discuss factory operations and production results, raising safety matters that need attention or a reminder.
Pre-start checklists are also in place for the company’s girder bridge cranes, with Aaron working to ensure staff complete them.
For him, no single task can be overlooked when the consequences of an incident can be serious.
“It is hard to say what the most important would be. I think it is all important in itself, from lifting manual tasks to driving machinery or operating machinery using the cranes. Any of them can pose lifelong injuries or death, really,” he said.
Looking beyond physical safety
Aaron’s commitment extends beyond physical risks to harassment prevention and mental health.
Working with Vicki Stableford, NTHA’s WHS/HR Manager, he helped develop Windoor Joinery’s sexual harassment prevention plan before the requirements were introduced in NSW. He is now considering a broader harassment prevention plan that would cover more than sexual harassment alone.
He has also completed mental health first aid training, alongside another staff member, Stuart. Psychosocial hazards are regularly discussed during toolbox talks, while activities around R U OK? Day provide another opportunity to encourage conversations.
The business also distributes Lifeline information during meetings, reminding employees that support is available and that they can approach someone they feel comfortable talking to.
“You don’t always just have to come to me about it. Tell whoever you’re comfortable with, really,” Aaron said.
“If you want to bring a friend, a work friend, up to someone if it makes you feel more comfortable to tell someone, it’s all good. As you bring it up with us, we’re all good.”
From documenting equipment checks to encouraging open conversations, Aaron’s approach centres on practical improvements, regular reminders and listening to the people doing the work.
For Aaron, maintaining a safer workplace is an ongoing effort, built into the everyday routines of the business.