I was not hired into safety, I kind of fell into it. I don’t have a safety degree. I actually was in the military when one of my sergeants found out about my safety background and asked me to help him. When I worked for Silgan Containers, I was asked to take over the safety role in 2012. We didn’t have anyone to help out, and they needed someone with spunk (or so they said). So, I jumped in full fledge.
I found out quickly that I was unprepared and uninformed on all the roles that a safety person handles. So I started to read OSHA regulations and attend OSHA training classes, and then eventually took over as the safety coordinator for Fuyao Glass Illinois in March 2016.
Since then, I have been able to develop a world-class safety system and change the culture of a union shop with the help of other safety professionals. I guess that is how I got to where I am – a self-taught safety professional.
Josh Opferman
Safety Coordinator
Decatur, IL
What’s your story?
Email us at [email protected] with the subject line “My Story.” You may be featured in an upcoming issue of Safety+Health.
