Douglas Lyons
“If I’m ever in discussion for a contract with a potential employer, I mention having my Gold Seal Certification, and this demonstrates that I know what I’m doing and I can do it well.”
Douglas Lyons, GSC, Independent Health and Safety Professional
Douglas is a Health and Safety professional in construction. Daily he develops, implements and institutionalizes occupational health and safety management systems. His journey towards reaching his current career success did not come without trial and tribulation. It is a story with far too many details for this article alone, but Douglas has a long and fascinating work history. He was introduced into the construction industry after leaving the military in 1991, he began to work for Ford Motors Canada as a Safety and Emergency response coordinator, at the same time a 2-billion-dollar construction project was underway at the Oakville plant.
Douglas has been able to acquire a magnitude of different opportunities and experiences because he acts as an independent consultant. 60% of his day is spent in the field and the other 40% in office working alongside senior professionals making significant impacts to the world of health and safety. “My commitment to the health and safety workforce is something that I take very seriously and it’s my number one priority. I love to do it.”
Douglas discovered the Gold Seal Certification back in 2008. During one of his contracts, his coworkers were discussing the Gold Seal Certification as a credential that they were using to signify a level of professionalism they had reached. Douglas earned his Professional Gold Seal Certification in October 2009.
He describes his motivation to want to earn his Gold Seal Certification as practical. “I looked at other safety designation and I didn’t find they were the right fit. My career is in construction, and for the most part, the other Health and Safety Certifications available, seemed to be more general. Thus, the Gold Seal Certification was a fantastic fit for me. It was construction sector specific. It shows that I have credentials, qualifications, and I thought it was a great addition to my portfolio. Furthermore, the Gold Seal Certification gave me mobility to work right across Canada. For me, earning my Gold Seal Certification was extremely important so I may demonstrate to a potential employer, or contract authority, that I was committed to my craft.”
Today Douglas carries his Professional Gold Seal Certification. “The Gold Seal Certification peeked my interest. It was nice to see there was something out there that would show people that I had a professional designation in construction with a demonstrated ability.” Douglas continued by describing some of the benefits he has come to know and expect with his Gold Seal Certification. “It’s great to have because I’ve been able to work right across Canada. A lot of people acknowledge it and ask me about it. It allows me to engage with other safety professionals and explain to them the benefits.”
“I’m very proud of my Gold Seal Certification. I’d recommend others to do it. It’s well worth the time and the effort. It demonstrates a level of ability, experience and qualification that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the construction world.”