Mitch Flannigan
“The Health and Safety field is competitive; it’s an industry that I would consider flooded. If you want to strive, it’s important to separate yourself from the mass of health and safety professionals. I felt that with my now Construction Safety Officer (CSO) designation and the Gold Seal Certification on my side, I am brought up to a higher standard than my competitors.”
Mitch Flannigan, GSC, Safety Advisor, Pomerleau
The difference between a Safety Officer and Safety Advisor according to Mitch is perception. In Mitch’s case, he performs the tasks of an officer, despite preferring the latter title. “You don’t want to be the safety police. However, you want to convey clearly to others how to safely accomplish their role without policing.” Today, Mitch is a Safety Advisor for Pomerleau. He splits his time between various construction projects, such as completing new site hire orientations, site evaluations, workplace inspections, toolbox talks, and working with different sub-trades with their health and safety requirements.
Mitch is an example of someone who’s made a career transition into construction after working in a different industry earlier in his life. “There’s not a day that I regret it. The Construction Industry is way more exciting. It also provides a better way of life for my family, and there’s no monotony. It’s fast paced, and you can never say that you’re bored as there’s always something to do.”
Aiming his sights on earning the Gold Seal Certification was in part due to his employers at Pomerleau. “I had already obtained my Construction Safety Officer (CSO) designation, and after a while, my company and I spoke about furthering my career goals and education. They mentioned that the Gold Seal Certification might be the next best step for me to take. They sponsored me and put the ball in my court.” In October 2016, Mitch earned his Gold Seal Certification.
Mitch describes himself as a humble individual who has built his reputation on hard work. His peers recognize him as a professional with an exceptional talent in his work. “In my opinion, working in safety shares similarities to a sales job. Many can learn the specifications and requirements for equipment safety, laws and legislations, but if you can’t talk to the people working on a construction site, face to face, no matter what level background or education they have, you can’t do your job well.”
“Gold Seal Certification is something you should do sooner than later. When you have the Gold Seal Certification behind you, on top of the other credentials you’ve earned in your ongoing career, people on-site will listen and respect your say, especially if you approach it right.”