Workplace safety front of mind for business owner after debilitating injury

A GEELONG man’s courageous recovery from a traumatic workplace injury has inspired a new business that has landed a third-straight nomination in the Geelong Business Excellence Awards (GBEAs).

Cameron Walker is the director of Walker Safety Services based at Grovedale, which is among the finalists for the Geelong Chamber of Commerce 2023 GBEAs, presented by LBW Wealth + Advisors.

Walker Safety Services provides external advice and services for businesses that helps them identify workplace hazards and risks, develop safety policies and procedures for issues including mental health and emergency management, and comply with relevant legislation.

The business now has five total employees after four years and works with more than 200 businesses across Geelong, Melbourne and regional Victoria.

The company’s origins stem from a long-term injury that Mr Walker sustained working as a roof tiler in the early 2000s, which he said began a journey learning about the importance of workplace safety and key challenges it posed to businesses.

“I was a young guy working in an industry where, back then, safety was improving but it wasn’t strong,” he said.

“Due to the nature of the work, it’s quite physical and quite demanding on the body, I ended up suffering from a back injury.

“That resulted in surgery and it resulted in a couple of years of work and going through a process of retraining and getting into different work.

“That’s probably what sparked my passion for workplace health and safety, because I had first-hand experience and understood the full impacts of a pretty major workplace injury.

“It’s not just work, it’s it’s that’s life and everything that goes with it.”

Mr Walker’s return to work involved training in safety and compliance roles, and gaining a better understanding of the challenges businesses faced in understanding and meeting their responsibilities.

That experience spawned an idea for a solution to the issues facing businesses of all sizes that became Walker Safety Services.

“It really got me thinking and gave me an opportunity to come up with a business where I thought I could reach more people,” Mr Walker said.

“We can reach more businesses small, medium and large and really work with them on practical and relevant safety for their business, and practical ways to improve it and keep people safe.

“It’s less about ticking a compliance box and really about what is meaningful, what is practical for that business and how to put simple things in place to improve.”

Mr Walker said he was looking forward to his business’ third appearance at the GBEAs, which he said had become a favourite on his staff’s social calendar.

GBEA category winners will be announced at a special event at GMHBA Stadium on October 19.

For more information and to book tickets, head to gbea.com.au