Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Dec 22/00) - Bruce Graney gets to know a lot of people while working as a safety officer.
"I like working with people," was the response he offered when asked what he liked about his job.
And as the Workers' Compensation Board inspector ventured out on a routine inspection, it was easy to see the human component of his job.
He pointed out several people, even walking in the parking lot, that he knew from somewhere and stopped to make chit-chat and tell a joke or two.
The other big reason he likes his job: safety, of course.
"I like to see people working in a safe environment," he said.
As he made his way to a business on Old Airport Road he stopped to re-adjust a bracket holding a fire extinguisher to the wall as he waited for the elevator at the WCB office.
He cautiously drove to the business and picked up straps of plastic outside the door.
Although a safety officer for about a year, Graney is no stranger to the business of safety. He was a safety officer for Giant Mine before.
As he walked into the business, Polar Tech, manager Adrian Saulis looked a little edgy but more because the business was busy with Christmas shipments.
"Most of the time they are happy to see us," Graney said. "We don't like to be the police carrying a big stick, we like to work with them."
Graney carried a brief case and small notebook as he took a quick tour around the snowmobile outlet's floor space and workshop.
A scribble here and a scribble there was accompanied by praise and a couple of jokes.
He looks for fairly obvious safety hazards; up-to-date fire extinguishers, possible falling objects, flammable goods storage, guards missing on machinery, marked emergency exits and emergency lighting.
"Pretty nice digs," he said to Saulis as he left. "They're in pretty good shape."
"Most employers have some room for improvement," he said. "That's what my father used to say about my math marks."
