Meet David McMellon: Leading with Safety at InfraBuild Recycling

For David McMellon, safety is not just part of the job. It is the reason everyone gets to go home at the end of the day.

“I have been with InfraBuild for 15 years, and our biggest risks in the yard are related to mobile plant,” David said. “We have quite a few pieces of equipment, so line of fire is one of the biggest controls we manage. Radio communication plays a big part in that.”

As Queensland Health, Safety and Environment Lead, David focuses on creating a culture where safety always comes first.

“PPE is one of our most important controls because of the amount of manual handling we do, like picking scrap off the belts and using tools,” he said. “We also put a lot of effort into training on site. It starts from day one.”

At InfraBuild Recycling in Hemmant, safety leadership is visible and hands-on.

“We lead from the top. The managers on site spend time in the yard helping the team,” David said. “It is very family orientated in that respect.”

For David, the most rewarding part of his role is helping others understand the value of safety.

“A lot of people think safety is just there to make your life hard, but at the end of the day, my role helps you go home. I am very proud of that.”