Safety Person of the Year 2024

This is a key focus for Staff Sergeant Geoff Smith, Unit Health and Safety Coordinator at 3^rd Combat Service Support Battalion (3CSSB), who has been named New Zealand Defence Force Safety Person of the Year.

Joining the NZ Army in 1995, he spent 27 years in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, changing his career path just three years ago completing a Diploma in Workplace Health and Safety Management.  

“Any change in occupation after 27 years of commitment is both challenging and rewarding at the same time. I approached this change in 2022 with a view to remain committed to the Army, but from a different view point.

“I have been able to apply my studies in the workplace and better prepare our personnel to be more aware when planning and conducting activities,” Staff Sergeant Smith said.  

Currently the only full-time uniformed health and safety coordinator, his citation said that he has introduced a new energy to workplace health and safety at the battalion with a stand-out element being the refresh of the unit’s Emergency Response Plan (ERP). 

“Part of my role is to monitor, review and update the ERP in conjunction with sub-units, that are used to protect our people, facilities and environment when we have substantial amounts of hazardous substances,” SSGT Smith said.  

Staff Sergeant Smith planned and conducted effective training of the ERP which simulated a mass casualty exercise based on the aftereffects of a magnitude-8 Alpine Fault earthquake.

“Utilising the Voluntary Victims of Christchurch, we were able to embed casualties into an evolving scenarios, similar to what we may see in a magnitude-8 earthquake.

“Instead of the scenario just being a box ticking exercise like most ‘fire drills’ we were able to challenge all personnel within each workplace through a mass casualty situation that required first aid, triaging of patients, sending reports and returns, and overall command and control through all levels of command,” he said. 

This activity provided valuable lessons and learnings which have led to the development of a Unit Emergency Management Plan which will assist 3CSSB in what they will do ahead of switching to any domestic response tasks, if another large-scale earthquake was to occur in the South Island. 

“Our people are our greatest asset and we need to know they are in a position to head out the gate in support of wider tasks directed by the New Zealand Government,” Staff Sergeant Smith said.

The exercise gave a greater emergency response understanding to all Burnham units that were involved and identified shortfalls in areas which will allow changes to ensure that everything is fit for purpose.

His citation stated that in addition to the realm of emergency response, Staff Sergeant Smith has provided invaluable support to the asbestos and lead contamination work streams that he has championed in his role.