Catherine Anderson, Health and Safety Coordinator for Washington State Ferries (WSF) at the Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility, takes a proactive approach to safety at work. In March, Catherine took the initiative to earn certification as a Health and Safety Specialist.
This intensive course, offered by the Evergreen Safety Council, can take up to two years to complete and must be maintained and renewed every three years through continuing education, training others and writing safety articles.
Ordering fall protection equipment, confined space monitoring and safety training are among the duties she performs at Eagle Harbor. Catherine considers her coworkers at Eagle Harbor an extension of her family and works hard to ensure their safety. She takes pride in finding solutions to their safety concerns.
“I care a lot for the people I work with,” Catherine says. “WSF is such a great family. I want our people to be safe at work so they can go home to their real families at the end of the day.
“It’s a very busy position. It’s exciting and very rewarding; I get a lot back from doing my job.”
Her certification as a Health and Safety Specialist and her dedication to her work are just two of the reasons she was appointed Health and Safety Coordinator of Eagle Harbor this past August.
“Catherine has been a true asset to Eagle Harbor where she has accomplished her assigned tasks with enthusiasm and professionalism,” says Eagle Harbor Port Engineer R.J. Kelly. “In addition to her Health and Safety duties, Catherine has also been a great help in preparing numerous Safety Management System submittals. Catherine works with minimal supervision, and frequently takes the initiative to accomplish tasks that need specific attention.”
Catherine began her career with WSF in November 2004, where she worked in the sheet metal shop. She was named the Relief Safety and Health Coordinator in February 2006. Prior to coming to work for WSF, Catherine was an apprentice at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard from 1997 – 2000. She worked for Image Net from 2000-2002, and at Todd Shipyard and Lake Union Dry Dock Company from 2003-2004.
Along with her certification as a Health and Safety Specialist, Catherine is certified as a Shipyard Competent Person, a Forklift Instructor, and a First Aid-CPR-AED Instructor, as well as in Hazardous Materials, and Operation and Emergency Response.
When Catherine isn’t at work making sure her coworkers stay safe, she enjoys painting, boating and fishing.
Featured Employee Listing