WPAC’s June Safety Hero: Brett Wickstrom from Drax Meadowbank

The Wood Pellet Association of Canada proudly announces its latest Safety Hero: Brett Wickstrom, Maintenance Lead Hand from Drax Meadowbank in British Columbia. Brett’s outstanding contributions make the workplace safer for his colleagues.
Brett is a great leader who ensures safety is the number one priority before any work is started. He always ensures staff and contractors are wearing proper PPE, and if they don’t have something they need, he will stop what he is doing and get it for them.
“I would say one of Brett’s best qualities is his ability to stay and work calmly under pressure and lead by example,” says Jeremy Sawatzky, Maintenance Supervisor/Planer, Drax Meadowbank, who nominated Brett. “He always steps up when we are shorthanded or leads the team when a supervisor is off.”
Brett helps create TRA/JRA (task/job risk assessment) and POWRA (point of work risk assessment) cards daily. He also builds new assessments with the team to ensure they are working safely.
“We ask ourselves daily, ‘Is this BWA?’, which means Brett Wickstrom Approved. Or we will say, ‘Is this NBA?’ (Not Brett Approved), says Jeremy. “It may sound silly, but it comes from the history of Brett always doing what is safe and right each shift.”
We continue to recognize the efforts of our colleagues who ensure we all go home safely every day. By acknowledging this work, we are reconfirming our commitment to safety and raising awareness of the actions we can all take—big or small—daily to make our sector safer.
Do you know a safety hero? Nominate someone today online here.