Mike Fish

Background

I began my career as an EHS technician 17 years ago. Most of my career, I worked in heavy industrial construction in petrochemical and chemical plants. The work was diverse, and I was fortunate enough to be exposed to all stages of construction from site clearing to plant commissioning. The diverse work scope helped me establish a strong foundation for my future in the safety field.

What do you do here at MD&A? What aspect do you enjoy most about your role at MD&A?  

The best way to sum up what I do at MD&A is that I help provide and implement solutions. Building tools with the input of the people who will use them is what I enjoy the most about my role.

What is the most interesting safety challenge you have come across on a job or in the shop?

The most interesting safety challenge I’ve encountered isn’t tied to a specific job or shop, it’s the universal challenge of training. There are many ways to develop safety training, but the most common way is to simply deliver the required information. The real challenge is developing training that is specific to what and how people work. Training should be practical and useful. It is a challenge that I enjoy.

How do you involve employees in the safety program to build a team-centered approach to safety?

Employees need to be involved in the development of the safety tools that they will use, because they understand their tasks better than anyone. A great example is the monthly learning team meeting that the MD&A Outage Services Division tool center holds. Every month, all tool center employees, supervisors, safety, and quality team members meet over lunch to focus on one task. Each employee shares how they complete the task. At the end, the best methods are taken from each employee’s example, and a single best practice approach is developed. During this discussion, there have been many potential risks identified and methods to eliminate them developed.

Why did you choose to work for MD&A, and why have you continued to choose to work at MD&A? How would you describe our company culture?

I chose to work for MD&A for personal reasons. I was looking for a better work–life balance. After many years of working seven days a week and twelve hours a day, I wanted more time with my family. I continue to work at MD&A because of the people. Everyone cares and wants to do the right thing. I feel privileged to support each employee.  The best way to describe the MD&A culture is supportive. Each person wants everyone else to succeed, and there is never a shortage of people willing to help, even if it is outside their typical role.

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

I would tell my younger self to use time wisely, it is the one thing you can never get back once it is spent.