This month we introduce you to Bryan Newton, Global EHS Manager at Yahoo! Inc., one of the members who helps make our network so unique.
What are currently working on?
Global Crisis Management Plan; Developing mechanisms to measure, communicate, and drive improvement in implementation of the Yahoo! global ergonomics program; Developing and implementing OHSAS 18001-compliant health and safety programs for Yahoo! data centers.
What do you like about your job?
The variety - I love that one day I might be coordinating emergency response activities related to a natural disaster in NY city, and another day I might be trying to drive participation in our ergonomics program in India.
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
Yahoo! is a complex organization that has undergone a tremendous amount of change in the last several years. It can be challenging to identify and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers
What career accomplishment are you most proud of?
There are quite a few, but one that stands out is from a previous job as a site-level EHS Manager. Working with plan management, my team was able to implement safety programs to reduce recordable injuries by 60 percent, and lost workdays by more than 200 days a year, in just three years. In the grand scheme, it isn't the largest impact, but I knew every worker at that factory, and I am very proud that largely because of our efforts, about ten fewer employees are injured every year.
What advice would you have for someone entering the field today?
This is a dynamic and growing field. Learn all that you can and be prepared to keep learning. This profession has evolved very rapidly in just the 11 years that I have been practicing EHS. In my mind, the future of EHS holds significantly more opportunities for talented practitioners with a breadth of knowledge across a variety of EHS disciplines and with the “soft skills” to communicate and add business value through EHS in new and creative ways. Don't necessarily stick with your first position forever – there are a TON of opportunities out there. Test the waters and go for it!
What are the three words your spouse/colleagues/best friends would use to describe you?
Hopeless (Buffalo) Bills Fan
What aspect to the natural world/environment impresses you the most? Why?
Our place in the Universe – the scale and complexity of the Universe always amazes - whenever I start to feel overwhelmed, I try to put my troubles in a universal perspective and suddenly my worries don't seem quite so significant.
What do you like to do during your free time?
I love hiking, working out, traveling to new and different places, and spending time with my family.