Employee Spotlight: Terry Copeland- Director of Safety
As a Director of Safety, what is a typical day like for you?
I take care of all the safety personnel in the shop and in the field.
A lot of emails, lot of phone calls, taking any safety question day to day. I’m usually on a job site most of the week. I assist the supervisors and work through the issues in the field.
How long have you been at Gilbert Industries?
I’ve been here for over 5 years.
What is your educational and professional background before working at Gilbert?
I did fire service so I got all my nuclear certifications. Everything else has been classroom evaluation. I came from hardknocks coming straight up. You only get one shot of passing it. If you don’t pass it you’re out for a whole year. Very technical. I started out as a laborer in the plant and ended up being production manager within 2 years at Great Dane. From there I went to FMC Corporation as a Lead Chemical Formulator, for 12 years. I got in with PLS Rescue and did training for them. That’s where I got into Nuclear and High Angle Rescue. I was a head rescuer for a nuclear plant and that’s how I met the Gilberts.
What brought you here?
I was doing safety for Valero Corporation and I was contracted to oversee all of their biofuel outages on the safety side. I handled all the rescue teams and all the Whole Watch/Fire Watch, keeping control of the confined spaces or any questionable areas of safety that being entered and the general safety of the site. They have 14 biofuel plants. I also did nuclear rescue. I was a lead for a rescue team for the state of Illinois. I did high angle rescue for PLS for Valero and ADM. I met the Gilberts, got to know them and wanted to come work for them.
What part of the job do you find most fulfilling?
The interaction between all of the different workers. The skilled tradesman that you run into all over the country. I truly enjoy talking to them. They have a different facet and way of looking at things. They may have a different way to mitigate a certain situation or have a different training perspective. It is very interesting.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
Hunting and fishing and spending time with my grandkids. My youngest grandkid is 3, and they range all the way up til 10. And there’s one on the way.
What do you like most about working at Gilbert?
I like the family atmosphere, I really enjoy the mom and pop side of it. The people they hire are like one happy family. I really enjoy that. I know they are looking out for them when I’m on the site and I’m looking out for them. I like the owners. They are very easy to get along with and they’re just good people. Truly, that’s what keeps me here. I could have left a long time ago but I decided to stay here but I chose to stay here because I like the environment and I like the people.
What does safety mean to you?
Safety is everything. You want the person to come to work and go home the same way they came in. You want to make sure everyone is working as a family. Like working with your brother and sister. You work at the finer things that they may overlook. Safety is very important in the day-to-day operation.
What are you most looking forward to over the next year?
Professionally: I really enjoy what I’m doing so I’m kind of hoping I can cruise through for the next 3 years and then retire. I like the challenge of the job. It keeps me lively.
Personally: Retiring, I really love Missouri, I think I’m going to buy me a little place on the river somewhere, sit on my deck and watch the water roll by.
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Check out more of our projects that Terry has his hands on here.
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