The Smarter Safety Story
Smarter Safety began in 2004 when Christine and Roger combined their experience and determination to establish a business focused on helping Australian businesses manage workplace safety, quality and environmental responsibilities. What started as a small venture has grown into an established family business, with family members working from home offices and a mobile office while on the road.
A “family business” in the true meaning of the words, with eight children between Christine and Roger, 17 grandchildren at last count, and now a growing number of great-grandchildren.
In the early days, Christine and Roger travelled throughout Australia, mailing brochures ahead of their visits to different regions, driving a Land Cruiser with a large printer in the back and towing a camper trailer.
That soon evolved into an off-road caravan, eventually replaced by a small mobile home. Today, combining Christine’s extensive Safety, Quality and Environmental knowledge with Leigh’s IT skills, Smarter Safety continues to develop practical, innovative management systems that help Australian businesses meet their compliance obligations and improve workplace performance.
Smarter Safety Skills
Christine (formerly Christine Richter) brought 14 years of hands-on industry experience with Pioneer Road Services (now Fulton Hogan), including her final eight years as Quality, Safety and Environmental Manager across Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory. She further strengthened her expertise by completing a Graduate Degree in Occupational Health and Safety in July 2005.
Roger brought more than 30 years of experience managing his family's supermarket chain, providing valuable insight into the challenges faced by independent business operators. Together, their complementary experience helped shape Smarter Safety's practical, business-focused approach to workplace safety and compliance.
Smarter Safety Baseline
Christine’s Pioneer paving crews were primarily made up of first generation European migrants; great fellas who built terrific roads but many didn't speak English well and most struggled to read and write it. Christine soon learn't to re-write "lawyer talk" procedures from Head Office, making them brief & easy while ensuring a compliant result. The Smarter Safety IMS has been written in this manner.
Smarter Safety Technology
Use of modern technology makes life very easy. Fill your forms by talking to your mobile device and if you have to write, all forms have a minimal writing requirement by the operator. Furthermore, you will not need an expensive "high-flyer" to manage this IMS on a daily basis. All of our technology is created in-house via daughter Terri-Anne, who is very skilled in technology development and management.
Smarter Safety Support
Smarter Safety also provides clients with an incredibly comprehensive (virtually everything) Support Program (we would argue that ours is the most effective in the industry). Support includes professional Safety, Quality & Enviro help with tenders and Expressions of Interest ensuring best results plus a bi-weekly email newsletter with Safety Alerts, Safety Talks and much, much more.
Smarter Safety Next Generation
As Smarter Safety continued to grow, Leigh joined the family business, bringing valuable experience from his previous role as IT Manager at a major Melbourne financial institution.
Leigh has since become an integral part of Smarter Safety, working directly with clients on major projects across Australia and providing frontline advice and support. With a passion for research and a strong understanding of workplace safety legislation and industry requirements, Leigh combines practical experience with technical expertise to help businesses navigate their compliance obligations.
