Lauren McFarlane, President
What Act First Safety Offers
Act First Safety provides exceptional safety training and distributes quality industrial safety supply products nationally.
Based on a comprehensive offering of products and services, we supply practical solutions to a diverse group of customers. We pride ourselves on developing excellent relationships with customers and manufacturers allowing us to focus our personalized service on matching the ideal solutions that best suit customer needs.
As a result, employers consider Act First Safety as a primary resource for training, products, legislation, trends, current practices and industry information. Product diversity and range of services, knowledge base and sensible advice save employers time and money.
Employers are increasingly required to provide safe workplaces and depend on Act First Safety for their health and safety needs.
Background
Occupational Health and Safety is a second career beginning in 2003 following a successful sales and marketing career based in advertising, publishing, research and new business development. Skills and experience were built in entrepreneurial work environments requiring aggressive goal setting and growth strategies, managerial, organizational and team building skills. The dynamic world of occupational health and safety is embraced wholeheartedly as an opportunity for life-long learning.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY – PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Ms. McFarlane founded Act First Safety after 3 years experience with a leading lift truck training company. While an excellent public speaker and facilitator, she continues to develop new and innovative training programs with employers needs in mind and with the objective to simplify occupational and health and safety for employers. A unique, environmentally friendly fire extinguisher demonstration training program was proudly launched in 2007. As the Ontario legislature ponders the possibility of defining workplace violence as an occupational hazard, a partnership developed with the leading global provider of workplace violence prevention training, the Crisis Prevention Institute, resulted in Act First Safety becoming the exclusive independent facilitator of the program in Canada. Partnerships with established businesses assist in our growth and leading edge programs continue to be developed. The introduction of online learning is scheduled for 2009 at the same time as the launch of the newly enhanced website. Future plans include the introduction of an expanding offering of both online and instructor-led safety training programs.
EDUCATION
Certification, Health and Safety Consultant, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering 2008.
Bachelor of Arts, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY June 1984. Certificate in Marketing Management, Ryerson.
While at St. Lawrence University, Ms. McFarlane was the recipient of several scholarships and awards including:
•Faculty Scholar
•Frances M. Cotter Memorial Award
•Elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, 1984
•Omicron Delta Kappa, exclusive national leadership organization
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
September 2008 – American Society for Industrial Security, Toronto Chapter, “Ontario Creeping Forward on Workplace Violence”
Affiliations
Canadian Society for Safety Engineering
Occupational Hygiene Association of Ontario
Canadian Society for Training and Development
Industrial Accident Prevention Association
Proudly supporting charitable non-profits including Habitat for Humanity and local food banks.