Steve Allen to retire: A champion for safety

After more than a decade of service, Steve Allen is preparing to retire from his role as EHSR Manager at OneFortyOne. His journey has been anything but conventional – marked by resilience, transformation, and a deep commitment to keeping people safe.

Steve’s career in safety began unexpectedly. After a challenging departure from his role as a regional saw doctor manager, he was offered a lifeline by Mike Epp, who placed him in various project roles. One of those projects led him to work alongside a timber expert from New Zealand, earning him recognition and eventually a role as Safety Administrator at Lakeside Sawmill. From there, his passion for safety grew, and within 18 months, he was back in a regional safety role.

Throughout his career, Steve travelled extensively, gaining insights from sawmills and safety conferences across Australia. These experiences helped him bring innovative ideas back to the Jubilee site – often leapfrogging years of development by adopting proven solutions seen elsewhere.

One of the most formative moments in Steve’s safety journey came before he officially entered the field: the tragic loss of two colleagues at Lakeside. These events deeply impacted him and shaped his belief that every safety statistic represents a real person – a friend, a colleague, a family member. This perspective became a cornerstone of his approach to safety.

Steve faced many challenges, particularly the resistance to change. “This is how we’ve always done it” was a common refrain, but Steve’s persistence and ability to communicate the “why” behind safety changes helped shift mindsets over time.

Steve’s influences and relationships

In his early years, Steve was fortunate to be mentored by Dan May, former National Safety Manager at Weyerhaeuser. “Dan was one of the most inspirational people I’ve worked with,” Steve said. “He was level-headed, committed, and never wavered when he knew something was right – even when others pushed back.”

Dan’s influence helped shape Steve’s leadership style, instilling the resilience and clarity that would guide him throughout his career. “He taught me to stay the course and stand firm when it mattered—that shaped how I approached every challenge.”

Looking to the future

One of his proudest achievements? A remarkable 81% reduction in TRIFR over 10 years. “I needed to know I was making a difference,” he said. “If I wasn’t adding value, I wouldn’t have stayed.” That graph now hangs on his wall, a testament to the impact of his work.

Steve’s reflections also touched on the bigger picture. “This mill has fed thousands of families over decades,” he said. “If we do this right, it’ll still be doing that in 20, 30, even 50 years. That’s pretty amazing.” He recalled playing sport as a child with kids whose parents worked at the mill – proof of its enduring role in the community.

As he looks ahead to retirement, Steve is looking forward to spending more time on his hobby farm, tackling long-awaited renovations, travelling, and possibly volunteering. “I don’t have set plans yet,” he admitted, “but I know I want to give back in some way.”

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Source & image credit: OneFortyOne