A man who began his career as a hardrock miner has been elected as the new chair of the board of directors for Workplace Safety North (WSN) and Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR).
Derek Budge, a well-known mining health and safety expert, was named to the post in an announcement from WSN on Dec. 3.
"With almost 40 years of experience in the mining industry, Budge brings a strong background in safety and leadership to his new role," said the news release.
Workplace Safety North is a provincially funded agency based in Sudbury and North Bay to promote health and safety in mining and forestry.
Budge started his career as a miner in the early 1980s, working for 14 years at the same operation. During that time, he became interested in workplace health and safety.
He became a certified worker safety representative through training with Ontario Natural Resources Safety Association, which is now part of WSN.
Budge is the director of health, safety and environment at Redpath Mining Inc. in North Bay where he is responsible for ensuring Redpath’s management of health, safety, and environment is consistent at Redpath's global operations.
Prior to moving to North Bay, Budge was a health and safety field representative for Redpath at the Kidd Mine in Timmins. He was also previously employed for a significant time with Noranda Mines. He also has several years experience with the Ontario Mine Rescue program.
WSN said because of his passion for safety, Budge was involved in advanced training in areas of mine rescue and safety management, which has included nearly a quarter-century with Redpath.
“My journey has given me a deep understanding of both the hands-on and management aspects of safety,” Budge said.
With the encouragement of his employer, Budge became a member of the WSN board in 2021. He has served as vice-chair for the past two years and said he is pleased to move into the chair's role.
“I’m excited to work alongside WSN president and CEO Mike Parent, vice-chair Eric Haapamaki, and the entire board to advance the organization’s vision and mission,” said Budge.
WSN said Budge will oversee the work of the WSN board and its four committees, ensuring they stay aligned with the organization’s goals.
He also plans to strengthen partnerships and continue promoting programs like Ontario Mine Rescue, which he calls a critical part of worker safety, said the release.
