Instructor Highlight: Dave Baker
Dave Baker's career exemplifies unwavering dedication to occupational safety and health. As an instructor, he continues to shape the next generation of safety professionals, blending academic rigor with practical experience gleaned from his career. This month, we are excited to highlight his commitment to excellence and his impact on safety standards!
Inspiration to Teach Health and Safety
When asked what inspires him to teach health and safety, Dave replied:
"At the completion of my career with OSHA, I felt that I could continue to contribute to the safety of workers. Teaching at the UW Occupational Health & Safety Continuing Education Center allows me to utilize my training and experience to help both employers and employees. It is very rewarding to me to know that maybe I helped someone arrive home safely at the end of a workday."
Professional Journey
Dave's career started at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), where he dedicated 31 years to enhancing workplace safety standards. His tenure at OSHA saw him excel in roles such as Compliance Officer, Voluntary Protection Program Manager, and Area Director. Notably, he conducted over 950 onsite inspections across construction, general industry, and maritime sectors, ensuring adherence to safety regulations and investigating incidents to prevent future occurrences.
Dave's impact extended further during his five-year stewardship of the Region X OSHA Voluntary Protection Program. Under his leadership, this program recognized exemplary safety practices in private industries and federal agencies, emphasizing hazard prevention, worksite analysis, training, and management-worker involvement.
Transitioning to the role of Area Director for the Washington Area Office, Dave supervised a team responsible for enforcing occupational safety laws through over 3000 inspections. His oversight also included managing Washington State's safety performance indicators and evaluating consultation programs.
Dave's military service as an Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel further underscored his leadership in safety operations, including a groundbreaking deployment to Afghanistan in 2002 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Academic and Current Role
Building on his vast experience, Dave now imparts his wealth of knowledge as an instructor at the University of Washington's OSHA Pacific Northwest Education Center. He specializes in delivering courses focused on general industry and construction, equipping future safety professionals with essential skills and insights.
Upcoming Courses
Don't miss the opportunity to join Dave Baker's class! Enroll in OSHA #510 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry from July 15 to July 19, in an online virtual classroom setting. This course covers OSHA Standards, policies, and procedures in the construction industry, emphasizing construction safety and health principles and identifying the most hazardous areas.
