Bios

Gordon Coffey

Gordon Coffey, President, Specialty Safety Services Inc.

Gordon Coffey is president of Specialty Safety Services, Inc. Prior to starting his own company in 2000, Gordon was employed 22 years with the largest TPA in the State of Washington, the last 10 years as Loss Control Manager.

Gordon is a safety management consultant and motivational safety trainer. Over the past 25 years he has provided safety consultation and training programs that have resulted in cost saving upwards of seven figures for an industry cross section of Oregon and Washington state fund and self-Insured employers.

His experience includes serving as the main safety consultant on Portland Oregon’s historic Banfield Light Rail construction project. As part of that assignment he created and produced an all contractor new employee safety orientation and authored a highly effective safety incentive program.

He has developed comprehensive multi-media safety training programs in Accident Cause Analysis, Self-Inspections, Construction Site Hazard Awareness, and Workplace Ergonomics.

He has created and taught a fully accredited college safety training curriculum for various craft unions in construction including forklift operators, electricians, pipe fitters, sheet metal workers, laborers, carpenters and plumbers.

Gordon has also developed a popular, humorous, and off-the-cuff approach to back injury prevention training called, "Back, Again!' In addition, Gordon’s power listening training called, "Is Anybody Out There?" challenges the commonly held communication paradigm.

As a third degree black belt, Gordon has created a motivational seminar, "Black Belt Leadership." His unique style of training is straight up, hard hitting, and cuts through the denial barriers.

Accomplishments

  • 25 years experience specializing in self-insured employers.
  • Safety Instructor for the Washington Self-Insurer’s Association.
  • Developed comprehensive multi-media safety training programs for numerous industries, tailoring each program to be industry and site-specific.
  • Training programs and consultation have resulted in significant cost savings to all clients.
  • Active participant with and presenter for the Puget Sound Area Safety Summit.
  • OSHA 10 and 30 Hour Construction and General Industry Outreach trainer.

Herb Sherburne

Herb Sherburne, Specialty Safety Services, Inc.

Herb Sherburne has worked in the safety and workers compensation field for the last 22 years.

For the last year and a half he has worked as a Safety/Claims Training Consultant for Specialty Safety Services. Herb’s Washington State comp experience allows Specialty Safety Services to offer comprehensive workers’ compensation claims consultation and training.

From 2001 to 2007 he worked as the Training Coordinator for the Washington Self-Insurers Association. During that time he assisted in the development and presentation of numerous safety and comp related training programs. He expanded WSIA's basic Claims Training Series and oversaw the development of the association's professional designation. That class, the Washington Workers' Compensation Professional (WWCP) is a college style evening class that requires students to attend 36 weeks of instructions and pass a series of examinations to receive their designation. Herb coordinated the association's first web and video-conferences. He was responsible for scheduling and presenting 20 to 25 training sessions per year.

Prior to joining WSIA he worked 25 years for the Seattle Times. He was The Times Safety Manager for 13 of those years. In that role he was responsible for the company's Safety and Workers' Compensation programs. During that time he helped develop a claims team concept that incorporated all phases of claims management.

Herb worked with The Times Training Department and has 13 years experience as a facilitator for Steven Covey’s "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". He is also a certified "Medic First Aid" instructor.

He is a Past President of the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (1996-1997) and was selected the Chapter’s Safety Professional of the Year (1999 –2000). He received the Washington Self-Insurance Association’s Evergreen Award for outstanding achievement (2006-2007)

Using his varied background - along with a common sense approach, humor and enthusiasm - he delivers presentations on a number of topics (safety, accident investigation, managing for safety, driver training, workers' compensation, ergonomics, and individual and team motivation). His use of examples from his work and personal life allows him to interact and connect successfully with the audience.

Rhett Carpenter

Rhett Carpenter, Specialty Safety Services, Inc.

Rhett Carpenter has worked with many construction industry general contractors and subcontractors throughout the Pacific Northwest. He has performed countless construction jobsite safety inspections, evaluating safety processes and procedures. Rhett has also conducted many formal safety audits to verify the effectiveness of contractor’s safety programs. Some of Rhett’s services include state and federal regulatory compliance inspections as well as specialized construction safety training in many categories.

Mr. Carpenter is a Region X, Authorized OSHA Outreach Instructor at the University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. Rhett is involved in many organizations and provides instruction in a broad range of topics in both Construction and General industry.

Professional Certifications and Organizations

  • Construction Safety and Health Technician, CHST
  • Certified Flagging Instructor and Traffic Control Supervisor, TCS
  • Certified First Aid/CPR/AED, Instructor
  • 40 hr Hazardous Waste Operations, Instructor
  • Hazardous Waste Site Supervisor
  • Construction Storm Water Pollution Prevention, SWPP
  • "Fit For Work" Substance Abuse, Supervisor
  • Mobile Crane Site Supervisor
  • Forklift/Aerial Lift Trainer
  • Steering Committee/Puget Sound Safety Summit
  • Member of the Seattle Vicinity Construction Safety Council
  • Presenter and member of the ResCon Safety Alliance
  • Instructor at the OSHA Region X Education Center at the University of Washington:
    • Disaster Site Worker 5600, Train the Trainer, UW
    • Trenching and Soil Mechanics 3010, Instructor, UW
    • OSHA Standards for the General Industry 511, Instructor, UW
    • OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry 510, Instructor, UW
    • Standards in Construction Industry 500, Train the Trainer, UW
    • Fall Arrest System 3110, Instructor, UW

EDUCATION

Rhett Carpenter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health Management, while specializing in Risk Management and Environmental Management at Central Washington University. Rhett was also an integral member of the Central Washington University football team. His appreciation to the environment is reflected through his love of outdoors and addiction to fishing! Rhett is a "Steelheader" supreme!