James Wood is definitely not a safety professional, he has no qualifications in safety and does not work in a safety role.
This has not stopped him from becoming an internationally recognised award winning Safety Speaker and author.
His passion for sharing Safety Messages and educating employees, employers and management teams on the real impact of workplace injury has seen him share his message from the workshop floor to the boardroom.
Woody as he is often known, uses his experience of having a workplace injury and the knowledge gained from visiting workplaces for over 25 years to share the ways that we can all prevent workplace injury and fatality.
The impact of hearing James Wood speak is something that will stay with you for a long time.
James has won numerous awards for his work in the field of Safety Information and was acknowledged by his peers at the Hunter Safety Awards as the 2016 WHS Champion.
“This doesn’t happen to me!”…. that was what went through my head when the doctor told me I had broken my back & damaged my spinal cord.
I was at a great stage in my life, living independently, great job & career options, nice car & a couple of motorbikes. Good friends and a steady relationship.
All of this changed because I made some wrong CHOICES while doing a simple job at work!
I was airlifted to hospital and then spent the next 3 months in hospital and then a full time rehabilitation centre for another 6 months.
It’s quite ironic that it took nine months as I basically had to learn to live all over again!
Everything that I used to be able to do easily now took much more time and planning, getting dressed, showering & personal care, I had to learn to drive a car using hand controls, and many other things that we all take for granted.
And then there are the things that I can’t do anymore. I can’t change a light bulb, I can’t push a lawn mower and it is almost impossible to take the rubbish bin out for collection.
One of the things I really struggled with after my accident was having to ask people to help me to do things that I should be able to do for myself! You have no idea how that affects your pride!
James will share his story and how it changed his life.
Read more about James’ presentation CHOICES HERE
If your team has already experienced James’ CHOICES presentation, don’t stop there!
Build on the message with his “12 Reasons” Talk and “A Day with James” Workshop.
Reach out to CNB Safe to find the right follow-up for your team.
At the time of my accident, the organisation where I worked did not offer me alternative employment, so I found myself unable to go back to the job I had spent all of my adult life doing and training for. I had to learn to live and support myself again.
As a result of my accident my career opportunities were wiped out, I just can’t do some of the things I used to be able to do. Since my accident I have had to put up with some jobs that I would not have done if I had more opportunities.
I had some good people around me, my family helped me to cope both physically & mentally. I also had a couple of mates that gave me a hand when required
But it wasn’t easy.
One of the things that happened in hospital is that we would sit around and talk about our accidents, this is when I first started to realise that most of the people I was with had been hurt due to the CHOICES that they had made…. And most of them could have been prevented!
When I went through hospital & then rehab, I saw how other people were coping with their injuries, some turned to alcohol, some dabbled in some serious drugs as a way of trying to deal with what they were going through. And some people don’t cope when they have a serious accident.
I now share my story with others in the hope that it can give them some information on what it would be like to get hurt at work.
My message is to think about the CHOICES you make, don’t let it get to the stage where you have to work out how or if you will cope with a serious injury!
I first met James Wood 20 years ago & heard his story for the first time. I have never forgotten it.
Recently I have had the pleasure of connecting with James again & organised for his story to be shared with everyone at Bengalla.
James is very genuine & again delivered a powerful safety message that people remember long after the presentation ends. His real-life experience provides a genuine reminder that one choice can change everything.
I thought that James Wood’s talk was excellent and I would recommend it to everyone. Being able to show your workforce first hand that incidents do happen and that they can change your life and those around you is a really key message.
James’ key message about choices is relevant to all industries and all workers. A simple and safer choice can make a big difference.
James delivered his message clearly and impactfully and it will make a real difference to our workforce. I really do recommend anyone using CNB in the future, Ward certainly will.
Thanks again to CNB and ‘Woody’!
James Wood delivered an outstanding presentation on making safe choices in the workplace. From the outset, he built strong rapport with the students through his natural charisma and engaging presenting style, immediately capturing their attention.
What stood out most was his ability to communicate important safety messages in a way that was clear, simple, and highly relatable for students, ensuring that all students could understand and apply the information.
By the end of the session, students were able to take away practical, easy-to-remember messages about workplace safety. James created a positive and engaging learning environment, and his presentation had a strong impact on student understanding and awareness.
This is the second engagement with Woody on a Project I have been responsible for and the content and delivery is consistent, timely and pertinent to all involved in our extended team. I would highly recommend Woody for any environment whether Industrial, Commercial, Government or private Industry. Informative and entertaining.
