Colleague Spotlight
Gail Dyer, Principal Health & Safety Consultant
Gail's background
Hi, I’m Gail and I’ve been with WorkNest (formerly Ellis Whittam) since July 2016, though I’ve worked in the health and safety field since 1996.
I started off as a health and safety coordinator at an electronics company; like quite a few health and safety professionals, this role was added to my job description as no-one else in the company wanted the responsibility.
From there, I achieved NVQ Level 3 in Occupational Health and Safety and went on to work for a plastic injection moulding company, which had more complicated and challenging manufacturing risks, from carcinogenic substances to machinery guarding and power presses. It was here that I completed my Level 4 in Occupational Health and Safety, before moving into a health and safety management role at Pinewood Studies. This was a real eye opener as to the complexities of ensuring safety is at the core of production.
I moved into consultancy work in 2006, which led me to my role at WorkNest. Here, I support a diverse range of clients, from SMEs employing 10 staff at a single site to large care providers within 10 care homes and 100 employees. The variety of clients is the most enjoyable part of my job; I could be in an office one day and a manufacturing business the next!
Day to day, you’ll find me completing health and safety audits and Fire Risk Assessments, reviewing/completing risk assessments, developing health and safety manuals/handbooks, conducting training and creating training packages, and answering clients’ queries over phone and email.
My proudest achievement to date is becoming a Chartered Member of the Institute of Safety and Health (CMIOSH). I had put it off for years thinking I wouldn’t be good enough, but after support and encouragement from my WorkNest colleagues, I applied and passed! That’s another thing I love about working here – we’re a really supportive team and look out for each other, which ultimately benefits our clients. If we don’t know something, there’s always someone in the team who does and is willing to help.
Outside of work, I’m a keen traveller and especially love visiting Australia as some of my family are there. I’m fortunate to have worked and travelled around the world a lot and have been to some amazing places such as Luxembourg, Greece, Beijing, America and Kenya.
Gail’s qualifications and industry memberships
Level 4 Occupational Health and Safety
Chartered Member of the Institute of Safety and Health (CMIOSH)
Tier 1 Fire Risk Assessor (TIFSM)
DSE Assessor
ISO9001/18001 and OHAS 14001 Lead Auditor
Who you’ll be working with
Client stories
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Gus Hosein
Executive Director, Privacy International
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WorkNest supports our 280 staff members with Employment Law and Health & Safety and has provided quality management training too.”
Lisa Best
Head of Service Delivery, Catalyst Choice
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We get a great deal of comfort and satisfaction knowing that we have support as and when we need it, in a decisive and responsive way.”
Richard Berry
Group HR Director, Culina Group
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We moved our legal support to WorkNest (formerly Law at Work) having previously used a time and line law firm. It was important, though, that an all-inclusive fee structure did not come at the expense of quality. Thankfully we’ve been delighted with the service we’ve received from WorkNest.”
Chief Executive
Waverley Care
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What we recognised in WorkNest is the background that they have. They are able to supply knowledge and experience in a number of disciplines, which enables us to develop our business in a way that’s safe, to do it on time and with a quality to it.”
Debbie Rainbow
Director of Human Resources and Health & Safety,
Bluestone National Park Resort
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Celia McKeon
Chief Executive, The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT)
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As the company started to get larger, we knew we had to protect our employees and our contractors both onsite and in the offices. WorkNest is exactly what we needed to move the company forward.”
Joanne Beaver
Operations Director, Beaverfit
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Pineapple have worked with the team at WorkNest (formerly Law at Work) since 2003, and we have built a trusted partnership together. We particularly like WorkNest’s concise and practical advice concerning employment law/HR issues and also appreciate their totally supportive approach in all areas of health and safety.”
General Manager
Pineapple Dance Studios
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I’ve taken WorkNest into every organisation that I’ve worked with. I’ve introduced them to many teams and many colleagues and referred them with absolute pleasure because I genuinely trust in the service that we get.”
People Director, The Works
