The One Percent Safer Team
Andrew Sharman
Founder and Chair of the Board of Trustees
People are losing their lives today because of the work they do: nearly 2.8 million lives lost a year, that’s one every ten seconds. Through these tragic accidents real people turn into statistics, in the words of UB40, they become the “one in ten, a number on a list, even though I don’t exist… nobody knows me, even though I’m always there, a statistical reminder of a world that doesn’t care.”
I created One Percent Safer because I can’t accept these statistics – and I know we all have it in us to effect change and create a safer world. I hatched the idea of somehow harnessing wisdom into some sort of compendium that any leader, anywhere, could access and put into practice in order to build some incremental progress towards a safer, healthier world of work. Opening my ‘little black book’ and firing off a few emails with a rough concept of the book felt exciting at first – and then daunting to find, the next morning, no replies.
I waited. A reply arrived, and then another, and another. The contributions kept coming, from my ‘professional heroes’, eminent academics, top-notch scientists, business leaders, those with a story to share. Their stories, all 142 of them, are this book. Together, cumulatively, with thousands of small steps, we will save lives, today, tomorrow, every day.
Tim Eldridge
Trustee
Having had a long career in health and safety, I am deeply aware of the need to support those who want to protect people at work from harm, but don’t have all the resources and skills to do this. One Percent Safer is both the mantra and methodology to help achieve this and I am proud to be able to support people across the world deliver on our vision.
Melissa Mark
Trustee
I immediately joined when the opportunity came to me as I am totally passionate about making a difference to safety and health in the workplace and I am supportive of any program or mission that seeks to stem the negative impacts to families, communities and the workplace. I believe in collaboration and learning from each other and this is the underpinning philosophy of the One Percent Safer movement so I am proud to be one of the One Percent Safer game changers!
Emma Evans
Trustee
I joined the ranks at the One Percent Safer Foundation actually because its core aims, values and beliefs align with my own. I whole-heartedly believe in ‘giving back’ to society and with One Percent Safer that means helping to raise more awareness about health and safety and the benefits from marginal gains and continuous improvement.
Norman Richie
Trustee
Norman Ritchie was educated as a Mechanical Engineer at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He has 38 years of experience of project and risk management, largely in the oil and gas industry. As a Director of vPSI group, LLC, which he co-founded in 2003, Norman and his colleagues provide consulting and training in project management, performance measurement and improvement, principally in the areas of risk, loss prevention, safety, human performance and organizational learning.
He is an internationally sought-after speaker and acknowledged subject matter expert. A pioneer of web-based safety applications, Norman holds a broad US patent for online job safety analysis systems. Norman was a contributing author to the 2020 “One Percent Safer” book project. A past Chair of the American Society of Safety Professionals’ Houston Energy Corridor section, Norman was honored to be named the 2021 Safety Professional of the Year for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and the US Gulf Coast.
In his spare time, Norman is President of the board of an animal welfare non-profit, is a Non-Executive Director of the One Percent Safer Foundation, and a GlobalScot Business Ambassador for Scottish Development International. Selected by Society of Petroleum Engineers International (SPE) as 2023-24 Distinguished Lecturer on the topic “New Methods for Learning from Incidents Involving Human & Organizational Performance”.
Kevin Barr
Trustee
I am a dedicated professional in the realm of Health, Safety, Environmental, and Quality (HSEQ). Working as the head of department across multiple projects, I’ve spent years cultivating expertise in creating safer and more sustainable workplace environments.
My journey in this field has been driven by a passion for continuous cultural improvement within businesses. I firmly believe that enhancing safety culture not only protects employees but also leads to more efficient and ethical operations.
My dedication to health and safety is deeply personal. As a father, I understand the paramount importance of ensuring that every individual returns home safely after a day’s work. My wife and daughter are the center of my world, and their well-being is my utmost priority.
This is precisely why I’ve taken on a new role as a trustee for One Percent Safer. This charity’s mission resonates deeply with me. It’s not just about incremental improvements; it’s about making a tangible, positive impact on workplace safety. Even a one percent enhancement can save lives and prevent accidents.
Joining as a trustee, I see an opportunity to leverage my experience and expertise to help steer One Percent Safer toward its noble goal. Together with like-minded individuals, I aim to contribute to a safer, more secure working world. Every worker deserves to return home unharmed, and I’m excited to be part of an organisation that is dedicated to making this a reality.
I look forward to collaborating with fellow trustees and supporters to further this vital mission and create a safer, healthier, and more productive future for workers everywhere.
Jakub Ogorek
Trustee
I firmly believe that promoting safety takes one event at a time. Making workplaces safer is nothing more than a sum of little fractions of personal and collective efforts, based on solid foundations, guidance and behavioural development. I joined the One Percent Safer because the foundation goals align with my vision of the safe workplace, which everyone should be able to leave unhurt every day. I am delighted that I will be able use my operational experience through efforts to improve the world a bit and contribute back to the societies.
Evrim Tuncay
Trustee
I am graduated from Istanbul Technical University in Turkey as a Mechanical Engineer, I have 27 years of work experience of oil & gas, aerospace, marine, industrial construction, gold mining and FMCG.
It is an absolute pleasure to join OPS for the great purpose. I am glad that I had the opportunity to contribute more to society. Experiencing the last three decades; yes, a lot has changed, but a lot to do as well. OPS is converting the silent thoughts of many people into actual actions. I am and will always be proud of both participating and contributing.
Oluchi Ogbata
Trustee
Ogbata Oluchi is a highly accomplished Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) professional with a remarkable career adorned with numerous awards.
Currently serving as the National Training Coordinator at Best Edge International, Oluchi plays a pivotal role in training and shaping the next generation of HSSE experts. Her extensive skill set includes certifications as a first aider, fire marshal, care professional, and workplace incident investigator, showcasing her dedication to safety and well-being.
Beyond her HSSE expertise, Oluchi is a certified Project Management Professional, enabling her to manage complex projects effectively. Furthermore, she holds the esteemed position of Health and Safety Ambassador for the World Safety Organization (WSO), USA where she advocates for HSSE awareness and best practices on a worldwide scale. Also, she has recently been appointed a Director/Trustee at the One Percent Safer Foundation.
In essence, Ogbata Oluchi’s biography reflects a career marked by excellence, leadership, and a steadfast commitment to creating safer and healthier environments for all.
