Tell us about the business.
AMAST Safety & Rescue is a labour of love for the owner. We were originally established as a safety and rescue training business for the mining industry but have grown to offer a range of services in different industries and have recently opened our doors to the public. Our ultimate goal is to be a one-stop shop for our clients’ safety and rescue needs. We offer training and development in workplace safety such as first aid, safe work at heights and confined space, plus comprehensive rescue training that aligns with industry needs.
How long have you been doing business?
AMAST Safety & Rescue came about in 2017 through a partnership between Darryl Dhu and Hazeldean Training and Development. Darryl had been working as a trainer/assessor for Tony Hazeldean since 2010 and the two formed Australian Management & Safety Training (later trading as AMAST Safety & Rescue), with Tony focusing on mine management training and Darryl on the rescue side. In 2018 Tony sold his share to Darryl, who began expanding the services AMAST offered.
How many people work for the business?
Employee numbers fluctuate with the contracts we have. Rescue personnel we can vary from around 20-30 up to 100 some years. Trainer numbers remain pretty consistent as we don’t have a lot of turnover of clients. Once they experience our service, they normally become long-term clients.
Describe a typical day at ‘The office’.
For me, it could be anything from the day-to-day running of the business and organising tenders to visiting clients or conducting training. I still get hands-on when I can to maintain relationships with client personnel, particularly the rescue teams we train.
What are the biggest challenges facing your business?
Personally, I believe online training has become an issue, not just for our business, but for industry in general. Through my face-to-face training I have noticed a drastic decline in worker knowledge and skills in recent years which I believe can be attributed to the amount of online training available. I am a strong believer that high-risk activities such as working at heights and confined space can’t be taught properly online, irrespective of whether the person has completed it previously. Companies need to focus on keeping their workers safe, ensuring they are trained properly and that people they trust to deliver these skills are delivering the quality they are paying for.
What are the biggest opportunities for your business right now?
Growth. I believe there are ample opportunities for our business to continue to grow and for our clients to benefit from this. In saying that, I still believe a company such as ours benefits tremendously from the personal touch – our managers, trainers and office staff all knowing and understanding our clients well.
What is the business most proud of?
Our people and our reputation. We have several clients who have been with us for many years due to the quality we offer across the board.
Community or other causes close to its heart and values?
Educating the future is a strong value of mine. From my diesel fitting days where I used to push my employers hard to take on apprentices to AMAST offering traineeships to the younger generation in both office qualifications and rescue.
Any employees that deserve a shout out?
All of them, but especially our office staff. They often go unacknowledged but are a vital part of our business, integral in keeping the quality and reputation of our services at the standard our clients have come to expect.
