Safe Work is for Life: Catherine's Top 10 safety lessons from behind the wheel

As part of Safe Work Month, we're celebrating the people who make safety a priority every day. One of those people is Catherine from Transit Systems NSW's Kingsgrove depot.

With seven years of service, Catherine has earned a reputation as a driver who consistently goes above and beyond for her customers while maintaining a strong safety record. Her commitment to safe driving, passenger care and looking out for those around her reflects exactly what this year's Safe Work Month theme, "Safe Work is for Life," is all about.

For Catherine, safety isn't just part of the job. As a mother of six daughters and grandmother of 17 grandchildren, she carries that mindset everywhere she goes. Whether she's behind the wheel, spending time with family, or helping passengers reach their destination safely, she understands that the choices we make every day can have a lasting impact on others.

Drawing on her experience as a professional driver, Catherine has shared her top 10 safety lessons for work, home and life.

1. Safety doesn't end when your shift does

For Catherine, safety is a mindset that stays with you long after you've left work.

"Safe Work is for Life means that safety isn't something you switch on when you start your shift and switch off when you go home."

As a mother of six daughters and grandmother of 17 grandchildren, returning home safely each day is what safety is really about.

"Getting home safely to my family at the end of every day is incredibly important to me."

2. Look after yourself first

Catherine believes safety starts before she even gets behind the wheel.

"It means making sure I've had enough sleep, looking after my health, eating well, staying hydrated and keeping myself physically fit."

She enjoys running and exercising and understands the importance of staying physically prepared for a role spent largely behind the wheel.

"I've learnt that good posture and flexibility matter too when you spend so much of your working day driving."

3. Remember every decision affects someone else

One of the things Catherine loves most about her role is the opportunity to care for others.

"You're responsible not only for yourself, but for every passenger who steps onto your bus and everyone else sharing the road with you."

It starts from the moment a customer approaches the bus.

"I don't want anyone to feel they have to rush to catch me."

4. Small actions can make a big difference

For Catherine, great customer service and safety go hand in hand.

"I make sure I pull in as safely and as close to the kerb as possible, lower the bus when someone needs easier access, and give passengers enough time to get on and be safely seated before I move off."

While these actions may seem routine, she sees them as some of the most important decisions she makes each day.

"These might seem small, but when you're responsible for so many people throughout a working day, those small decisions can make a big difference."

5. If in doubt, check it out

Working in a safety-focused environment has reinforced a simple rule.

"One thing I've learnt is never to presume. If in doubt, check it out."

Whether it's a pre-departure inspection or checking mirrors before moving off, Catherine believes taking an extra moment can prevent incidents.

6. Your Mirrors Are Your World

Professional drivers know that awareness is everything.

"As a bus driver, your mirrors really are your world."

Catherine constantly monitors surrounding traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, boarding passengers and customers moving through the bus.

"I constantly check them for surrounding traffic, pedestrians, passengers approaching the bus, people boarding or getting off, and to make sure passengers have safely moved to their seats before I pull away."

7. Don't Let the Timetable Pressure You

One safety message has stayed with Catherine throughout her career.

"Not letting timetable pressure or delays affect how you drive."

Whether it's traffic, roadworks or passenger needs, she believes safety always comes first.

"If an elderly passenger needs more time to sit down, or extra assistance getting on or off the bus, their safety comes before the thought of rushing to the next stop."

8. Speak up and look out for others

Safety isn't just about your own actions.

"As drivers, we have a duty of care to speak up and report hazards, dangerous driving, or bus problems when we see them."

Creating a safer workplace means looking out for each other.

"It's about looking out for each other rather than assuming someone else will deal with it."

9. Never become complacent

After years behind the wheel, Catherine knows every journey is different.

"There can be a child stepping out unexpectedly, a cyclist in a blind spot, a car stopping suddenly or a passenger moving inside the bus."

That's why she constantly scans ahead, checks mirrors and anticipates risks.

"I try to anticipate what is happening around me rather than only reacting once something happens."

10. Bring safety home with you

Ultimately, Catherine believes Safe Work Month is about much more than workplace procedures.

"Safe Work is for Life really means bringing that responsibility home with you."

That mindset has made her more patient, more observant and less willing to take unnecessary risks.

And while safety is at the heart of what she does, she also believes small acts of kindness matter too.

"We have the opportunity every day not only to get people where they need to go safely, but also to make a positive difference in someone's day. Sometimes, something as simple as a smile and a good morning can do that."

Safety is a Way of Life

For Catherine, "Safe Work is for Life" is much more than a workplace slogan. It's a commitment that shapes how she approaches her work, her health and her family life.

Whether she's carrying passengers across Sydney or spending time with her children and grandchildren, the principle remains the same: look after yourself, look out for others, and never compromise on safety.

That's what Safe Work Month is all about.