Tell us about your company. What services do you provide?

All Safety Mena started operations in Orlando in June 2010. Our goal is to provide our clients high quality counseling, education, coaching, strategies, equipment, tools and insights in safety training that will help them to become a much more productive company and avoid accidents in the future. All Safety Mena LLC is a distributor of industrial supplies, personal protective equipment, tools and materials. We also provide safety consulting professionals for any industry nationwide – helping companies create a safe, injury-free work space environment.

What made you decide to start your own business?

My primary goal was freedom, of course. I believe that working for myself is simply more rewarding than working for someone else, despite the hurdles and difficulties most of us encounter along the way.

How did you get into the safety industry? Were you working for another business before or was it just something that interested you?

I spent more than 20 years in the coal mining industry in Venezuela. I started from the position of Safety and Security Manager and worked my way through the ranks, holding positions in production, planning and various others until reaching that of General Manager. In 2001, I was trained by Washington Group International Consultants in Safety Procedures and Operations in Kemmerer Mine, Wyoming and Denver, Colorado. I learned from people who know how to do the job in world class coal mines. So, here I am, trying to follow their steps and being a proud Safety Consultant. Now I own All Safety Mena and, starting in June 2013, I took on the challenge of developing the East Central Orlando area into a top performing franchise of A Buyers Choice Home Inspection.

What do you like best about running your own business?

No two days are exactly alike, and that’s part of what makes the journey fun.

What is the greatest challenge you face in running your own business?

The biggest challenge that I face in running my business is establishing credibility. We are working really hard to create trust with our customers. For us, it’s a top priority to build our credibility along with the credibility of our service.

How do you keep a balance between work and free time?

I try to focus my time and attention on things I can control and priorities; family is my first priority. In my free time I like going to the theme parks (especially Magic Kingdom) and spending time with my friends.

What’s the most common thing you find people do incorrectly in the workplace as far as safety is concerned?

About the most common thing I find people do incorrectly in the workplace as far as safety is concerned (and also the cause of accidents) is trailing wires, and wet floors. Both of them are normally the cause, and – though the causation is always different – there is a common theme throughout – almost all falls could have been avoided with just a little precaution.

Do you have any tips for a simple change someone can make to start creating a safer work environment?

Whether you work at a business, manage it, or own it, you all have the same goal: you don’t want anyone to get hurt on the job.It’s up to you to decide how best to operate a safe and healthy workplace, and to put your plan into practice. No matter how big your business is, your way of creating this enviroment reflects upon your whole organization.

Cultivate a safety culture with mutual respect and open communication. If you manage a small business in a low-risk industry or services company, your system could be simply listening to your employees’ concerns and responding to them and a 5-Minute Safety Meeting. What’s most important is that your system works for your organization.

What quote or saying do you live by?

Leave no one behind.