Before he became a Health, Safety and Wellness leader with CUSW, 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗔𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 spent nearly two decades roofing and building a business with his father, learning firsthand what hard work truly means.

In this episode, David shares his journey from starting his construction career at an early age to becoming a Joint Health and Safety Representative at Hydro One and Chair of the CUSW Health, Safety and Wellness Committee.

Since stepping into the role in 2020, David has become a powerful voice for workers, not by policing, but by protecting. He talks about what it really means to represent members, how safety is about people and not paperwork, and why this role has changed him both professionally and personally.

From mentorship and certifications to Mental Health First Aid and collaboration with organizations like the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, David reminds us that safety leadership is about awareness, accountability, and humanity.

This conversation is about culture, courage, and protecting someone’s parent, partner, or child every single day. 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱?  Feel free to reach out to him directly at 𝗱𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀@𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘄.𝗰𝗮, and if you are looking for training opportunities, visit 𝗵𝘁𝘁𝗽𝘀://𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘄.𝗰𝗮/𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽/𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘄/𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴⁠ ⁠

If you are considering taking a training course and wondering whether it is eligible for tuition reimbursement, email ⁠𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼@𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁.𝗰𝗮 ⁠

Don’t forget to visit ⁠https://www.cusw.ca/ to explore more opportunities and resources. If you have a story to share, a guest to suggest, or a topic you’d like to hear on the podcast, email Dan at ⁠ 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁@𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘄.𝗰𝗮⁠⁠. 

And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and colleagues to help shine the spotlight on the work happening at CUSW!

Listen how one member’s commitment is helping build a stronger, safer CUSW. 🔗https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460173/episodes/18762992-safety-reps-protect-they-don-t-police-with-david-aviles-episode-19.mp3?download=true

Tap to watch on YouTube! 🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avaTZw_fZAo

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🎵 Music Credits: Original music by Glen MacNeil (lyrics, vocals, guitar) with production by Brad MacNeil.

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