Safety internship 'personal' for tech student

  Friday, July 31, 2015 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

At an early age, Zach Axton learned the value of hard work. He watched with admiration as his older relatives put their all into their jobs.

“Men like my grandfather and my uncle really taught me the importance of a strong work ethic,” he said. “Seeing them work hard to provide for their families had a definite influence on me.”

He also saw, however, the challenges that can result from certain types of hard work.

“I saw a lot of injuries in my family that were sustained at work,” he said. “That showed me the importance of workplace safety.”

Now an Environmental and Safety Management major at Pittsburg State, Axton is pursuing a career in helping to make workplaces as safe as possible. This summer, he is getting a head start on that career as a risk control intern at CNA Insurance’s Louisville, Ky., branch.

Axton, a Wichita native, said gaining experience inspecting work sites for safety measures, which helps CNA decide on the proper insurance coverage for the job.

“This internship is a wonderful opportunity to have because it’s showing me a different side of industry,” he said. “It’s showing me how to look for certain safety-related aspects of job sites. I’m gaining a whole new perspective on the industry side of what we talk about every day at Pitt.

"A part of this experience is very personal for me, because I want to make sure men and women can work hard while also being safe," he said. "They should be able to go to work, then go home to enjoy time with their families."

Upon graduation from Pitt State, Axton plans to enter the trainee program at CNA and begin a career there as an associate risk management certified safety professional.