How Tara Elliott became the 2024 Steps for Life national family spokesperson
In the realm of workplace safety advocacy, there are individuals whose stories not only inspire change but also foster a deeper understanding of the human cost behind statistics. Tara Elliott is one such individual, whose journey from personal tragedy to becoming a national family spokesperson for the 2024 Steps for Life campaign epitomizes resilience and commitment to a cause.
“It was very transformative,” explains Elliott as she talks about becoming involved with Threads of Life. “They gave us so many tools to just take the next step and talk to people who've lost their parents or spouses or children due to work-related incidents."
Elliott lost her father, Stephen Brown, in 2019 to a workplace incident. Brown was a machinist for 28 years. He was working on a machine when a piece of metal unexpectedly flew out it, striking him in the chest, killing him instantly.
Threads of Life helped Elliott and her family with the grieving process, and overtime, Elliott was inspired to embark on a career change. "It's become very important to me to be able to share my story and help people better understand workplace safety," she explains. Transitioning to a role as a health and safety coordinator with an asphalt company, Elliott now dedicates her days to ensuring the safety of others in her workplace.
Steps for Life is an annual campaign that raises funds to support Threads of Life’s programs that support families whose lives have been forever changed by a workplace incident.
As the national family spokesperson for the 2024 Steps for Life campaign, Elliott sees her role as an honor and a responsibility. "Being able to share my experience with Threads of Life and just how the organization is...putting the humanity into a death or an incident that forever changes someone's life.” Her goal is clear: to humanize workplace safety and make individuals pause and reflect on the real impact of safety protocols.
In her message to fellow safety professionals, Elliott highlights the importance of fostering a people-driven safety culture. "Try to put yourself in those people's shoes...empower people to want to take extra steps for safety," Elliott articulates passionately. Her advocacy extends beyond compliance, aiming to instill a genuine commitment to safety within organizations.
As Elliott's story illustrates, behind every workplace safety statistic lies a human narrative—one that demands recognition, empathy, and action. Through her role as a national family spokesperson and her daily work as a health and safety coordinator, Elliott embodies the spirit of resilience and compassion, inspiring change one story at a time.
