Rohan Sykes

As Rohan Sykes lay on a trolley in the back of an ambulance with horrific burns following a workplace accident, he thought his time was up and he would never see his family again. Moments later, he would go into an induced coma.

It had been a normal Friday up until the mid-morning incident in 2011. Rohan, a qualified maintenance fitter, and a colleague were carrying out a routine plunger and roster change on a machine at a glass bottle factory in Melbourne’s west, where he had worked for nearly six months.

As Rohan followed normal procedure, wearing the correct protective equipment and fire retardant shirt, he became exposed to radiant heat from molten glass and his torso caught fire. After both high-pressure emergency hoses near the machine failed, Rohan resorted to rolling across the factory floor.

By the time a colleague could douse him with a fire extinguisher, the damage was done – Rohan was fighting for his life. He suffered third-degree burns to 35 per cent of his body, spent three days in an induced coma and the following six weeks in hospital undergoing countless procedures including skin grafts and blood transfusions.

His rehabilitation would go on for years. All the while with unwavering love and support from his wife Claire and two daughters, Zoey and Dakota, who were two years old and five months old at the time of the accident. Rohan received permanent physical scarring as well as mental and emotional anguish including post-traumatic stress. However, he harnessed that anguish to fuel is pre-existing passion for workplace safety and form a mission to help others avoid the pain that he went through.

Motivated by the notion that ‘every worker should feel they are entitled to go to work and come home every day’, Phoenix Workplace Safety, and Rohan’s workplace safety speaking, were born.

At BMD, we realise the benefit to the growth of our positive behavioural safety culture in providing initiatives such as those delivered by Phoenix Workplace Safety. The compelling message inspired our people to take more ownership and accountability towards their safety after the presentation. Our workplace value, ‘family’, was reiterated throughout Rohan’s delivery which meant there was a personal connection to business objectives. Rohan is down to earth in his approach which means it was easy to discuss experiences in person.

Andrew Park, HSEQ Manager – BMD Constructions

Rohan presented his story to the Geelong QA Electrical workgroup, leaving us all with a strong message; ‘Safety is everyone’s responsibility’. His presentation of telling his story and the use of dramatic visual displays, were very confronting and showed us all how your life could change in a split second when procedures and processes are not in place or followed. His presentation also reminded us that the effects are not just on the victim of the accident but also on his family members and work colleagues who journeyed with him on the long road to recovery. Rohan is a capable guest speaker suitable for any business that is aiming to improve their safety culture and make safety their number one priority.

Scott Martin, General Manager – QA Electrical Pty Ltd

Phoenix Workplace Safety

From near tragedy, a passion for workplace and personal safety practices has been born and Rohan is using his harrowing story and experiences to open the eyes of others through Phoenix Workplace Safety.

Rohan has overcome extreme physical trauma with third degree burns to more than a third of his body. And despite lingering emotional pain and suffering, he is passionate about using his 2011 workplace accident, which nearly claimed his life, to help others.

Rohan’s talks and presentations are motivating, inspiring and informative, a must for all employee levels at industrial workplaces, while his story would also be of great benefit to the likes of health groups and health workers, sporting clubs and fitness groups.

Parts of Rohan’s story and presentation have to be heard to be believed. From the accident itself, to his time in hospital, to his rehabilitation, dealing with Worksafe, insurers and legal proceedings and his resolute attitude toward recovery with heartwarming support from his loving family.

There is no better person to speak about workplace safety than someone who has been right to the edge and back. Rohan is forthright about his accident and what he went through in the years to follow. He doesn’t want sympathy or to confront people with what happened to him, he simply wants to improve attitudes towards workplace safety and to empower workers to question safety practices and systems.

Rise From The Ashes-Find Your Inner Phoenix

On the surface, Rohan Sykes’ evolution to becoming a motivational speaker, to compliment his blossoming Safety Speaking career, was an inevitable certainty.

But for Rohan to put together a session with maximum impact, he had to dig deep within, to discover much more about himself and understand how he has never let go of his lofty dreams and goals, how he found his ‘Inner Phoenix’, despite multiple bouts of serious life changing adversities.

This has helped him create a presentation which captivates the audience to not only share in Rohan’s journey, but reflect and draw on their own life experiences and learn that the only thing standing in the way of their hopes and dreams, is them! So when adversity happens, let it be an opportunity for growth. Find your Inner Phoenix and be Better not Bitter! Be awesome!!