OSCAsafe Safety Trainer Spotlight: Jeffery Thomasson
Meet OSCAsafe instructor Jeffery Thomasson. Learn how his refinery experience brings practical knowledge and insight to workplace safety training.
February 25, 2025
This is the fifth blog in the OSCAsafe by Tang+Company Trainer Spotlight series, where you can meet the talented instructors who are the driving force behind our training programs.
In our previous conversations, we met Mayra Castellanos, Bill Grove, Curtis G. Martin, and Thomas Bjorman, our seasoned workforce safety instructors.
In this edition, we’re excited to chat with Jeffery Thomasson, another one of our experienced OSCAsafe Instructors.
Q1: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your role at OSCAsafe.
I started at OSCAsafe in 2021 as a part-time HHFT instructor. Now, as a full-time instructor, I teach courses like Principles of Petroleum, Refinery Safety Overview, Safety as it pertains to Crafts, and the 1-day Safety Attendant course.
Q2: What motivated you to choose OSCAsafe to pursue your training career?
I was recruited to be an instructor at OSCAsafe by Thomas Bjorman (One of OSCAsafe’s Lead Instructors). Before OSCAsafe, I had worked with Thomas for 12 years in the refinery industry. He was very familiar with my qualifications and the fact that I had 40+ years of experience in the refinery industry and extensive knowledge of all the crafts. I also hold NCCER qualifications as a boilermaker, industrial maintenance mechanic, and supervisor.
Q3: Can you share your industry experience and expertise that you bring to the classroom?
I began my career in 1981 with Catalyst Technology as a Reactor Entry Technician – changing out catalysts under an inert atmosphere, which is an incredibly dangerous work environment – just one breath of nitrogen can be fatal. It taught me a lot about the importance of safety and vigilance.
As my refinery career progressed, I traveled across the United States, Singapore, and Hong Kong for work. My roles included pipefitter, scaffold builder, insulator, hydro-blaster, coordinator, safety officer, and heavy equipment operator, handling machinery such as a 10-ton crane, Hyster straddle buggy, JLG boom lift, scissor lift, and forklifts.
I eventually worked my way up to general foreman and superintendent for Brinderson in the San Francisco Bay Area. Additionally, I served as a permit-to-work coordinator for Certified Safety / Calculated Controls and as a turnaround planner, overseeing all work within the refinery.
All these experiences provide the opportunity to promote safety with real-life examples that connect with workers.
Q4: What is a valuable lesson you learned during your career?
Valuable lessons I’ve learned during my career are:
Pay attention to details
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Have a good attitude
Work all hours when needed, it will keep you working!
Q5: Who is your safety hero or the person who influenced your ideas on workplace safety the most?
My safety hero is Charles Morecraft. After suffering a terrible accident that left him with severe burns, Charles made it his mission to use his experience as a power statement about the importance of safety and not taking shortcuts at work.
I first heard about Charles through a video called “Remembering Charlie”, but later I had the opportunity to attend a safety seminar he hosted, where he shared his experience of the accident, his recovery, and how it profoundly changed his life—and his family’s—forever.
The seminar focused on what not to do in the refinery and served as a stark reminder of the consequences of negligence. It made me realize the importance of not taking shortcuts and always following the rules in the refinery. Those rules are there because of someone else’s mistakes, and they serve as a crucial guide to ensuring safety for everyone.
Q6: What do you find most rewarding about teaching safety?
What I find most rewarding about teaching safety is being able to pass on my safety knowledge to all the learners. With my experience in every craft in the field, it’s fulfilling to share that expertise and help others stay safe.
Q7: If you could give one workplace safety tip, what would it be?
If I could give one safety tip, it would be to be very observant of your surroundings and stay clear of the line of fire and pinch points! Always ask a lot of questions.
Q8: Can you share an interesting fact about yourself?
An interesting fact about me is that my hobbies revolve around cars. My favorite models are the 1932-1934 Deuce Coupe. I love working on cars, going to shows, and attending gatherings with other car lovers.
Taking care of a car is a work of love. I’ve had the same car, a 1970 Dodge Challenger Mopar, for 37 years.
Q9: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would like to go to Italy and visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa and other locations in Pisa Italy specifically. I also like the history of buildings & old artifacts, which is why Italy is a place of interest for me. Fun fact: I watch a lot of van life, and there’s a couple from Italy that travel all around, showing the beautiful and interesting sites to visit, I find this so interesting and helpful to consider.
Q10: Do you have a personal motto that you live by? If so, what is it?
My motto is: “Honesty is the best policy!” If you commit to something, do it the best you can with the knowledge you have, and don’t be afraid to learn something new.
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