Meet The Team
Franz Assenmacher | Founding Director | Consultant
Franz has been a health and safety consultant and auditor in health and safety for over 25 years, mainly within the manufacturing, service industry, engineering and forestry sectors. In 2004 Franz founded Safetycom NZ Ltd and has seen the company grow into what we now know as Safe On Site.
Franz currently audits the following international and national programmes ISO Safety, Environmental & Quality, SafePlus, ACC Fleet Saver, QSafe, Safetree and for the Log Transport Safety Council.
Franz is results-oriented and his primary focus is making health and safety practical in all work places.
Franz is a registered health and safety professional through HASANZ and his qualifications include Post Grad Diplomas in Occupational Safety and Health; New Zealand Certificate in Engineering; and Mine Ventilation.
When Franz is not at work he enjoys feeding his sheep by hand, swimming, reading and enjoying in the Hawkes Bay sunshine with family and friends.
Catherine Dark | Managing Director | Consultant
Catherine is a trained teacher and spent 20 years working in the primary sector. She has been a part of the Safe On Site team since 2011 and has sound knowledge and experience in health and safety systems and processes. Catherine really enjoys the challenge of making health and safety in the workplace practical, easy, and simple to understand for her clients. She is keen to see companies understand the reasons and benefits for practising health and safety in their workplaces.
Catherine is a registered health and safety professional through HASANZ and her qualifications include Diplomas in Occupational Safety and Health and Teaching. She is an approved auditor for Safetree (FISC) and the Log Transport Safety Council.
Outside work hours Catherine enjoys being in the great outdoors with family and friends walking, kayaking, cycling, gardening and she also loves to travel.
Catherine Dark | Director / Consultant
Catherine is a trained teacher and spent 20 years working in the primary sector. She has been a part of the Safe On Site team since 2011 and has sound knowledge and experience in health and safety systems and processes. Catherine really enjoys the challenge of making health and safety in the workplace practical, easy and simple to understand for her clients. She is keen to see companies understand the reasons and benefits for practising health and safety in their workplaces.
Catherine’s qualifications include Diplomas in Occupational Safety and Health; Teaching, and she is an approved Safetree field auditor.
Outside work hours Catherine enjoys being in the great outdoors with family and friends walking, kayaking, cycling and whatever else is going.
Rowan Monk | Director | Consultant
Rowan has been a health and safety professional since 2009 and joined the Safe On Site team in 2020. Rowan has substantial experience in the high-risk forest industry both as a worker and consultant. He is on the auditing panel with the Forest Industry Safety Council to conduct Safetree audits.
He loves to have a laugh which works well with the Safe On Site culture and enjoys having the conversations that can implement change. Rowan likes to engage with people out on the front line where it all happens.
Rowan holds a National Diploma in Management and has completed a number of health and safety qualifications.
When not working Rowan enjoys fishing, hunting and growing vegetables to feed the family.
Anita Starnes | Intern Consultant
Anita joined the Safe On Site team in 2023. She brings a vast range of skills from her past roles within business management and customer service. With previous experience implementing and managing health and safety within the workplace, Anita brings some great knowledge to her role as Office Administrator for Safe On Site in the midst of keeping on top of company finances and general office duties.
Anita is here to help and is committed to ensuring that your experience with us is a positive one every time.
2024 sees Anita embarking on an internship at Safe On Site to begin her health and safety consultant career.
When she's not at work Anita enjoys entertaining family and friends, sewing, gardening and upcycling projects.
Anita Starnes| Intern Consultant
Anita joined the Safe On Site team in 2023. She brings a vast range of skills from her past roles within business management and customer service. With previous experience implementing and managing health and safety within the workplace, Anita brings some great knowledge to her role as Office Administrator for Safe On Site in the midst of keeping on top of company finances and general office duties.
Anita is here to help and is committed to ensuring that your experience with us is a positive one every time.
2024 sees Anita embarking on an internship at Safe On Site to begin her health and safety consultant career.
When she's not at work Anita enjoys entertaining family and friends, sewing, gardening and upcycling projects.
Karen Bull | Occupational Health Nurse
Karen joined the Safe On Site team in 2023. She has broad experience as a nurse which has seen her intersecting with a variety of people and health conditions – many of which have been incident/accident related and therefore preventable. She has a real interest in health screening and monitoring to maximise safe practise within our workplaces and homes. Additionally Karen can identify general health issues with a rapid assessment and offer guidance where necessary.
Karen’s role within the Safe On Site team sees her undertaking: First Aid courses, Drug and Alcohol Testing and Health Monitoring: Audiometry (Hearing Testing), Spirometry (Lung Function), Eyesight Screening, Blood Glucose (Diabetes) checks and Blood Pressure.
Outside of work Karen enjoys sporty outdoor activities with family and friends and would rather mow the lawns than cook!
Michaela Broughton-Smith | Office Administrator
Michaela joined the Safe On Site team in 2020 and after a year away in 2023, returned to the Safe On Site family in 2024.
She comes to us with 20 plus years experience working in large corporate environments (mainly in technology and leadership). She takes care of the general office admin duties for the team and keeps the office plants alive.
Michaela is customer-focused and committed to ensuring that your experience with us is a positive one every time.
Outside of work Michaela enjoys spending time with her family and friends, taking advantage of the many cycle trails and embracing all the good things that make Hawkes Bay a special place to be.
