At RYAM, safety and well-being are at the core of everything we do. In Tartas, France, one person helping lead that mission is Yannick Paillardon, our dedicated Workplace Health Specialist.
Prevention, Training, and Care at the Forefront
Yannick oversees medical fitness assessments for every employee at RYAM Tartas, ensuring each person’s health is suited to the demands of their role. He trains our workplace first-aiders (Sauveteurs Secouristes du Travail) and responds to on-site medical emergencies.
For Yannick, prevention is essential:
“My role is to implement as many preventive actions as possible and report dangerous situations—because for me, an accident is a real failure.”
A Career Built on Service
Before joining RYAM eight years ago, Yannick served 21 years in the French military, 15 of them as a paratrooper. After years of international missions, he sought a nursing role that combined prevention with emergency response—while allowing him to stay closer to home.
No Such Thing as a “Typical Day”
In workplace health, every day is different. Yannick spends much of his time with teams across the site, identifying potential hazards and collaborating with the safety department to resolve them.
“The unexpected is part of the job,” he says.
The Reward: Trust and Recognition
What Yannick values most is the trust and appreciation of his colleagues:
“The recognition employees show—through their words or actions—is a real source of motivation.”
Facing Challenges Head-On
Sometimes, progress is slowed by a lack of engagement. Yannick meets this with persistence, energy, and a focus on moving initiatives forward.
A Memorable Success
One of his proudest achievements was adapting the wood reception workstation for an employee with a disability who had frequent sick leave. Since the changes four years ago, that employee hasn’t missed a single day—and always greets Yannick with a smile.
Always Learning
Yannick stays current through close collaboration with the safety team and guidance from the national SST organization. His advice for aspiring occupational health professionals:
“Always move forward, never rest on your achievements, and keep learning—communication is essential.”
Beyond the Workplace
Outside of work, Yannick enjoys time with his family and staying active through Basque pelota, badminton, shooting sports, running, and mountain biking. He also cares for pine forest plots in the Landes, handling maintenance, pruning, and cutting.
Through his dedication, expertise, and genuine care for others, Yannick plays a vital role in making sure RYAM employees go home safe and healthy every day.
