The Case for Safety Podcast – The Case for Safety Podcast

Knowing the standard isn’t the same as knowing the machine. In our latest episode, Fran Sehn shares why effective lockout/tagout programs rely on collaboration with the people who use the equipment every day — and how the ANSI/ASSP Z244 standard helps guide the process. He discusses the OSHA 1910.147 requirements for lockout/tagout, alternative methods included in Z244 and how safety professionals can find the best solutions for hazardous energy sources on their jobsites.

Arianna Howard, Managing Partner and Co-founder of Syncra Group and lead of ASSP’s AI in Safety Standards-Based User Group joins us to share how AI tools can offer solutions for addressing issues in your workplace, but first you have to know which problems you’re trying to solve. She discusses the importance of using AI as a learning tool to better understand the conditions the workforce is facing and better address hazards. She also shares how AI can help EHS professionals save time and work more efficiently by improving processes and procedures.

Lauren Bauerschmidt, Senior Manager, Standards and Technical Services at ASSP, joins us to help you get up to speed on the latest developments in ANSI/ASSP Standards. She shares recent updates to A10 construction and demolition standards and Z359 fall protection standards, as well as the publication of the Z310 standard for risk management. She also discusses how these standards are developed and how you can get involved to help others improve conditions on their jobsites.

Personnel nets and debris nets play a crucial role in protecting workers and the public on and around construction and demolition sites. William Greeley, chair of the ANSI/ASSP A10.37 subcommittee and Ed McKechnie, chair of the ANSI/ASSP A10.11 subcommittee, join our latest episode to share how the A10.11 and A10.37 standards can help you properly design, test and install nets for your jobsites.

How is AI technology impacting the construction industry? Boris Kiprovski and Whitney Williams of Skanska join us to share how they’re using these tools to input regulations and gather safety data, as well as find ways to improve conditions for workers on their jobsites. They offer advice for employers and EHS professionals as to how to effectively implement these tools at their organizations to drive positive results.

Todd Hudson, president of Maverick Safety Training, shares how AI can help EHS professionals roleplay different conversations and improve their communication skills with those in their organization. He discusses how to effectively prompt AI tools to provide feedback that will be helpful in discussions with everyone from frontline workers to C-suite executives. 

Mark Katchen, managing principal of The Phylmar Group and co-author of “Ethical Decision-making in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety: A Comparative Case Study Approach,” discusses common ethical dilemmas EHS professionals may encounter, and how to address them in a way that best supports worker safety and health. He also shares the importance of understand and following the safety profession’s code of conduct, and that of your organization so that you can serve as an example to others.

ASSP President Linda Tapp and Wyatt Bradbury, principal of Health and Safety at Avetta, share how our Standards-Based User Groups (SBUGs) will help EHS professionals put consensus standards into action and improve safety. They discuss how the SBUGs will bring together industry stakeholders to share knowledge, develop best practices and offer insights into how to implement voluntary consensus standards in real-world environments.  The SBUGs will initially focus on reducing the risks of falls from height, protecting workers from hazardous energy and using artificial intelligence (AI) to anticipate and reduce risks.

Dr. Elif Erkal, associate director of research and strategy at the Construction Safety Research Alliance, shares why metrics like total recordable incident rate (TRIR) don’t tell the whole story and offers alternatives for more proactive safety management. She discusses how tools like high energy control assessments can help EHS professional identify high-energy hazards and the importance of a balanced scorecard to ensuring the effectiveness of controls.  Additional Resources The Statistical Invalidity of TRIR as a Measure of Safety Performance Moving Beyond TRIR – Measuring & Monitoring Safety Performance with High-Energy Control Assessments Construction Safety Research Alliance – Safety in the Boardroom Edison Electric Institute – The Power to Prevent Serious Injuries & Fatalities Impact of Energy-Based Safety Training on Quality of Prejob Safety Meetings and Control of Hazardous Energy in Construction

Wyatt Bradbury, Principal – Health and Safety at Avetta, joins us to discuss the hierarchy of controls and its role in helping reduce risks in the workplace. He shares why it’s important for EHS professionals to examine the effectiveness of the controls at their job sites to help ensure they are reducing risk to an acceptable level. He also explains “active” and “passive” controls, the “transition of illusion” between engineering and administrative controls and why EHS professionals should prioritize “passive” controls and reevaluate residual risks.

Sponsored by SafeStart. Rhonda Piggee Johnson, Implementation Specialist at SafeStart, discusses the causes and effects of complacency in the workplace and the impact it can have on safety. She shares how safety professionals can work with those in their organization to foster good habits and instill the importance of not becoming complacent about tasks, processes and procedures.

Heather MacDougall, Owner of MacDougall Solutions LLC, joins us to share steps EHS professionals can take to collaborate with those in their organization and demonstrate the impact safety has on business performance. She discusses the concept of “safety culture” and how it can unintentionally create silos within organizations and impede progress toward improving worker safety and health. She emphasizes that safety is a reflection of an organization’s values and that it is everyone’s responsibility to help keep workers safe and healthy.

Todd Hudson, President, Maverick Safety Training, and Eric Lewis, EHS Coordinator at Align Precision, share tips for delivering engaging training to your team to help them stay safe and address the hazards they face on the job. They discuss how methods like microlearning and hands-on training can help ensure that knowledge stays with workers after the training. 

Sponsored by SafeStart. Peter Batrowny, Senior Consultant at SafeStart, shares how safety professionals and supervisors can address common risks and hazards associated with working at night and develop a strong culture. He also discusses how effective communication and active listening can help you develop as a leader and improve safety and health performance.

Eric Bourquin, Vice President of Safety Services at Texas Mutual Insurance Company, joins us to discuss the importance of using safety data to improve risk management and hazard mitigation on your job sites. He shares how tools like telematics and wearable technology can provide valuable insights into safety performance and help prevent incidents before they occur. 

Sponsored by Fastenal. Eddie Gillespie, National Account Safety Specialist at Fastenal, discusses how data gathering can help EHS professionals build better PPE programs, more resilient supply chains and a stronger culture. He shares programs that can improve access to PPE and reduce risks, technological tools that can help track PPE use and how organizations can balance sustainability goals with safety and cost concerns.

Phil Molé, EHS & ESG Expert at VelocityEHS, shares how EHS professionals can educate themselves on the chemicals contained on their work sites, and how to address the hazards and risks associated with them. He also discusses proper procedures for handling, storing and disposing of workplace chemicals to protect people, property and the environment.

Sponsored by Fastenal. Eddie Gillespie, National Account Safety Specialist a Fastenal, discusses the importance of providing your team high quality PPE to protect them from hazards and risks they face on the job. He also shares some of the latest innovations in PPE and how they are providing a greater level of protection for workers on the job.

Danny Smith, Senior Consultant at SafeStart, joins us to discuss the danger of placing blame in the aftermath of workplace incidents and the impact it can have on your culture. He also shares why transparency and communication are so important to creating workplaces where team members feel empowered to speak up about workplace conditions and offer suggestions for improvement.

Chris Trahan Cain, Executive Director of CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, shares why construction workers are at a higher risk of suicide than those in other industries, the role of opioid use in the rate of suicide among construction workers and steps you can take to help support your team’s physical and mental well-being.  CPWR Suicide Prevention Resources

Sponsored by Grainger. Matt Law and Jordan Schlittler of Grainger join our latest episode to help set the record straight about misconceptions in occupational safety and health. They offer insights on NFPA 70E and its relationship to OSHA, requirements for inspecting equipment, safety standards and regulations, recordkeeping, training, technology and more. OSHA Letter of Interpretation on NFPA 70E Resource for Development and Delivery of Training to Workers Training requirements in OSHA Standards OSHA General Duty Clause Search

Tom West, Vice President and Global Practice Leader at MākuSafe and co-author of "Safety and Wearable Technology: Impact, Applications and Implementation in Industry," explores how wearable tools can help safety professionals assess risks and make data-driven decisions to improve conditions for their workforce. He discusses different applications where wearable tech can provide real-time insights on the hazards and risks workers face on the job.

Sponsored by Netradyne. Adam Kahn, Chief Business Officer at Netradyne, shares how positive engagement and recognition can help motivate fleet drivers to practice safe driving techniques. He discusses methods for coaching your team on how to operate safely, as well as using rewards to recognize safe behaviors.

Scott Gaddis, Vice President, Global Practice Leader - Safety and Health at Intelex Technologies, joins us to discuss how mobile technology is changing the way safety professionals can access information and collect and analyze data to improve their management systems. He also shares how tools like artificial intelligence and wearable technology can help you engage with your workforce and create a stronger culture.

Steven Guillory, Quality and Risk Manager, City of Houston Public Works and Engineering, shares the journey of implementing the Z10 standard in the City of Houston and the impact it had on reducing injuries and improving culture. He discusses the collaboration among stakeholders to help support the needs of each individual department and improve the safety and health of the workforce.

This week, we're joined by Safety 2025 Opening and Closing General Session speakers Shasta Nelson and Liz Bohannon. They share why making connections in the workplace is critical to worker well-being and building a strong culture. They also discuss the risks associated with workers feeling isolated and share tips for creating a warm and welcoming workplace where team members feel supported.

Sponsored by RescueStat. Dana Miller, Chief Experience Officer at RescueStat, shares tips for developing an effective management program for the automated external defibrillators at your workplace. She discusses the benefits of remote monitoring to ensure that AEDs are effective when needed and in compliance with applicable regulations.

ASSP President Pam Walaski and Kathy Seabrook, CEO and Founder of Global Solutions, Inc. and co-author of Connecting the Dots: Environment, Health Safety and Sustainability, discuss the value that the workforce brings to the workplace and the importance of collaboration to improving safety and health. They also show how you can improve communication within your organization to demonstrate the value that safety brings to your reputation and bottom line.

In this encore episode, Tom Bobick, David May and Cheryl Ambrose share how the ANSI/ASSP A10.50 standard can help prevent heat stress among your workforce. They discuss acclimatizing workers to the heat, the signs and symptoms of heat stress and how to care for workers experiencing heat-related illness.

Gabe Encarnacion, Allison Short and Josh Russell of the "Illusion of Safety" podcast join us to discuss how collaborating  with fellow professionals helps them expand their knowledge, solve problems and develop in their careers. They also share tips for how to connect with others at safety conferences and make the most of your experience.

In this special bonus episode, ASSP CEO Jennifer McNelly speaks with Jim Frederick, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for OSHA and currently principal at NexusHSE. They discuss some of the keys to success for being an effective safety leader, the importance of data in decision making and the role of collaboration between associations, organizations and government agencies in helping create safer and healthier workplaces.

Bruce Main, chair of the ANSI/ASSP Z244 Committee shares how the Z244 standard can help control hazardous energy through lockout/tagout and alternative methods. He discusses steps you can take to ensure your workforce is properly trained on how to properly isolate or control different forms of hazardous energy to reduce risks and prevent incidents.

Jason Galoozis, Safety Director at PremiStar, shares how AI tools can create engaging training materials that can help improve engagement and retention among your workforce. He shares how to develop and use avatars to conduct training, write scripts on safety and health topics and help ensure learners retain information.

Natasha Porter, Chief Customer Officer at Benchmark Gensuite, shares how AI is impacting the world of workplace safety and health. She discusses how these tools can help safety professionals reduce risks, improve processes and prevent incidents in their workplaces. 

In this special bonus episode, ASSP CEO Jennifer McNelly and President Pam Walaksi speak with Jon Anderson, managing consultant of the Bakery Equipment Assessment Group (BEAG), and Scott McCally, president of Auto-Bake Serpentine. They discuss how hygienic-designed equipment helps improve worker safety and increases efficiency, and how industry consensus standards provide guidance on how to design equipment in a more hygienic manner.

In this encore episode, David Von Drehle, author of "Triangle: The Fire That Changed America", shares the story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, which took place on March 25, 1911. David discusses the conditions workers faced during that period, the circumstances surrounding the fire and the impact the fire had in raising awareness of unsafe working conditions and helping improve workplace safety in the decades that followed.

Cody Rosier, CEO and Founder of Zalemo, joins us to discuss process safety management and how it applies to different work environments. He also shares tips for developing a process to help ensure that your facilities and those you work with are in compliance with OSHA's process safety management standard.

Pete Susca, Principal at OpX Safety, shares tips for identifying hazards before they lead to incidents and helping those in your organization better understand safety risks. He also discusses case studies from the field of how examining processes and tasks can help better protect workers and improve your organization's bottom line.

Wes Wheeler and Jim Evans, Chair and Vice Chair of the ANSI/ASSP A10.1 Committee, join us to discuss how the recently updated A10.1 standard can help support your pre-project and pre-task planning for construction work. They share how engaging with your workforce can help you develop a better understanding of the tasks being done and how they can be completed safely.

Alan Mar, Vice Chair of the ANSI/ASSP Z15 Committee, shares how the Z15 standard can help you assess and manage the risks your fleet drivers encounter on the road. He discusses how safety professionals and drivers can familiarize themselves with the operational environment in order to prepare for whatever conditions they may face behind the wheel.

Cody Rappoport, Director of Product Engineering, Fall Protection at WernerCo. and member of the ANSI/ASSP Z359 Committee, shares how to choose the proper fall protection equipment and controls based on the hazards present at the job site. He also discusses the importance of providing your workers proper fitting PPE and the role of shock absorbers in protecting workers in the event of a fall.

Sponsored by Avetta. Scott DeBow, director of health, safety & environmental at Avetta, examines the current landscape of occupational safety and health and how safety professionals can help their organizations manage risks in an ever-changing environment. He discusses the impact of ESG and AI, as well as how to measure safety performance and develop an effective workforce strategy.

The Case for Safety Podcast brings you conversations with workplace safety experts across industries. Every other Monday, learn how to manage risks, mitigate hazards and create a strong culture. From preventing falls and controlling hazardous energy to operating in confined spaces and measuring safety performance, The Case for Safety Podcast has the insights you need to create safer and healthier workplaces.

Doug Pontsler, chairman and managing director of COVE: Center of Visual Expertise, joins us to share the role of visual literacy in performing risk assessments, mitigating hazards and conducting incident investigations. He offers tips for helping your workforce better identify hazards on the job site and how a more visually literate workforce can help foster a positive culture at your organization.

In this encore presentation, Tim Page-Bottorff, Senior Consultant at SafeStart, shares how his military experience helped prepare him for a career in the safety profession. He offers advice to those currently serving in the military about how to make a successful transition into a career, and discusses the value and experience that military veterans can bring employers.

Erika Winning, Global EHS Manager at DAP Global Inc., discusses how to connect with your operations team and your workforce to gather meaningful feedback about how to improve your safety and health management system. She shares stories from the field about how to break down barriers within your organization, have meaningful conversations with stakeholders and build a strong culture.

Sponsored by Grainger. Matt Law and Dan Snyder discuss current trends in how organizations are using technology to improve their safety and health management systems. They also share how tools like artificial intelligence can help safety professionals be more productive and efficient on the job site.

Sponsored by Veriforce. Being effective as a safety professional involves building relationships and reducing risks. James Junkin, Chief Executive Officer of Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, joins our latest episode to share how deep dive contractor assessments can help you identify gaps in your safety and health management systems and find effective solutions.

Scott DeBow, Director of Health, Safety & Environmental at Avetta, shares how industry consensus standards have helped him develop as a safety professional in working with companies to develop effective safety and health management systems. He discusses the impact these standards can have in providing definition for what safety success looks like and getting everyone in the organization working towards that goal.

Implementing a safety management system may seem daunting to small and mid-sized businesses, but there are resources that can help. Greg Zigulis, president of Sixth Sense Safety Solutions, joins our latest episode to share how to get on a path to continuous improvement. Zigulis discusses how taking a systems thinking approach can help organizations assess the current state of their management system to identify gaps and areas for improvement. He also shares how standards like ANSI/ASSP Z10 can help provide small and mid-sized businesses a framework for developing and implementing their safety management system. ANSI/ASSP Z10 OSH Management Standard