Safety Experts Talk

Workplace safety improves from watching The Shawshank Redemption?  Dr. Timothy Ludwig says we can learn about safety complacency from the movie. More: http://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/learn-workplace-safety-prison-movie/

Behavioral safety in the workplace has a new name. Safety expert Dr. E. Scott Geller of Virginia Tech describes the shift to Actively Caring For People. Lots of links to Dr. Geller’s videos and books: http://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/behavioral-safety-is-actively-caring-for-people/

Safety programs work best by consulting workers. EHS expert Lori Siegelman of W&M Environmental tells how to involve employees to build safety programs. Transcript and links:  http://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/safety-programs-built-with-employee-input/

A safety vest that alerts a roadside worker of oncoming vehicles is in the works. Hear about the InZoneAlert safety vest from Virginia Tech’s Tom Martin. More:  http://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/early-warning-safety-vest/

Behavior observation means workers watch out for each other. Safety expert Marc McClure shatters myths, tells of reducing incidents with his staff by 80%. Even more at http://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/myths-of-behavior-observation-safety/

Total Worker Health. Dr. Bud Harris says an out-of-shape worker is more likely to be injured and urges companies to follow NIOSH’s Total Worker Health initiative. Hear how he implemented great health and safety at Intel, Tyco and Con-way Freight. More at:  http://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/total-worker-health-explained/

Forklifts vs. pedestrians. Who has to stop? People on foot technically have the right-of-way. But some say powered industrial trucks should hold sway. Safety expert Jonathan Jacobi, of Underwriters Laboratories, tells how some companies ask walking workers to cede their right-of-way to multi-ton forklifts. Jonathan is a Senior Environment, Health and Safety Advisor with UL Workplace Health And Safety, in Franklin, Tennessee. He’s an OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer and CSP. More at http://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/forklifts-vs-pedestrians-right-of-way/

HazCom labels and SDSs are confusing - until now. Two OSHA industrial hygienists explain what is happening right now with the Hazard Communication Standard. Hear about changes in chemical labeling and Safety Data Sheets. This podcast is based on The SCHC OSHA Alliance webcast on “Hazard Communication 2012” from September, 2015. Thanks SCHC OSHA Alliance! See more: http://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/hazcom-labels-and-sdss-osha-talks/

Front-line workers shouldn’t be fired for blowing the whistle on safety. Their observations need to be taken seriously by managers, says Dr. Sidney Dekker. Prof. Dekker is a noted safety expert, author of “Safety, Differently.” and a Professor at Griffith University in Australia. See more: http://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/front-line-workers-and-safety/

Safety kickoffs can alienate experienced workers. Learn how to bring these staffers into new, safer realms with John Drebinger, Jr., expert safety speaker. John also lists the five reasons to watch out for other people’s safety. In this podcast, Dan Clark asks John to share other tips from his book “Would You Watch Out For My Safety?” A safety speaker for over a quarter century, John Drebinger, Jr., C.Ht. CSP, has kept the attention of employees at General Motors, Con Edison, 3M, and more. A link to John’s website is in the transcript of this podcast: http://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/safety-kickoffs-that-really-work-pt-2/

Safety kickoffs can have spark! Hear John Drebinger, safety speaker, give tips on engaging employees. John says cartoons, jokes and even magic tricks can deliver safety messages. In 26 years as a safety speaker, John Drebinger, Jr., C.Ht. CSP, has spoken at NASA, Exxon, Boeing, The US Army Corps of Engineers and more. A link to John’s website is in the transcript of this podcast: h

ttp://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/safety-kickoffs-that-really-work-pt-1/

Paul Colangelo debuted the 10 best safety apps for industry at ASSE’s Safety 2015. Hear Paul offer his thoughts on each. Paul focused on low cost and free applications, and those which work without an internet connection. He avoided sponsored and vendor apps. Mr. Colangelo, STS, CHST, CET, is National Director of Compliance Programs at ClickSafety. See links to the iOS, Android and Windows Phone versions: http://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/10-best-safety-apps-for-safety-pros/

The quietest power tool is not always the most expensive! “Buy Quiet” is the NIOSH campaign for quieter machinery and tools to reduce worker noise exposure. Hear Capt. Chuck Hayden tell how to buy or rent less noisy tools. Capt. Chuck is Research Acoustical Engineer for National Institute For Occupational Safety And Health (NIOSH). NIOSH’s Power Tools Database is an extensive study of just how loud various power tools can be. You can compare manufacturers and models before you buy or rent.

OSHA inspections are a breeze if you’re ready. An OSHA Consultation Manager tells how OSHA can help your company be safe and ready for inspection. For FREE. An OSHA consultation visit cannot trigger an OSHA inspection. Consultation and Enforcement divisions operate separately, says Roy Kroker, Consultation Manager of OSHA, Oregon. In this podcast, Dan Clark asks Roy’s advice on the new hazard communication label standard for labels, arc flash, confined space and more. Roy says his experienced staff is glad to visit any workplace with free, confidential advice. The experts are well versed in all matters of safety, including construction, general industry, logging, agriculture and ergonomics. Any manager, safety manager or head of company can benefit from this interview.

Counterfeit electrical components can instantly burst into flames. Hear how to identify fake wiring, breakers and switches from Brett Brenner of ESFI. Mr. Brenner also reveals the biggest problem is beyond our borders. Counterfeits make up about 50% of electrical products sold in many developing countries. Brett is from the Electrical Safety Foundation International, a nonprofit dedicated to getting information out about electrical counterfeiting dangers. Their motto is “Counterfeits Can Kill.” Links to the websites mentioned in the interview are in the transcript of this podcast at http://experttalk.creativesafetysupply.com/how-to-spot-counterfeit-electrical/

Fall prevention. Employers have a huge obligation to prevent injuries and deaths. Matt McNicholas, CSP, of OSHA, details the second annual Construction Fall Safety Stand-Down, designed to create fall awareness. Matt describes the three main responsibilities of an employer: Planning ahead to get the job done safely; Providing the right equipment; Training the exposed employees on how to use equipment safely. Also hear about anchorage points, warning lines, designated areas and control zones. In this podcast Matt also tells host Dan Clark about construction inspections. Matt has done over 1000 site inspections, and been with OSHA for 20 years.

Fall prevention saves lives. Hear Dr. Christine Branche of NIOSH talk passionately about the annual Construction Fall Safety Stand-Down May 4-15, 2015. Dr. Branche explains that companies are asked to pause work on job sites to review fall prevention with employees. Dr. Branche is Director Of The Office Of Construction Safety And Health for NIOSH, The National Institute For Occupational Safety And Health. Near the end of the podcast, Dr. Branche also politely laughs at interviewer Dan Clark’s joke about a contractor. This is the first of two Safety Experts Talk interviews with fall prevention experts.

HazCom labeling changes are here. OSHA’s new standards finally match GHS labeling. Expert Chuck Paulausky, CHMM, explains hazard communication labeling. Chuck says the new labels are a big safety improvement from previous systems. He explains  the new rules, and their similarities to NFPA, GHS and HMIS labels. Dan Clark hosts the interview with Chuck who consults industry on EPA and OSHA compliance. His company is CP Safety & Environmental based in Chandler, Arizona.

Hear how continuous improvement in manufacturing can improve a process, increase safety and save money. But, Tony Ferraro says to make sure your customers are happy with the end product. Tony is a continuous improvement blogger for Creative Safety Supply. He’s experienced in 5S, Six Sigma, kaizen and lean. Tony shares some great tips on starting a program of continuous improvement.     http://www.creativesafetysupply.com/podcast/

Electrical safety compliance saves lives! Every three years, the NFPA publishes the NFPA 70E, The Standard For Electrical Safety In The Workplace, and the 2015 edition is out. Every building owner and safety manager should have a copy, says Bill Burke, Division Manager of Electrical Engineering at the NFPA. In this podcast, Bill tells about the new edition’s major changes, and the philosophical shift since the last edition published in 2012. Mr. Burke talks with Dan Clark about new PPE tables, the Prohibited Approach Boundary, and the elimination of HRC (0). Bill also encourages company owners and safety personnel to consider buying the NFPA 70E Handbook, which includes the new code and easy-to-understand commentary.

How can a safety manager, who is not an electrician, look for electrical dangers? Jon Koppari, Specialist Instructor for OSHA, answers that question and many more in this podcast. Jon is an OSHA certified trainer in construction safety, CPR/AED, NFPA 70E electrical issues and many more topics. In the private sector, Jon was a safety manager in industry. He knows his stuff, and can answer the age-old question “Why Don't Birds On Power Lines Get Shocked?” So, sit back and listen! Dan Clark interviews Jon from his office at the OSHA Directorate of Training and Education in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Ladder safety increases with tips from expert Dave Francis. 3 points of contact/control, fiberglass vs. wood, correct footwear and more are discussed. Dave Francis works for Little Giant Ladder Systems as their National Safety Director. Dan Clark asks Dave 10 ladder questions. Topics include fall protection/prevention, sun damaged fiberglass, leveling a ladder on an uneven surface, and more. Dave also refers to “grandpa's ladder.” Everyone can picture this old, rickety ladder. He urges workers to avoid using it. Mr. Francis explains that nearly all ladder accidents can be avoided if employees follow training. Don’t be lazy and try reaching difficult places with the wrong ladder, or a ladder substitute.

Earthquake safety at work? A quake could happen while employees are on the job. Prep with workplace emergency supplies, equipment and evacuation drills. American Red Cross staffer Melinda Davis says doorway thresholds are unsafe. Previous emergency protocol advised people to stand in doorways. Now, safety experts say door frames are weak and could collapse, and swinging doors can injure. Employers should have emergency supply kits and equipment, plus evacuation and fire drills. Workers should have personal emergency kits in their car or truck, and at their desk or work space.

Safety Management. Has it helped workplace safety improve? Safety management systems expert Maureen Johnson, of IBM, rates 30 years of safety. As the Integrated Health Services Program Manager for IBM, Maureen describes strides made in safety management systems since she entered the industry in 1985. Dan Clark interviews Ms. Johnson about the different types of safety management systems (SMS), including OSHA’s Sharp, OSHA’s VPP, I2P2, OHSAS 18001, or ANSI Z10.

Safety recognition programs that cost the least work the best. Hear a former OSHA trainer explain how to have a better recognition program inexpensively. Steve Geigle worked for 16 years with OSHA, Oregon. He’s seen safety recognition programs fail miserably. Hear Steve detail the reasons for the failures, such as too much emphasis on rewards. Steve says tracking leading indicators (near misses) is better way to eliminate injury. Many companies track lagging indicators (injuries, accidents), which are inferior indicators.

Respect For People is a crucial part of lean and A3. Lean guru Bill Greider tells how A3 teams can implement continuous improvement in an organization. 
Bill heads P4 Lean Strategy Consulting, coaching companies on using A3 teams to eliminate accidents, increase production and rectify customer issues. The A3 exercise employs Respect For People, which originated with TPS (The Toyota Production System). A3 is a way to problem solve, named after a European paper standard size. A3 is about the same size as 11 x 17 sheets in the U.S. Our podcast guest says to lay out your problem on an A3 sized sheet of paper. Then process the problem with DMAIC—Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control.

OSHA inspections can create panic in every safety manager. Relax. An OSHA Enforcement Manager responds to 18 questions on inspections, revealing the facts. Gary Beck, Enforcement Manager of OSHA, Oregon, explains what any company owner or safety manager should expect during a safety inspection. Dan Clark interviews Gary on how to prepare for their surprise appearances, and how keeping workers safe is OSHA’s reason for being there. Many other questions about facility safety and signs are answered by Gary. Topics include hazard communication, NFPA, GHS, confined space, ArcFlash and more.

Millennials entering the workforce are unskilled and unsafe. Hear safety expert Elaine Cullen explain why it’s not their fault. Many are quick to judge these new employees as stupid, but she is quick to defend them. Elaine says their lack of training is due to many reasons, including changes in school curricula, budget cutbacks in schools, and, yes, video games. Elaine co-authored the National Academies of Science study. It basically says they are safety hazards looking for a place to happen.

Lean IT expert Steve Bell helps solve the long-standing battle between a company’s goal of Continuous Improvement and IT's perceived lack of agility. It’s a constant friction between management wanting computer/network changes now, and IT wanting to slow the pace and do it right. Hear about Kaizen, and how IT departments are now considered strategic partners in business planning, due to so much online interaction with the public. Steve is author of three books on Lean IT, and is winner of the Shingo Research Prize. He is also a faculty member at the Lean Enterprise Institute.

Dust explosions can happen without notice in a confined workspace. Dr. Ashok Dastidar is a dust and flammability expert with Fauske & Associates, and in this podcast explains the Go/No-Go test, and how to collect a dust sample.   See a links about combustible dust tests in the transcript to this podcast at www.creativesafetysupply.com/podcast

A new study says high noise levels put you at a higher risk for on-the-job injuries. And if you already have noise-induced hearing loss, injury risk is substantially greater. Dan Clark interviews Prof. Tony Leroux of the University Of Montreal. See a link to Prof. LeRoux's study in the transcript to this podcast at www.creativesafetysupply.com/podcast

Predictive Solutions’ primary goal is to end deadly workplace accidents by the end of this century. Their General Manager, Griffin Schultz, details how this can become a reality. Their website is PredictiveSolutions.com.

Workers are asked to monitor workplace safety. But can you count on them? “Safety Cary” describes how average Joes can help the safety pros. Cary Usrey writes a regular blog for predictivesolutions/safeycary/.com

Chris Holcombe VP, GM of Bulwark FR, describes their breakthrough in flame-resistant clothing. Clothing that is NOT hot, heavy, stiff or itchy. With their partner Milliken & Company, Bulwark is creating light and breathable clothes which give protection from flash fires and arc flash.

Only 10% of safety issues are visible to us. Rosa Carrillo suggests that 90% lurk below the waterline due to cultural lack of awareness. Rosa is a safety consultant, speaker, author and MSOD. She is the president of Carrillo and Assoc. of Long Beach, CA.

Is it safe to eat food you dropped on the floor in the employee lunchroom? Prof. Anthony Hilton reveals the results of his microbiology study at Aston University, Birmingham, England. See a link to the study in the transcript to this podcast at www.creativesafetysupply.com/podcast  

Krista Hoffmeister of the University Of Colorado did a study of leadership and safety. It raises some interesting questions and provides even better answers.If the boss sets a good example, does on-the-job safety improve?See a link to Krista Hoffmeister’s study in the transcript to this podcast at www.creativesafetysupply.com/podcast

Dave Weber says “My father and my uncle were both seriously hurt in on-the-job accidents…I get a lot of satisfaction from sharing information and resources with other folks so that they can help to prevent other people’s fathers and uncles from being hurt on the job.” Dave, formerly of OSHA provides links to free safety resources on his website.

Jeff Hajek discusses the paths a company takes when creating a continuous improvement culture, and what kind of structure they need to support it.

Matt Wrye is a Lean implementer with a passion for continuous learning on all subjects related to business and Lean. He gives examples from his own career about 5S and Lean improving safety, improving processes, eliminating waste, saving money.

Rich Kneece tells about Vocoli.com’s replacement for the old “suggestion box”, that can be workflow or collaborative based. The result is much faster, more reliable data.

Lean / Six Sigma implementation consultant Mark Hamel tells of his successes, and failures, in leading Kaizen events. Plus describes his “Kaizen Events Fieldbook”, and “Lean Math” blog.

Karen Wilhelm discusses a study on human behavior by a group of anthropologists led by Dr. Margaret Mead, and how the years-ago study can be applied to Lean methodology in the workplace. In this podcast, Ms. Wilhelm also details the transition to Lean by a heritage, traditional industrial business in Detroit, DTE Energy.

Implementing a Visual Workplace does not mean you’ll lose your job. In this podcast, Dr. Gwendolyn Galsworth explains that new efficiencies should not cause workers to be eliminated. She also tells of her career history, how she worked with Norman Bodek, and was apprentice to the great Shigeo Shingo.

Dr. Gwendolyn Galsworth defines the Visual Workplace as “A work environment that is self ordering, self explaining, self regulating and self improving where what is supposed to happen does happen on time, every time, day or night, because of visual devices”. She expands on this definition, and describes how Lean, 5S and Six Sigma can compliment the system set forth in a visual workplace.

Pt. 2 of the interview with Six Sigma Black Belt Chuck Hardy. Chuck tells of the value of a mentor. He offers advice on books to help anyone on their Lean / Six Sigma quest. Mr. Hardy also gives insight on 5S programs. Chuck describes his history with Eastman Kodak and Lockheed Martin, and is now working for a non-profit, NMEDA, The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association.

A Black Belt in Six Sigma? Chuck Hardy has achieved it. Chuck tells of lean as a cultural thing, and other aspects of continuous improvement.

 In this podcast, you’ll hear how workers and managers can include lean culture at home or at work, no matter what field they’re in. Chuck emphasizes the value of left and right brain thinkers into a lean culture, as more right brain thinkers are now included in important decisions that were once left to the number crunchers.

We talk about lean in the world of healthcare with Mark Graban, author, consultant and speaker in the lean healthcare methodology. Mark is author of the Shingo Award winning book “Lean Hospitals” and the book “Healthcare Kaizen.” Mark is also the Chief Improvement Officer of Kinexus. His newest book, “The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen,” is available on Amazon.com

Antonio Ferraro tells about 10 Rules For Forklift Safety. Tony focuses primarily on practices such as 5S, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and the Lean mindset. He is also knowledgable about this critical area of safety in almost every facility. While some of these rules seem to be no-brainers and easy to follow, this refresher course may still be able to serve up a few tips that you had either forgotten or had not thought about in a good while. Brandon Nys conducts the interview.

Safety Experts Talk podcasts are just that - Safety Experts and leaders talking about arc flash and electrical safety, combustible dust, OSHA compliance, lean healthcare practices, forklift safety rules and guidelines, ladder safety, contractor and worker safety, visual safety workplaces, noise level injuries, the latest PPE products and much more. Safety touches us all in one way or another as we move through our days. We interact with each other, machines and vehicles in offices and work sites where danger could be lurking. The goal is to deliver relevant, informative and short podcasts so this audience can listen whenever they might have a free moment, perhaps while commuting to the office or a work site. Thanks for dropping by, and please let us know if you have any subjects you would like to see covered in our publications.