Safety Labs by Slice is a podcast where we explore the human side of safety to support safety professionals. We move past regulations and reportables to talk about the core skills of safety leadership: empathy, influence, trust, rapport. In other words, the soft skills that help you do the hard stuff.
In this episode, we're conducting a thorough investigation of the different theories and frameworks Safety professionals can adopt to keep their co-workers safe.There's been a palpable shift in attitudes towards workplace safety over recent years, with multiple more-human-centred approaches emerging. But their key differences and relative effectiveness often polarize the safety profession.We've compiled a collection of clips from 16 of our previous guests to help define the the different approaches, including:Safety DifferentlyNew View SafetyHuman and Organizational Performance (HOP)Critical Risk ManagementHigh-Reliability Organization (HRO) frameworkBehavior-Based SafetyAnd also bring some clarity to the ongoing debate about which philosophy is best.Featured guests (in order of appearance):Pam Walaski (Episode 66): Changing attitudes to SafetyJosh Bryant (Episode 26): The 3 key principles of Safety DifferentlyMoni Hogg (Episode 39): Defining New View Safety?Andrea Baker (Episode 13): An understanding of what Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) meansBob Edwards (Episode 53): Does HOP lack accountability?Stephen Scott (Episode 28): Adopting Critical Risk ManagementJodi Goodall (Episode 67): The High-Reliability Organization (HRO) frameworkClive Lloyd (Episode 44): The problem with Behavior-Based SafetyMurray Ritchie (Episode 72): In defense of Behavior-Based SafetyTim D'Ath (Episode 61): An alternative to Behavior-Based SafetyAndrea Baker (Episode 13): Comparing Safety TheoriesElisa Lynch (Episode 14): New View versus traditional SafetyJames MacPherson (Episode 64): Bickering over Safety labelsCarsten Busch (Episode 76): Is there an ideal blend of Safety approaches?Dr Linda Martin (Episode 22): The problem with Safety theoryElisa Lynch (Episode 14): Are Safety approaches debates helpful?Murray Ritchie (Episode 72): Get rid of the Safety labelsDr Todd Loushine (Episode 74): Welcoming Safety ideasSam Goodman (Episode 27): Respecting our Safety predecessorsPam Walaski (Episode 66): Safety evolutionSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find out more: www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Greg Smith, an international award-winning author and qualified lawyer who has spent more than two decades specializing in Safety and Health management. Greg is also regarded as a leading provider of Safety training, particularly in the areas of management responsibilities and contractor safety management.Describing himself as ‘Safety agnostic', Greg doesn't care how HSE professionals approach Workplace Safety - he just wants to help you be effective. However, he knows how challenging this can be and explains why Safety is a ‘wicked problem' that is essentially unsolvable.Gregs discusses the impact of legal frameworks on Safety Management and shares real-life examples of the unintended consequences of the criminalization of Safety.Safety processes and measurement are the key themes of this fascinating conversation, as Greg highlights where the profession has become disconnected from its purpose and how this can be addressed.Greg's highly acclaimed book: Paper SafeGreg recommends the following podcasts:Safety Labs by SliceThe Safety of WorkSpeakRebranding SafetyAlso this subscription service: OHS Alert | Premium Workplace health and safety newsAnd Ben Hutchinson's research: Ben Hutchinson | LinkedInGreg Smith on LinkedIn: Greg Smith | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find out more: www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, we're conducting a thorough investigation of Safety metrics to help HSE practitioners measure (and manage) the factors that most accurately reflect Safety performance.We've compiled a collection of thoughts, opinions and ideas about safety data, analysis and reporting from 19 of our previous guests discussing various aspects of this diverse and divisive subject.Many question the existing reliance on lagging indicators and proxy KPIs, while the value of Zero Harm initiatives is particularly challenged.But what are the alternatives? Are they easily quantifiable, will they satisfy senior leaders, and where does psychological safety fit into this discussion?This Safety Measurement special features multiple perspectives on these crucial questions from experienced HSE professionals, consultants, authors and academics. We can't promise definitive answers, but it will help you come to your own conclusions about Safety metrics - and how they can best keep your co-workers safe.Featured guests (in order of appearance):Tim D'Ath (Episode 61): Measuring the wrong things in SafetyBob Edwards (Episode 53): Safety metrics need contextJoelle Mitchell (Episode 75): The problem with proxy Safety measurementsChristian Hunt (Episode 68): Measure the Safety outcome - not the input.Clive Lloyd (Episode 44): Safety KPIs that undermine trustJodi Goodall (Episode 67): Understanding Safety metrics is crucialCameron Stevens (Episode 62): Health and Safety data sucksBrent Sutton (Episode 60): Looking at Safety data differentlyStephen Scott (Episode 28): The trap of Zero HarmDr Nektarios Karanikas (Episode 08): Asking the right questions to evaluate SafetyDr Peter Brace (Episode 73): Can you measure Psychological Safety?Stephan Wiedner (Episode 69): Measuring Psychological SafetyMurray Ritchie (Episode 72): Unhelpful Safety incentivizationMoni Hogg (Episode 39): Measuring the impact of new Safety approachesAngelina Badri (Episode 50): A bad way to measure good Safety performanceJerry Smith (Episode 06): Measuring the adoption of Safety proceduresGareth Lock (Episode 43): The fallacy of using lagging indicatorsKym Bancroft (Episode 05): Alternative Safety metricsMikel Bowman (Episode 51): Perfection doesn't exist in Safety managementSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find out more: www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Christian Harris, the founder of Slips Safety Services, who also hosts the Safety Roundtable and the Safety and Risk Success podcast. Christian, a social media communications expert, joins us today to offer EHS professionals practical guidance to strengthen your online presence.Christian begins this insightful conversation by sharing his life-changing personal journey into Safety before explaining the concept of personal branding and why it's so valuable for modern HSE professionals.He provides a comprehensive guide to developing your personal brand and discusses the dos and don'ts of leveraging social media.Packed with actionable advice such as being prolific rather than perfect, which channels to focus on, and the importance of developing a unique style, Christian also shares his fascinating views on the future of safety branding…Find out more about Christian's work:Slip Safety ServicesThe Safety Roundtable:Take part in the Safety RoundtableThe Safety and Risk Success Podcast:The Safety and Risk Success Podcast on Apple PodcastsChristian highly recommends this book:Key Person of Influence Book - Daniel PriestleyChristian Harris on LinkedIn:Christian Harris | LinkedInChristian Harris on Youtube:Christian Harris - YouTubeSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find out more: www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, we're conducting a thorough investigation of a EHS practitioner's job description to help you focus on the areas of workplace safety that matter most.We've compiled a collection of thoughts, opinions and ideas about Safety professional's key responsibilities from 20 of our previous guests.All agree that practitioners are no longer “Safety Cops” but what should they be instead: facilitators, conduits, coaches? Are they best placed to write policies, implement procedures or conduct investigations? Do duties need to expand into workplace bullying, mental health and full psychosocial risk management? And is Safety even the HSE professional's responsibility??This Safety role special presents multiple perspectives on these crucial questions from experienced HSE professionals, consultants, authors and academics. It doesn't conclude with a definitive job description, but will help you decide what to do more of - and what is no longer in your remit.Featured guests (in order of appearance):James Junkin (Episode 37): What is a Safety Professional?Tanya Hewitt (Episode 7): What do we think the Safety manager's job is?Sam Goodman (Episode 27): Redefining the role of SafetySubena Colligan (Episode 34): Organizations don't understand what Safety practitioners doChris Smith (Episode 2): Safety is the ultimate change leadership positionChris Moulden (Episode 31): From Safety Cop to ultimate team playerMikel Bowman (Episode 51): The power of Safety professionalsDavid Provan (Episode 58): Safety professionals can't be everywhere!Bob Edwards (Episode 53): Safety practitioners can't fix everything!Tony Muschara (Episode 70): Safety is not the Safety professional's responsibilityBrye Sargent (Episode 11): Safety practitioners shouldn't implement Safety policiesBridget Leathley (Episode 19): Safety professionals aren't solely responsible for proceduresDr Gary Namie (Episode 41): Safety should be responsible for workplace bullyingJason van Schie (Episode 33): Safety's role in managing psychosocial risksMark Alston (Episode 16): Facilitation is more important than ComplianceTim D'Ath (Episode 61): Safety professionals are conduitsCameron Stevens (Episode 62): Safety practitioners' role as a conciergeNicolai Massyn (Episode 63): Safety professionals are ideally placed to manage ESGDr Todd Loushine (Episode 74): The heightened value of Safety practitionersRosa Carrillo (Episode 57): Safety is an overlooked resourceDavid Provan (Episode 58): The future role of a Safety professional…Safety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find out more: www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Carsten Busch - the "Indiana Jones of Safety", who has over 25 years of experience in HSEQ Management. and is a tutor in the Lund University human factors and system safety program.Carsten is also a Safety historian and has extensively researched and written about the work of Herbert William Heinrich - and shares his finding with us in this fascinating interview.Heinrich is considered by many to be the founder of modern Safety practice, but has become a polarizing figure in today's safety discourse.Carsten believes Heinrich's work and legacy should be reappraised, and he helps Safety professionals understand what he actually wrote - rather than basing their knowledge on hearsay.One of Carsten's main concerns is that New View Safety authors aren't applying their own principles when they criticize Heinrich and could be positioning his work to reinforce their own approaches.Context is key and you'll discover what Heinrich actually said, who his primary audience was (not Safety professionals!), and the surprising role insurance companies played in enhancing Workplace Safety in the 1930s.Carsten's book investigating Heinrich:Preventing Industrial Accidents: Reappraising H. W. HeinrichRecommended additional reading from Heinrich's time:Men and machines: Amazon.com: Chase, StuartFind out more about Carsten's work:Home (mindtherisk.com)Carsten on LinkedIn:Carsten Busch | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find out more: www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Joelle Mitchell, an organizational psychologist and human factors specialist, who translates academic research findings from psychology, OHS and human factors into actionable risk management insights.Joelle tells the story of her journey to specializing in psychosocial health, and helps simplify psychological safety for EHS practitioners.She explores key hot topics, such as who should be responsible for psychosocial safety, and explains how organizational structures can significantly impact Workplace Safety.Joelle proposes a well-balanced and highly practical approach to psychosocial risk management that allows HSE and HR to work together in an evolving model.This fascinating discussion covers many elements of modern Workplace Safety, including managing inevitable trade-offs, incentivization issues, the vitality of risk management controls, moral injuries and the importance of humble inquiry.Find out more about Joelle's current role and work as Global Head of Psychological Health and Safety at: Flourish DXWhere you can also find psychosocial health and safety webinars, podcasts, training and tools.Papers/books recommended by Joelle:On the Folly of Rewarding A, While Hopig for B - by Stephen KerrRisk Management in a Dynamic Society - by Jens RasmussenOrganising for Safety: How structure creates culture - by Andrew HopkinsConnect with Joelle Mitchell on LinkedIn: Joelle Mitchell | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find out more: www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Dr Todd Loushine, a former OSHA compliance officer and EHS practitioner who now teaches the next generation of Safety professionals as an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin.Todd uses his wide-ranging experience to improve worker success, satisfaction and safety - and in this highly-engaging discussion, he focuses his wisdom on the importance of learning and practicing civil discourse.Many guests on our show believe Safety education doesn't adequately prepare tomorrow's HSE professionals, but Todd provides a more positive perspective.He explains how students can be given the right level of challenge, guidance and soft-skill training to help them become successful Safety practitioners.Debates about Safety do not always remain civil - especially on social media - and Todd explores why this happens and how the professional can raise the standards of discussion, openness to ideas and collaboration.Both entertaining and enlightening throughout, Todd compares Safety to a teenager(!) and shares his vision of the profession without a regulator.You can find most of Todd's lectures on YouTube:T William Loushine - YouTubeTodd recommends Safeopedia:Safeopedia - Empowering the workplace with free health and safety infoDr Todd Loushine on LinkedIn:Todd William Loushine, PhD, PE, CSP, CIH | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find out more: www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Dr Peter Brace, a psychological safety consultant who helps organizations link respect and accountability through psychological safety to improve team performance.He begins this engaging conversation by clarifying how much influence Safety professionals can have on psychological safety. Perhaps surprisingly for a consultant, Peter explains that you can't create psychologically safe workplaces. Instead he describes the conditions required for this emergent quality.Peter reveals the 5 key aspects of psychological safety (as defined by leading neuroscientist David Rock): Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness - and how these conditions can be assessed and cultivated.He also clears up the common misconceptions about psychological safety, highlights the key benefits and explains how this quality can be easily measured.Safety practitioners will learn how psychological safety is an important precursor for physical health and safety, while deepening awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion.Find out more about Peter's work:Human Capital RealisationPeter recommends the work of Professor Amy Edmondson and Dr. Timothy ClarkDr Peter Barce on LinkedIn:Peter Brace PhD | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find out more: www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Murray Ritchie, an experienced OHS practitioner, researcher, educator, and speaker who's worked with various industries, governments, and NGOs.He joins us to discuss the content of his new book: ‘Seven Bad Habits of Safety Management - Examining Systemic Failure' (published September 2023).Murray gives EHS professionals an honest, open and comprehensive appraisal of current approaches to Safety Management, covering education, regulations, Plan Do Check Act, the right to refuse, Heinrich, BBS, Zero Harm, Safety Culture, and so much more.This insightful interview is packed with real-life examples from his 40-year career and extension academic research, highlighting where the industry is failing to improve.Murray's on a mission to propel Safety out of its ‘comfort zone'. This conversation helps HSE professionals focus on what's important: finding facts and fixing them before somebody gets hurt.Find out more about Murray's work:Tri-Lens Safety (trilenssafety.com)Murray's book:Seven Bad Habits of Safety Management: Examining Systemic FailureMurray recommended the work of Sydney Dekker and Clive LloydContact Murray by email:murray@trilenssafety.comMurray Ritchie on LinkedIn:Murray Ritchie MSc | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find out more: www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, we're conducting a thorough investigation of ‘safety culture' to help HSE practitioners bring some clarity to this controversial term.We've compiled a collection of thoughts, opinions and ideas about safety culture from 15 of our previous guests discussing various aspects of this nebulous subject.The main dispute is whether safety culture actually exists, but even when we get past this, people rarely agree on its definition, measurement and implementation.This safety culture special presents multiple perspectives on these crucial questions from experienced HSE professionals, consultants, authors and academics. We can't promise definitive answers, but it will help you come to your own conclusions about safety culture - and what it means for your practice.Featured guests (in order of appearance):Dr Tristan Casey (Episode 40): Confusion and Clarity About Safety CultureJames Junkin (Episode 37): There's No Safety CultureDr Tristan Casey (Episode 40): Defining Safety CultureDr Linda Martin (Episode 22): There's No Such Thing as Safety CultureClive Lloyd (Episode 44): 5 Levels of Safety CultureDr Tristan Casey (Episode 40): 3 Different Perspectives of Safety CultureDr Drew Rae (Episode 55): Culture has been corrupted in SafetyTim Marsh (Episode 1): Elements of Safety CultureChris Smith (Episode 2): Importance of CultureDr Tristan Casey (Episode 40): Avoid Catch-All Definitions of Safety CultureMary Ann Baynton (Episode 45): How EHS Professionals Can Extend Safety CultureRey Gonzalez (Episode 23): Fostering Safety CulturesDavid Heap (Episode 36): Safety Culture and Positive PsychologyStephen Harvey (Episode 38): Impact of Language on Safety CultureAmy Roosa (Episode 48): Creating Inclusive Safety Cultures for WomenDr I. David Daniels (Episode 30): Open and Inclusive Safety CulturesGareth Lock (Episode 43): Safety Culture's Role in Accident InvestigationsChris Moulden (Episode 31): Authentic Leadership's Impact on Safety CulturesTim Marsh (Episode 1): Culture is KingDr Tristan Casey (Episode 40): Safety Culture Versus Safety ClimateSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find out more: www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Tony Muschara, a Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) specialist and owner of Mushara Error Management Consulting.He's also the author of several Safety books, including ‘Risk-based Thinking', and its follow-up ‘Critical Steps' - which is the main focus of this fascinating interview.Tony begins by exploring the role of an EHS professional and reveals his strongly-held views on where responsibility for workplace Safety lies within an organization.He then describes the 4 elements of risk-based thinking (anticipate, monitor, respond and learn), before sharing his recent research into the importance of critical steps in Safety management. Safety professionals will learn what they are, how they can be identified and what can be done to ensure they are completed successfully - first time and every time - to avoid significant harm.This discussion is packed with wisdom from Tony's distinguished career in Safety, including why aiming for excellence isn't always good enough, when to think slow, how to fail safely, and his mantra: “If you don't have doubts, you haven't been paying attention”.Your approach to Safety will definitely be enhanced by paying attention to this interview!Find out more about Tony's work: MuscharaBooks recommended by Tony:Managing the Risk of Organizational Accidents and Organizational Accidents Revisited by James ReasonOperational Risk Control by Derek VinerManaging the Unexpected: Assuring High Performance in an Age of ComplexityBy Karl E. Weick and Kathleen M. SutcliffeOrganizing for Safety by Andrew HopkinsEngineering a Safer World by Nancy LevesonTony Muschara on LinkedIn:Tony Muschara | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find out more: www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Stephan Wiedner, an entrepreneur on a mission to abolish apathy in the workplace. He's the cofounder of Noomii.com, the web's largest network of independent life coaches and Skillsetter.com, a platform similar to a flight simulator for practicing interpersonal skills.Safety management relies on trust, persuasion, and approachability, yet EHS professionals may not have been taught these skills during their training. In fact, there's a common conception these qualities are inherent and can't be taught.Stephan presents an upbeat and convincing case for why Safety professionals can - and should - develop their interpersonal skills.He explains that the key to improving nebulous concepts, such as empathy, is to break them down into specific learnable practical skills. Stephan teaches HSE professionals how this is done - with a strong emphasis on the importance of psychological safety - while dispelling ongoing misconceptions about interpersonal skills.Find out more about the foundational academic research undertaken by Tim Anderson investigating the impact of interpersonal skills:A prospective study of therapist facilitative interpersonal skills as a predictor of treatment outcomeThe books recommended by Stephan:Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise: Amazon.com: Ericsson, Anders, Pool, RobertStephan Wiedner on LinkedIn:Stephan Wiedner | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Christian Hunt, author of 'Humanizing Rules' and founder of Human Risk, a consultancy and training firm that brings behavioral science to ethics & compliance.Christian helps Safety practitioners understand and minimize their exposure to human risk, and he begins by explaining why he wrote his latest book.Packed with entertaining anecdotes, this lively conversation explores the 3 key drivers of human behavior and introduces a simple framework (‘HUMANS') that will help EHS professionals evaluate and design behavioral interventions (e.g. a new rule or communication program).Throughout the interview, Christian emphasizes the importance of looking at things from the workers' perspective - who are humans, not robots:“Think not about what we would like people to do, but what they're likely to do.”In this action-packed episode, we also learn 6 golden rules of compliance, including ‘Compliance is an outcome, not a process', and ‘Just because you can doesn't mean you should'.This was Christinian's second appearance on our podcast (his first was episode 4), and we hope he returns for a third time!Find out more about Christian's work:Human Risk | Make your compliance programme more effectiveChristian's new book: ‘Humanizing Rules':Humanizing Rules: Bringing Behavioural Science to Ethics & ComplianceChristian's Podcast:The Human Risk PodcastBooks recommended by Christian:“Thinking Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman – https://www.amazon.com/dp/0374533555“Influence is Your Superpower: The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen” by Zoe Chance – https://www.amazon.com/dp/198485433XChristian Hunt on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humanrisk/Safety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Jodi Goodall, a High-Reliability Organization (HRO) expert who's been in the safety profession for 20 years. Her operational experience spans mining, defense, explosives, heavy maintenance and logistics, and she's currently head of organizational reliability at Brady Haywood, a consultancy in Brisbane.Jody's approach to Safety is based on systems thinking and the practices of HROs - and she begins this enlightening interview by explaining what strategies and organizations this acronym covers.She walks EHS practitioners through the 5 characteristics of HROs, using practical examples of how they can enhance workplace safety:Preoccupation with failureReluctance to simplifySensitivity to the operationsCommitment to resilienceDeference to expertiseJodi explains that HRO is dotted throughout all the current safety theories and calls for HSE professionals to focus on practices, not academia and recognize that we're all heading in the same direction.She believes there's too much investment in traditional Safety approaches and encourages the profession to welcome failure, trust the workforce, and be less judgemental and more helpful.Find out more about Jodi's work:Brady Heywood | Complex Systems ThinkingJodi recommends the work of Andrew Hopkins:Amazon.com: Andrew Hopkins: Books, Biography, Blogs, Audiobooks, KindleAnd this book about the US Nay culture:Extreme Operational Excellence: Applying the US Nuclear Submarine Culture to Your Organization eBook : DiGeronimo, Matt, Koonce, Bob: Amazon.com: BooksJodi Goodall on LinkedIn:Jodi Goodall | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Pam Walaski, Senior Vice President of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), who uses her considerable experience to teach the next generation of HSE practitioners.Pam shares her insightful views on the current state of safety education. She highlights the key gaps, limitations and challenges and explains which elements need to evolve.Safety professionals will also learn about Pam's personal journey from “safety cop” mentality to seeing workers as the solution rather than the problem. This mindset shift has significantly influenced her approach to safety education, and rapport, empathy, respect, and dignity are key themes in this compassionate interview.Pam helps EHS professionals to stop thinking in terms of “right” and “wrong” and instead focus on learning, evolution and being open to change.Pam recommends these online resources for Safety practitioners:Safety Differently – Innovative and critical safety thinkingHuman and Organizational Performance | HOP HubAuthors recommended by Pam:Todd Conklin, Sidney Dekker and Rosa Antonia CarrilloPam also suggests listening to these podcasts:PreAccident InvestigationThe Safety of WorkPam Walaski on LinkedIn:Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Dr L. Casey Chosewood, Director of Total Worker Health (TWH) at the American National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Dr Chosewood provides a comprehensive overview of the origins and purpose of the TWH initiative - an emerging discipline that he hopes will change the way Safety professionals practice.In this uplifting interview, he discusses his role in promoting the protection and improvement of workers' health, safety, and wellbeing through research, intervention, development and partnerships.Casey discusses the key workplace safety initiatives his team is implementing and shares essential tools for EHS practitioners who want to learn more about TWH.Total Worker Health isn't just focused on helping organizations keep their workforce safe. Additionally, it aims to improve workers' health and wellbeing. Dr Chosewood explains how this benefits everyone - including wider society - and shares his inspiring vision for people to go home from work healthier than they arrived.Learn more about Total Worker Health:https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/twh/totalhealth.htmlTo contact Casey and his team:twh@cdc.govThe TWH Essential Guide:Fundamentals of Total Worker Health Approaches | NIOSH | CDCThe NIOSH Worker Well-Being Questionnaire:Worker Well-Being Questionnaire (WellBQ) | NIOSH | CDCDr L. Casey Chosewood on LinkedIn:L. Casey Chosewood, MD MPH | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with James MacPherson, the straight-talking host of the influential podcast and YouTube channel, ‘Rebranding Safety', who also recently founded his own consultancy, ‘Risk Fluent' (with his wife).In this unrestrained interview (with some colorful language), James leaves Safety professionals with no doubt about how the profession can improve itself.After describing his journey, he dives straight into his forthright views about Safety's image problem and the “bickering” about Safety theory.James is never afraid to challenge traditional approaches to Safety, but he also challenges the ‘labeling' of alternative views and clearly defines the role he'd like academics to play.He doesn't hold back in his damning assessments of Safety Associations and HSE training and shares his concerns about the prevalence and impact of “Trickle-down Safety'.James completes his passionate appraisal of the Safety world by urging EHS practitioners to embrace AI, focus on critical thinking and calm down!Find out more about James' work:Risk Fluent Ltd - Health, Safety and Culture consultantHis ‘Rebranding Safety' podcast and Youtube channel:Rebranding Safety on Apple PodcastsRebranding Safety | Podcast on SpotifyRebranding Safety - YouTubeJames highly recommends these other podcasts for Safety practitioners:The Safety of WorkPodcast - The World of Work ProjectCautionary Tales | Tim Harford…and the following books:The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and GrowthBy Amy EdmondsonRebel-IdeasBy Matthew SyedJames MacPherson on LinkedIn:James MacPherson | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Nicolai Massyn, a corporate compliance and risk management expert who's founded several companies focused on EHS compliance tech, regulatory tech, and consulting services. Nicola is also a successful writer and has recently co-authored: ‘The Safety Professional's Role in Environmental, Social & Governance Initiatives' (with Linda Martin).Nicolai opens this fascinating conversation with a comprehensive overview and brief history of all the initiatives included in the Environment, Social and Governance elements of ESG.He then explains where Safety and ESG converge and why Safety professionals are so well-placed to manage ESG going forward.We also learn why ESG training is essential for forward-thinking EHS professionals and where to start your learning journey. Nicolai believes that digitization will greatly help practitioners of safety assume ESG responsibilities and encourages you to embrace the exciting opportunities this will present - after all, ESG is here to stay!The Safety in ESG article Nicolai co-authored with Linda Martin:f1martinmassyn_0323.pdf (assp.org)Nicolai Massyn on LinkedIn:Nicolai Massyn | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Cameron Stevens, a technologist and a Chartered Health and Safety professional who's worked in the OHS profession for over 15 years developing expertise in transforming organizations with his unique approach.Cameron works at the intersection of technology and safety, and in this fascinating discussion, he helps EHS professionals understand how safety tech will impact their roles.After reflecting on current perceptions about technology, Cameron explains why Safety professionals are perfectly placed to be the concierges who help bridge the gap between tech specialists and frontline workers.He discusses the opportunities AI offers the profession but also explores the current limitations and ethics of safety data and why some safety professionals may be reluctant to adopt new tech.Cameron's interview is a call to action for EHS practitioners to develop an innovation mindset and be curious about the benefits of adopting new tech.Find out more about Cameron's work:https://hseq-academy.com/pocketknife-group/Cameron Stevens on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronmstevensAdditional resources recommended by Cameron:The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Klaus SchwabDeep Tech: Demystifying the Breakthrough Technologies That Will Revolutionize Everything (Audio Download): Eric Redmond, Patrick O'ConnellInternational Labour OrganizationAbout Work to Zero - National Safety CouncilCameron Stevens on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronmstevensSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Tim D'Ath, an experienced Head of Safety & cultural transformation leader of high-performing teams in both corporate and high-risk environments. He specializes in the psychology of safety and explains to HSE professionals how they can bring a more human-centric approach to safety management.Regulations and humanity often seem at odds, and this friction is probably most apparent in high-compliance industries - where Tim has had great success implementing progressive safety programs and psychosocial wellbeing strategies.He shares his 4 principles of designing safety management systems and explains that compliance is a byproduct of getting things right. A key theme is workforce engagement, and he provides practical tips on how safety professionals can crowdsource and co-design solutions that interpret regulations into relatable formats for the worker.Tim reflects on current mainstream approaches to safety and voices his frustration at various elements, including imposing solutions on workers, lag indicator metrics, BBS programs, and Zero Harm initiatives. However, this is an uplifting interview with plenty of advice for disillusioned safety practitioners and many reasons to be optimistic about the future of safety.Tim could not recommend Clive Lloyd's best-selling book highly enough:Next Generation Safety Leadership: From Compliance to Care: Lloyd, Clive: 9780367509538: Amazon.com: BooksTim D'Ath on LinkedIn:Tim D'Ath | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Brent Sutton, safety author, consultant and podcaster. Well regarded as a safety coach, he takes organizations on a learning journey to understand how people are seen as the solution so everybody benefits without replacing your existing health and safety system.Brent actively advocates for doing safety when both workers and the organisation learn and improve, and he begins by explaining why HSE professionals need to shift from learning through accidents to learning through normal work.Listeners will learn the importance of variability, comlexity and coupling in in safety systems and the difference between weak and strong signals as Brent reveals how “death hides in normal work”.He shares a simple technique - the 4 Ds - to help safety professionals instigate meaningful conversations with the frontline and explains how making space for post-work reflection can significantly improve workers curiosity, resilience and overall workplace safety.Increased reflection is a key theme of this thought-provoking interview where Brent isn't afraid to challenge existing safety practice. He questions the over-reliance on contextless data, observations without engagement and even suggests that workers should lead safety initiatives, with the organization supporting them.Forget everything you've been taught about safety management and let Brent show you new ways to support the frontline and allow them to lead in understanding and managing the adaptability of the work they do every day.Find out more about Brent's work:Home | Learning Teams (learningteamscommunity.com)Download Brent's ‘Learning From Everyday Work' White Paper:Everyday Learning | Learning Teams (learningteamscommunity.com)Brent's podcast:The Practice of Learning Teams (bcast.fm)Brent Sutton on LinkedIn:Brent Sutton | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Dr. Liz Wilson, a behavioral scientist, organizational transformation expert, podcast host, and founder of Include Inc - a consultancy focused on improving workplace inclusion.Safety professionals are naturally inclusive in their pursuit of creating safety for everyone, but exclusion can unintentionally occur even when we're doing our best to include. Dr. Liz has extensively researched inclusion and shares her practical findings to help make inclusivity part of workplace safety.After defining inclusion and highlighting the serious risks of ignoring this fundamental organizational approach, Dr. Liz gives an overview of 'The 8-Inclusion Needs of all People' framework she's developed.She explains why Access, Space, Opportunity, Representation, Allowance, Language, Respect, and Support are all crucial elements to ensure co-workers are included and gives real-life examples of how they impact the workplace.Furthermore, Dr. Liz demonstrates why The 8 Needs provides a practical approach for HSE professionals to improve inclusion and workplace safety.Dr. Liz's authentic, honest, and pragmatic outlook shine throughout this engaging and powerful podcast - which every safety practitioner needs to include in their essential listening list.Find out more about Dr. Liz's work and her podcast:Include with Dr. Liz - Home (theincludeinc.com)Her journal article, The 8-Inclusion Needs of All People:View of The 8-Inclusion Needs of All People: A Proposed Framework to Address Intersectionality in Efforts to Prevent Discrimination (ijssrr.com)Dr. Liz Wilson on LinkedIn:Dr. Liz Wilson | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Dr David Provan, an award-winning safety researcher who investigated the role of safety professionals. David is also the CEO of Forge Works, founder of Safety Futures, and host of ‘The Safety of Work' podcast.David begins by explaining why it's important to define the role of the HSE professional and what role scientific research plays in the safety profession.He then shares the main factors that shape the role of a safety professional, which he's categorized as: institutional, relational, and individual.David discusses the limited decision-making authority held by safety leaders and how they can move from a position of challenging to influencing to improve workplace safety.A key part of David's research was exploring the identity of a safety professional. He discovered real tensions playing out in the mindset of safety people, concluding that the identity is confusing and paradoxical!David's enlightening research findings are essential listening for EHS practitioners, and he also shares his ‘scary' conclusions after studying the activity of HSE professionals. Do you agree you spend too much time on safety work rather than initiatives directly contributing to the safety of work?This high-impact interview will get you thinking deeply about why and how you do what you do as a safety professional.Find out more about David's Safety Consultancy work:Forge Works and Safety FuturesThe podcast David co-hosts:The Safety of WorkDavid's recommends Paper Safe by Greg Smithhttps://www.amazon.com/Paper-Safe-triumph-bureaucracy-management-ebook/dp/B07HVRZY8CDavid Provan on LinkedIn:David Provan | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Rosa Carrillo, a safety leadership and culture expert who's also a highly acclaimed author. Her book, ‘The Relationship Factor in Safety Leadership', is hailed by Edgar Schein as required reading to understand the foundations of "safety culture".After explaining why she wrote this book, Rosa shares her 8 principles of Relationship-Centered Safety Leadership. Psychological safety underpins everything, and we learn how to achieve ‘true communication' and why inclusion must precede workplace accountability.Rosa focuses on the importance and interdependence of innovation, resilience, inclusion, and accountability and discusses how leaders' expectations impact workers' contributions.Trust is a constant theme throughout this compassionate discussion, and Rosa explains why this quality will help Safety professionals more than policies.Rosa also introduces the concept of drift and its implications for safety management before highlighting the importance of continuously checking your beliefs, assumptions and biases.One of the key messages is everything starts with relationships. Rosa elegantly shows us that relationships influence emotions, feelings, and beliefs - which determine safety decisions and ultimately, culture.To find out more about Rosa's work, visit:https://carrilloconsultants.com/Rosa's recommended reading:Pre-accident investigations by Todd Conklinhttps://www.amazon.com/Pre-Accident-Investigations-Todd-Conklin/dp/1409447820The Field Guide to Understanding 'Human Error' by Sidney Dekker:https://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Understanding-Human-Error/dp/1472439058Next Generation Safety Leadership by Clive Lloyd:https://www.amazon.com/Generation-Safety-Leadership-Clive-Lloyd/dp/0367509563/Rosa Carrillo on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosaantoniacarrillo/Safety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Laurin Mooney, founder of ‘Speaking IN®', which provides a model and method to help organizations overcome the challenges of employees who don't speak up, and leaders who don't listen. Using her expertise to translate modern safety concepts into straightforward language, Lauren makes learning safety enjoyable and actionable.Lauren begins this uplifting conversation by highlighting why ‘Speaking Up' is “the winner when it comes to failing strategy at a workplace.” She explains that the approach is based on faulty assumptions, aimed at the wrong people and works against human nature.Rather than just criticizing existing strategies, Laurin has created an alternative: ‘Speaking IN®' - and she explains why this approach is more effective at improving workplace safety. It considers the big picture, directs attention to people who can make change, refocuses on purpose, uses language helpfully, and it's fairer.There are 4 core principles underlying ‘Speaking IN', and Laurin gives an overview of the importance of each: Intentionally, Including, Inviting & appreciating and Diverse perspectives.Using real-life case studies, Lauren also outlines the practical steps safety professionals can take to shift towards a ‘Speaking IN' culture.Laurin's passion for helping workers, safety systems, and organizations thrive is evident throughout this engaging interview, as she genuinely believes that “healing the employee experience is one of the fastest and most effective ways to heal the world”.Find out more about Laurin's work:Speaking INBooks/papers recommended by Laurin:The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and GrowthBy Amy EdmondsonManaging the Unexpected: Assuring High Performance in an Age of ComplexityBy Karl E. WeickSensemaking: Framing and Acting in the UnknownBy Deborah AnconaSpeaking IN on LinkedIn:Speaking IN: Overview | LinkedInLaurin Mooney on LinkedIn:Laurin Mooney BSN MSSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Drew Rae, an Associate Professor in the Safety Science Innovation Lab at Griffith University, who co-authored a research paper named; ‘Safety clutter: the accumulation and persistence of ‘safety' work that does not contribute to operational safety.' We all know that excess safety procedures, documents, roles and activities cause organizational issues, so Drew helps HSE professionals understand the leading causes and key solutions.After briefly outlining his research methods, Drew explains why safety clutter (a term he coined) exists, and we learn why adding new safety activities is much easier than removing them.He then reveals how we can identify different types of clutter, including duplication, generalization, and over-specification, and how they can be managed more effectively.Drew describes how the word “clutter” was carefully chosen to make discussions about this workplace problem easier, and he provides great practical advice on starting conversations about decluttering. He also shares the crucial question HSE professionals can ask co-workers to identify the main pain points.A key learning is that safety clutter is surprisingly difficult to reduce - despite apparent absurdities. Therefore, limiting new safety activities is easier than removing existing ones. This rational and insightful interview will give safety professionals many sensible decluttering solutions.Drew's safety clutter paper:Safety clutter: the accumulation and persistence of 'safety' work that does not contribute to operational safety (griffith.edu.au)Drew's safety podcast:The Safety of WorkDrew Rae on LinkedIn:Drew (Andrew) Rae | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Dave Rebbitt, a safety leader, consultant, and prolific author. The subject of his best-selling book, ‘Effective Safety Committees: A Practical Guide' forms the basis of this engaging and compassionate interview.Dave developed the concept of “Intelligent Safety” and explains what this means and why it's especially necessary in this era of static or rising workplace fatalities. He encourages safety professionals to look beyond manuals and training and truly explore whether systems are working and risk is effectively managed.Despite safety committees being a legal requirement in most G8 countries, Dave believes they could have a much more positive impact. He clearly defines the purpose, functionality, and benefits of effective safety committees, while highlighting the key red flags.It's not easy to measure the effectiveness of safety committees, but Dave provides some top practical tips and shares his views on the role of HSE professionals within the committee.Dave also discusses the importance of Terms of Reference and good communication and helps us overcome common issues, such as complex structures, committee overwhelm and finding consensus.Throughout this thought-provoking conversation, Dave highlights the need for respect and genuine care for the well-being of co-workers. He ends with some great advice to help safety professionals shake off the ‘judgemental safety cop' stereotype.Dave's book about safety committees:https://www.amazon.com/Effective-Safety-Committees-Practical-Guide/dp/172086084XLearn more about Dave's work by visiting:Rarebit ConsultingDave Rebbitt on LinkedIn:Dave Rebbitt, MBA, CRSP, C. Tech, CD | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Bob Edwards, a Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) coach, who has a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Advanced Safety Engineering Management. Bob is also the co-author of ‘Bob's Guide to Operational Learning' and a member of The Hop Hub, a consortium that guides people on their HOP journey.HOP considers how humans and organizations interact to accomplish work. It's a thought process that allows us to build more error-tolerant systems and teaches us that expecting perfection from workers, processes or procedures is not realistic.In this thought-provoking interview, Bob helps safety professionals explore the complex nature of work and learn how to gain a deeper understanding of their operations.He explains why modern work is so complex with a multitude of constantly adapting interconnecting interactions and reminds us that humans aren't just reliable machines.Bob suggests leadership doesn't usually appreciate this complexity as they focus on high-level metrics and urges HSE professionals to be more open about the actual context underlying these numbers.He reveals the limitations of simplification, the 5 Whys, making predictions and trying to fix everything. And highlights the virtues of listening, curiosity, respectful relationships, psychological safety and learning from success (as well as failure).HOP is often accused of lacking accountability, and Bob addresses this challenge and explains how HOP will actually increase co-worker responsibility and commitment.Using many real-life examples of the benefits of operational learning, Bob teaches us that understanding complexity coupled with collaboration, empathy and mutual respect can create more reliable and resilient workplace safety.Find out more about Bob's work and HOP:Human and Organizational Performance | HOP HubTo contact Bob directly:hop_coach@outlook.comThe book Bob co-authored:Amazon.com: Bob's Guide to Operational Learning: How to Think Like a Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) Coach: 9798579532077: Edwards, Bob, Baker, Andrea: BooksAuthors recommended by Bob:Amazon.com: Todd Conklin: Books, Biography, Blogs, Audiobooks, KindleHome - Sidney DekkerErikhollnagel.comEdgar Schein - WikipediaBob Edwards on LinkedIn:Bob Edwards | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with safety, training and development consultant Cameron Hacault, CEO of Haland Learning, who directs the design and implementation of safety courses and instructor training.Cameron is on a mission to make safety training NOT suck, and he shares expert advice to help HSE professionals deliver effective learning that's practical, understandable, and applicable.The purpose of training should always be co-worker safety, and Cameron explains why it should never be driven by organizations wanting to cover themselves in the event of accidents. Therefore, it's no surprise he urges HSE professionals to focus on the learners when designing safety training.Cameron strongly believes that training needs to be based on dialogue, not monologue and gives guidance on how to avoid “shoveling safety at people”' and treating them like ‘inanimate objects'.He gives many practical tips on making learning sessions more engaging and explains why questions and curiosity are crucial components to delivering effective safety messages.Every element of safety training is covered: the importance of the learning environment, online course, trainer competencies and common pitfalls. Cameron's interview is exactly like his courses - highly practical, easily understandable, and totally applicable.Find out more about Cameron's work:Workplace Safety Training Provider - OHS Training CoursesCameron recommended the Thiagi Group as a great resource for further information about training concepts and philosophies:The Thiagi GroupCameron Hacault on LinkedIn:Cameron Hacault
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Mikel Bowman, a consultant who focuses on leadership development and organizational culture. He's a former senior Safety Director with over 20 years experience in the mining industry, who also has a background in counseling.Mikel applies his in-depth experience of human relationships to the safety arena and helps HSE professionals overcome polarization, improve safety and change cultures by ‘leading from the middle'.He explains how and why you can lead from the middle at any level within your organization. Loving, nurturing and encouraging your co-workers can help engage and empower them to start taking ownership of their own safety and the safety of others.Using many real-life stories from his safety career, Mikel discusses the importance of balance between data and relationships for EHS professionals and how they can become facilitators rather than dictators.He believes you can improve both production and safety at the same time and urges the profession to abandon its pursuit of perfection that creates mission statements, such as ‘zero harm'.In a rousing call to action, Mikel declares that safety practitioners have the opportunity to change mindsets and cultures by leading with integrity and compassion. He describes them as superheroes with the power to inspire worker engagement and empowerment, improving workplace safety and revolutionizing people's lives!Find out more about Mikel's work:Bowman Legacy UniversityMikel recommends any leadership books by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin:Books - JockoHe also suggested two books on leadership by John C. Maxwell:21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Workbook 25th Anniversary EditionThe 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the OrganizationFollow Mikel on Instagram:Mikel Bowman (@mikelbowman243)Mikel Bowman on LinkedIn:Mikel Bowman | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Angelina Badri, the founder of the Universal Safety Wellness consultancy. Her holistic approach and genuine care for people empower leaders and frontline workers to reduce incidents and achieve workplace safety excellence collaboratively.In this compassionate interview, Angelina describes how working with individuals can solve systemic safety issues, with connected conversations being the key to success.Unusually for a safety consultant, she focuses on frontline workers, and Angelina explains to safety professionals how they can improve workplace safety through meaningful, honest and respectful conversations.Using many real-life examples from her 15 years in safety, Angelina explores the importance of individual habits and motivation, communicating priorities and information, and celebrating the process as well as the outcome.She demonstrates the power of connected conversations and gives practical guidance on building these into your daily work lives. Angelina helps turn uncomfortable conversations into good conversations and reveals the best time to make these interventions.Her passion and care shine throughout this empowering episode as she urges safety professionals to maximize the power of storytelling. Angelina connects effortlessly with her audience and tells powerful stories throughout.Find out more about Angelina's work:https://universalsafetywellness.com/The book recommended by Angelina:https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996Angelina Badri on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelina-badri-782a9520Safety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at https://sliceinc.myshopify.com/If you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with coach, speaker and podcast host Andrew Barrett, the founder of Safety On Tap, a consultancy specializing in the development and growth of Health and Safety leaders.Andrew has created an evolving model of marketing for Health and Safety, and in this fascinating interview, he explains how this model works and what EHS professionals can learn from marketing to improve their effectiveness.He takes key marketing concepts - such as customers, products, services, matching needs, ensuring appropriate fit, transactions, feedback, consultation and engagement - and applies them to workplace safety.Andrew explores who safety professionals' customers are and highlights the potential conflict between the needs of frontline workers and leadership. Regardless of everything that HSE practitioners are doing, a great starting point to develop a marketing approach to safety is asking: who are you trying to help, and what problems do they have?Getting feedback and consulting with internal customers is a great way to co-create safety initiatives that end-users will want to adopt - rather than have to adopt. Andrew shares great practical advice on the best ways of achieving these goals and ensuring that safety management products and services are a good fit.Andrew highlights the importance of validating the adoption and effectiveness of safety programs and gives top tips on how to do this efficiently. He also challenges HSE professionals to give more consideration to ongoing service and support post-implementation.A deeper understanding and engagement with humans and relationships underpin the entire model. This is a highly engaging discussion, and Andrew makes a great case to understand how marketing can help Health and Safety.Find out more about Andrew's work by visiting:Professional development for health and safety leaders (safetyontap.com)Andrew's Podcast, Safety on Tap:Episodes - Safety on TapMarketing experts recommended by Andrew:Dan Pink - https://www.danpink.com/Seth Godin - Seth's Site (sethgodin.com)Andrew Barrett on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-barrett-learning-coachSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Amy Roosa, a senior risk control specialist at Gallagher. She has 18 years of safety experience and has founded the Iowa Women in Safety conference and The Safety Rack, an organization that advocates for proper PPE and workwear for women in trades.Amy is passionate about securing appropriate PPE for women in the workplace and begins by uncovering the underlying reasons behind this issue. She gives some all-to-common real-life examples of ill-fitting equipment and workwear for women and highlights how this impacts individuals, safety managers and entire organizations.Unfortunately, women may be less likely to highlight these issues, and Amy explores why this is the case and what safety managers can do to ensure women have access to what they need on-site.Amy demonstrates how inappropriate PPE can damage women's psychological safety at work and impact organizations' retention of female talent.However, she is pleased with the progress being made and shares encouraging stories of women starting their own PPE manufacturing companies and explains what male co-workers can do to help.…And don't miss the colorful discussion about pink PPE!Find out more about The Safety Rack on YouTube:The Safety Rack - YouTubeAnd Instagram:The Safety Rack (@thesafetyrack) • Instagram photos and videosWhere Amy tests and reviews women's PPE clothing.Amy Roosa on LinkedIn:Amy Roosa | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Amanda Clements, Group HSE manager for strategy and wellbeing at Marowak. She's also the founder and CEO of The Collective Lab, a digital community focused on creating the future of workplace safety. Amanda has 18 years experience in Health and Safety roles for high-risk industries and holds a Master's in Safety Leadership.Amanda explains that workplace safety is relatively “immature” when compared to other professions, such as accountancy. She immediately identifies a greater focus on qualifications and non-technical skills as opportunities to develop the industry.She also highlights gaps, such as a lack of holistic learning and connectivity between safety professionals. Her research uncovered that HSE practitioners feel isolated and undervalued, and Amanda provides evidence-based solutions to these global issues.Collaboration is key, and Amanda explains how connecting HSE with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance opportunities and risks) can advance organizational performance and employee wellbeing.Amanda is adamant that safety professionals should offer much more value than just minimizing harm, and she advocates listening and inquiry as essential skills, enabling HSE practitioners to advance the profession.Find out more about Amanda's work by visiting:Amanda Clements – Helping great teams do extraordinary thingsAmanda highlighted - Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epsteinhttps://www.amazon.com/Range-Generalists-Triumph-Specialized-World/dp/0735214506She also recommended the Organizational Psychologist and bestselling author Adam Grant:Adam Grant – Books, Podcast, TED Talks, Newsletter, ArticlesAmanda Clements on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/creating-thriving-workplacesSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Clifford Morgan, an organizational psychologist and leadership expert with over 15 years of service in the Royal Australian Air Force.Clifford is passionate about enhancing performance and the fulfillment of leadership potential, and in this engaging interview, he focuses on how safety professionals can use coaching to become more influential in the workplace.He starts by exploring what leadership is and explains the difference between three different approaches - directing, coaching and mentoring. Cliff then highlights the two primary leadership responsibilities. Safety performance is obviously crucial, but safety leadership capability development is also a critical longer-term consideration.Clifford shares multiple ways EHS professionals can use coaching to influence others in the workplace. Strategic questioning - allowing people to come up with their own suggestions - can help co-workers adopt safety initiatives or improve their wellbeing and also encourage leaders to take more responsibility for safety in their areas.You'll learn specific coaching techniques to help get colleagues on board with your initiatives and understand the main challenges facing today's safety leaders.And if you love coffee, you'll be delighted to find out why it is such a powerful tool in the workplace!Clifford's book, The Coaching Leader:The Coaching Leader – Clifford MorganTo find out more about Clifford's work (and download the Beginners Guide to Coaching Conversations), visit:Clifford MorganOther books recommended by Clifford:The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier:COACHING HABIT: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever: Amazon.com: BUNGAY STANIER: 9780978440749: BooksBring Out Their Best by Natalie Ashdown:https://www.amazon.com/Bring-Their-Best-Natalie-Ashdown-ebook/dp/B00AR5SRG2Clifford Morgan on LinkedIn:Clifford Morgan | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Mary Ann Baynton, a workplace relations specialist, consultant, speaker and author, who has been called “the godmother of psychological health and safety.” She's the principal of Mary Ann Baynton & Associates and Director of Strategy and Collaboration at Workplace Strategies for Mental Health.Mary is on a mission to reduce unnecessary workplace stress, distress or conflict, and in this warm and wide-ranging interview, she helps safety professionals understand the key ways they can help identify and mitigate psychosocial risk.The starting point is an overview of Canada's National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (which Mary helped develop). The Standard is a set of voluntary guidelines, tools and resources intended to guide organizations in promoting mental health and preventing psychological harm at work - the first of its kind in the world.Mary then shares evidence-based approaches to help safety professionals address 10 key workplace psychosocial factors. She describes each factor's risks, provides practical solutions, and suggests how EHS professionals can secure leadership support to implement these strategies.You'll learn about organizational culture, work-life balance, workplace civility and respect, change management, building trust, personal development, involvement and influence, psychologically supportive environments and managing workload stress. For every element, Mary shares compelling evidence for adopting workplace psychological health and safety.Mary's consultancy:Mary Ann Baynton & Associates Corp. – The Workplace Relations SpecialistsWorkplace strategies for Mental Health:Organizational strategies (workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com)Canada's pioneering National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace:National Standard - Mental Health Commission of CanadaMary Ann is also the author of several books (Publications – Mary Ann Baynton & Associates Corp.) including:The Evolution of Workplace Mental Health in Canada: Towards a StandardBuilding Stronger TeamsResolving Workplace IssuesKeeping Well at WorkMindful ManagerPreventing Workplace Meltdown: An Employer's Guide to Maintaining a Psychologically Safe Workplace (with Dr. Martin Shain)Drive by Daniel H. Pink, the book exploring motivation recommended by Mary:https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Surprising-Truth-About-Motivates/dp/1594484805/Mary Ann Baynton on LinkedIn:Mary Ann Baynton | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Clive Lloyd, a psychologist specialising in safety leadership and culture development and founder of GYST Consulting. He was recently named among the top five global thought leaders and influencers on health and safety and is the author of Next Generation Safety Leadership: from compliance to care.Clive believes that trust is the most important factor in workplace safety and explains the three core skills HSE professionals must demonstrate to create trust and sustain trust.Should trust and similar relationship-building attributes be described as “soft skills”? Clive argues they are essential leadership qualities and actually rather hard to master.Clive shares his revised model of safety culture maturity. EHS professionals will learn the 5 different levels and how organizations can move from compliance to care by increasing trust, psychological safety and the flow of authentic information.He explains how safety is shifting away from traditional command and control approaches and demonstrates how Behavioral Based Safety and goals such as Zero harm have damaging unintended consequences.The central problem with these strategies is they lack trust. Clive shares practical guidance on building this quality, highlighting the power of asking questions and actively listening. This interview is well worth a listen!Clive's consultancy that's dedicated to creating trust and psychological safety:Welcome to GYST ConsultingClive's best-selling book:Next Generation Safety Leadership: From Compliance to Care: Lloyd, Clive: 9780367509538: Amazon.com: BooksOther books recommended by Clive:Sam Goodman's 10 Ideas to Make Safety Suck Lesshttps://www.amazon.com/Ideas-Make-Safety-Suck-Less/dp/B0BM55LMSFTodd Conklin's The 5 Principles of Human Performance https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Human-Performance-contemporary-updateof/dp/1794639144And Pre-Accident Investigationshttps://www.amazon.com/Pre-Accident-Investigations-Todd-Conklin/dp/1409447820Paper Safe by Greg Smithhttps://www.amazon.com/Paper-Safe-triumph-bureaucracy-management-ebook/dp/B07HVRZY8CThe Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson:https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Organization-Psychological-Workplace-Innovation/dp/1119477247Clive Lloyd on LinkedIn:Clive Lloyd | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Gareth Lock, the owner of The Human Diver, an organization that improves the safety and performance of divers through an understanding of human error. Gareth's safety career spans over 20 years, and he uses his experience in managing high-risk operations to help HSE professionals improve workplace safety.After sharing his fascinating journey from flying in the sky to diving underwater, Gareth explains why attributing accidents to human error actually hinders learning. He also recommends managing uncertainty rather than risk (numerical probabilities that can't account for human reliability) and gives practical guidance on how to make this shift.A key focus of this fascinating interview is the importance of safety pre-briefs, debriefs and validating plans through training: “It's much better to sort problems on the surface before you go into water”.Gareth introduces the concept of inclusive ‘learning reviews' that uncover a safety event's rich context and ‘second stories'. They help EHS professionals move past the immediate cause and blame to understand and address the complex combination of converging factors.An underlying theme to Gareth's interview is the need for organizations to shift from a blame culture to a ‘just culture' - where the workforce feels psychologically safe to speak out, and leadership recognizes that human error is inevitable.Gareth is as passionate about safety as he is about diving, and his insight applies to any environment where people are involved. Find out more about Gareth's company, The Human Diver:https://www.thehumandiver.com/The Human Diver's YouTube channel with over 30 video resources:The Human Diver - YouTubeWatch “If Only”, Gareth's documentary about a tragic and avoidable diving accident:If Only... (thehumandiver.com)Gareth Lock on LinkedIn:Gareth Lock | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with experienced Safety Director Stephanie Benay, one of Canada's foremost HSE experts and current Governor of the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals.Stephanie reflects on her 25-year journey as a female safety professional. She describes what the safety world was like for women a quarter of a century ago and explores how the workplace safety environment has changed over the last few decades.Despite improvements over time, gender inequality persists within the safety industry, and Stephanie reveals where, how and why these barriers for women are still prevalent.In this raw interview, Stephanie doesn't shy away from discussing uncomfortable truths such as female harassment in the workplace. However, her rise to senior leadership is an uplifting story that will inspire safety professionals across all demographics.Stepanie also shares fantastic safety leadership tips and stresses the importance of change management skills and developing financial acumen. She urges HSE professionals to believe in yourself, have courageous conversations and, most importantly: be curious.The American Society Of Safety Professionals 2019 report entitled Women and Safety in the modern workplace:Assp_women_and_safety_report_0419.pdfThe 3 books recommended by Stepanie:An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield:An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth: Amazon.com: Chris Hadfield: 9781447257103: BooksHow Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith:https://www.amazon.com/How-Women-Rise-Habits-Holding/dp/1847942253Bent Out of Shape by Karen Messing:https://www.amazon.com/Bent-Out-Shape-Solidarity-Womens/dp/1771135417Women in Occupational Health and Safety Society's website:WOHSS – Women in Occupational Health & Safety SocietyStephanie Benay on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephbenaySafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Dr Gary Namie, a social psychologist widely regarded as North America's foremost authority on workplace bullying. Along with his wife, he's the founder of the Workplace Bullying Institute, and they've also co-authored multiple books and academic articles addressing this issue.Gary begins this powerful interview with a very impactful definition of workplace bullying. He explains why this “disgraceful and embarrassing human condition” exists and, perhaps more alarmingly, describes how institutions actually allow it to perpetuate.Dr Namie feels very strongly that HR has failed to address bullying, so issues a rallying call to safety professionals to use their hazard identification expertise to end the prevalence of workplace bullying.He's encouraged by OHS professionals' adoption of psychosocial safety management and believes that post #metoo media attention on toxic workplace environments will help raise the profile of bullying prevention.Gary passionately discusses both the individual and organizational negative consequences of workplace bullying and gives safety professionals practical guidance on how they can help solve this issue. Despite sharing some optimism about the future, he leaves us with no doubt about the severity of this problem.To contact Dr Gary Namie or learn more about his mission to eradicate workplace bullying, visit:Home - Workplace Bullying InstituteSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Dr Tristan Casey, an organizational psychologist specializing in safety leadership and organizational culture, who understands how to generate research with practical impact.Safety culture is a very broad and all-encompassing term - which causes much confusion. Tristan reveals the origins of this lack of clarity and shares three theoretical perspectives on what safety culture means. It can be a mirror, a map, and a measure, but Dr Casey outlines how these different approaches can form a coherent, sequential and practical framework to systematically improve workplace safety.Tristan recognizes criticism that safety culture is no different from organizational culture but believes the distinction is useful because it makes workplace safety more tangible and allows organizations to move forward with a shared understanding of what safety and culture mean together.He shares the practical dos and don'ts of safety culture, explains why clear definitions and feedback loops are so important, and considers the future of safety culture research.Finally, he addresses a key challenge of how to make safety research more useful for practitioners, stressing the importance of closer partnerships between industry and academia.Tristan's deep dive into safety culture brings much-needed clarity and makes it a far more useful concept for safety professionals.You can learn about Dr Casey's safety culture research findings in chapter 19 (“Rolling up our sleeves and pulling up our socks: a critical review of safety culture definitions and measures, and innovative ways to move the field forward”) of the Handbook of Research Methods for Organisational Culture:https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Handbook_of_Research_Methods_for_Organis/Dr Tristan Casey on LinkedIn:Dr. Tristan Casey | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Moni Hogg, a Senior HSE professional, safety trainer and conference speaker who specializes in the Safety Differently. She focuses on cutting-edge safety approaches to enable creative, innovative and efficient culture transformation.Mary has literally written a handbook on implementing New View Safety, and she shares the key ideas underpinning this approach while providing practical guidance to EHS professionals looking to build and improve their safety programs.She tells her story of discovering and exploring New View Safety and outlines the essential paradigm shifts required to embrace these contemporary safety methodologies and philosophies.Mary introduces us to new concepts, including “weak signals”, “learning teams” and “freedom frameworks”. However, she also highlights challenges, such as measuring success, accountability, leadership buy-in, and the timeframe required to see positive results.Transitioning to New View Safety is not a quick or simple journey - but it's exciting, and you will learn so much. This interview is a great starting point!Moni's book (The New View Safety Handbook: a step-by-step roadmap to introduce contemporary safety methods) is due to be published in 2023 - so connect with her on LinkedIn for further details:https://www.linkedin.com/in/moni-hogg-4a55012b/Safety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Stephen Harvey, an operations-focused HSE professional who takes a pragmatic approach to risk. Currently senior health and safety partner with Origin Energy, he shares his extensive experience of embedding contemporary safety practices and positively impacting organizational safety culture.Steve believes safety management is too boring, and he's on a mission to infuse more fun and connection into the industry.He's passionate about developing relationships with frontline workers and helps safety professionals become a conduit between the office and the field. Steve believes in the power of humor and stories and explains how his hobby - standup comedy - has made him a more effective HSE professional.Language is very important to Steve, and he demonstrates how the words you use can change your organization's safety culture. At the same time, he feels safety data is over-relied upon and highlights the importance of collecting the stories (qualitative research) underlying the metrics to uncover actual safety performance.Another key focus for Steve is unpacking the safety bureaucracy that slows people down, and he has great advice on making checklists more relevant.Steve has an alter ego on Instagram - Safetybhoy, and he explains how embracing social media can make safety more interesting and start new conversions. It's a fun interview, full of great stories and you won't regret connecting with Stephen Harvey!The book about checklists(!) that Steve recommended:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Checklist-Manifesto-How-Things-Right/dp/B07MMNM9Z5Sidney Dekker's seminal safety book that Steve encourages HSE professionals to read:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Field-Guide-Understanding-Human-Error/dp/1472439058Steve also recommends this non-safety book - The Ministry of Common Sense:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ministry-Common-Sense-Eliminate-Bureaucratic/dp/B08P3VW75DThe podcast recommended by Steve:Rethinking Safety ⚠️ on Apple PodcastsSafetybhoy on Instagram:Stephen Harvey | Safety (@safetybhoy) • Instagram photos and videosStephen Harvey on LinkedIn:Stephen Harvey | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with US Navy veteran James Junkin, CEO of international safety consultancy Mariner-Gulf Consulting and Services, who's worked in the oil industry since 1995 and is an advisory board member for the American Society of Safety Professionals.James isn't afraid to ruffle a few feathers and shares his no-nonsense thoughts on all things safety in this entertaining interview:“It seems like every other day, we're getting a new theory on workplace safety. Let me tell you my theory on workplace safety. It's about identifying hazards and implementing controls!”From stating that he doesn't want to see another safety theory to lambasting the lack of mental health training for EHS professionals, James doesn't hold back on his views.In this passionate discussion, he covers all of the hot topics in safety today. He does this from a genuine love for his profession and a positive desire to enhance workplace safety.What can be done to enhance safety education, salaries and conferences? How can safety professionals become more effective, and where can organizations improve? James has the answers to all these questions.He also explores the difficult subject of dealing with workplace injuries and fatalities, highlighting the lack of support safety professionals receive to mitigate PTSD and how this must be addressed.This conversation with James is fast-paced and wide-ranging, but he is always focused on one goal: taking care of people.James recommends Dr Linda Martin's podcast, “The Safety Struggle”:The Safety Struggle Podcast — Dr. Linda F. MartinAnd “Psych Health and Safety” - Dr I. David Daniels' podcast:Psych Health and Safety Podcast USAHe also suggests reviewing the resources on the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) website to deepen your knowledge:ASSP - American Society of Safety Professionals | ASSPJames Junkin on LinkedIn:James Junkin, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO | LinkedInJames' international boutique Risk Management and Occupational Safety and Health Consulting firm:Home - Mariner-Gulf
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with David Heap, a leading organizational and coaching psychologist with over 30 years of professional experience. He's a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has a BSc in Psychology and an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management.David helps safety professionals understand why organizations are increasingly adding a Chief Psychological Health Officer (CPH) to the boardroom. He explains how approaches to workplace mental wellbeing have changed over recent years - especially since the global pandemic.But how does this affect safety management? David explores where a CPH could sit within an organizational structure and which backgrounds are best suited for this role. He argues workplace psychological health and safety should be an inter-departmental concern and that the appointment of a CPH shouldn't diminish collective responsibility.David insists that workplace mental wellbeing initiatives (including appointing a CPH) should result from genuine concern for the workforce - and not be attention-grabbing activities defunded in 18 months.He wants organizations to holistically assess the workplace environment to prevent poor psychological health and focus on boosting positive wellbeing in the workforce. Proactivity at a systematic level is crucial - and safety professionals can play a key role in this transition.David's coaching consultancy:https://www.insightmc.com.au/The National Workplace Initiative in Australia:National Workplace Initiative | Have Your Say - National Mental Health CommissionDavid Heap on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidheap/Safety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with former Marine Michael Flynn, Corporate Safety Director of Barnard Construction, who's held safety roles in construction since 1995.Hiring in the safety profession is a crucial process for any leader looking to build an effective safety team. At the same time, new safety professionals need to know what skills are required to attract potential employers. Mike can help safety professionals at either end of the spectrum. He's been recruiting and developing safety teams for decades.Mike explains why soft skills are particularly important for safety managers. He believes that teaching the technical elements of safety is relatively straightforward. Therefore, he encourages recruiters and candidates to focus on areas such as relationship-building and communication.He gives top tips on where to look for candidates, how to spot potential and what questions to ask during the interview process.In the second part of this engaging interview, Mike focuses on building effective safety teams. He recommends concentrating on team members' strengths and explains why role fit is so important in safety management.Ultimately, he reveals that the secret to success in workplace safety is caring about your people. And Mike has cared for a lot of co-workers over the last 30 years.Mike recommends the author Malcolm Gladwell, author of five New York Times bestsellers - The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, What the Dog Saw, and David and Goliath.Malcolm Gladwell – Home | Malcolm Gladwell (gladwellbooks.com)Another book Mike suggests is Dr Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese: Who Moved My Cheese: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life: Amazon.co.uk: Johnson, Dr Spencer: 8601404197116: BooksFinally, Mike also recommended Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek:Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't: Amazon.co.uk: Sinek, Simon: 9780670923175: BooksMichael Flynn on LinkedInMichael Flynn, RSP® | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Subena Colligan, former safety leader in the US Air Force and Kimberly Clark, who is now an EHS transformation coach and consultant. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, is the vice chair of the board for Global EHS Credentialing and founded her business, S. Coligan Coaching in 2021.Subena has experienced burnout firsthand and now dedicates her worklife to helping safety professionals move from surviving to thriving. She shares her personal experience of burnout and provides practical tips on prevention and recovery - at both an individual and organizational level.She believes that the safety profession is especially susceptible to burnout because HSE professionals are so selfless, often don't consider themselves as employees and have limited opportunities to work from home.Subena describes the six different causes of burnout and stresses the importance of organizations focusing on prevention. She highlights the benefits of agile strategies to help team members thrive and introduces the concept of an energy inventory to maximize positive workplace experiences.Safety professionals are urged to prioritize their own wellbeing and not work too many hours - it's the quality - not quantity - that matters!The self-leadership book recommended by Subena:The Four Agreements — don Miguel RuizThe book on strategy Subena recommends:Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The difference and why it matters: Amazon.co.uk: Rumelt, Richard: 9781781256176: BooksSubena's coaching consultancy:Management Consulting for EHS Transformation - subenacolliganSubena Colligan on LinkedIn:(4) Subena Colligan, CIH, CSP | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Jason van Schie, a psychological Health and Safety expert, qualified psychologist, podcaster and Managing Director of People Diagnostix - a health technology company.Jason explains that psychosocial risk covers anything in the design or management of work causing employees stress e.g. ongoing unreasonable deadlines or witnessing a traumatic accident.Safety professionals are given a brief history of workplace mental health awareness - which is now being taken much more seriously and thankfully focuses on prevention rather than cure. Jason explains the key reasons behind this shift in approach and shares the benefits of managing psychosocial risk.A new standard, ISO 45003, implies that mental health should be managed like any other health and safety risk. Jason reviews this standard and explores what this means for the safety profession. He suggests that HSE professionals should take the lead in psychosocial risk assessment - so workplace mental health isn't confined to HR.Jason provides practical guidance on how to monitor and manage psychosocial hazards, with a strong focus on utilizing technology and keeping things simple.You may be relieved to hear Jason doesn't believe EHS professionals need to become psychologists(!) - but he does advocate the development of compassion.Jason's Psych Health and Safety Podcast:Psych Health and Safety PodcastThe 45003 Academy - where you can access free resources to understand and adopt the global ISO 45003 standard:ISO 45003:2021 Psychological health and safety at work FREE resources training pdfSafe Work Australia's Model Code of Practice recommended by Jason:Model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work | Safe Work AustraliaJason's health technology company, People Diagnostix:FlourishDx - Psychological Health, Safety and Wellbeing SoftwareJason van Schie on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonvanschieSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Dr Ivan Pupulidy, an international speaker and consultant focused on Risk, Safety, Aviation, Wildland Firefighting and Human and Organizational Performance (HOP). He spent over two decades in the US Forest Service, culminating in a promotion to Director of the Office of Innovation and organizational learning.Accident investigation techniques have remained static for many decades, yet complexity is increasing. and workplaces are not necessarily safer.Therefore, Ivan introduced an alternative approach: The Learning Review.Unlike other accident protocols, it's designed to understand human actions in complex adaptive systems. Ivan explains how to conduct a learning review in the workplace and why it helps HSE professionals improve safety cultures.He describes the transition from a frame of unhelpful judgment to positive understanding of the accident, where the system - not individuals - is the key focus of the review.Ivan explains the importance of humble inquiry, “complex narrative”, focus groups, inclusivity and engagement, new safety review terminology and “learning products”.It's a fascinating journey of cultural change, innovation and organizational learning - that ultimately enhanced safety in the US Forest Service.The university program where Ivan teaches:School of Engineering – Advanced Safety Engineering and Management | UABIvan and his wife's consultancy business:What is Dynamic Inquiry?Dr Ivan Pupulidy on LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/ivanpupulidySafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Chris Moulden, Vice President of HSE at Primoris Services, who's a certified safety management specialist and Canadian-registered safety technician. Chris prides himself on working with integrity, passion, and a value-driven cultural mindset and uses his leadership skills to help create proactive, sustainable safety-conscious workplace environments.Many safety professionals discuss the importance of developing trust with employees and management, but Chris believes authenticity is the essential building block. The term is currently a marketing buzzword, so Chris helps us understand exactly what authenticity in the workplace means. He explains how fear is generally the root cause of inauthentic behavior and why it's so important to avoid disingenuous safety talk.Chris explores how to develop authenticity and how you can demonstrate authentic safety leadership in the workplace. He regards HSE professionals as the ultimate team players with crucial roles to play within organizations. But Chris knows this isn't easy - as he acknowledges; “with great power comes huge responsibility”.Christopher L. Moulden on LinkedIn:Christopher L. Moulden, SMS, CHST | LinkedInAuthors recommended by Chris:Todd Conklin (Human and Organizational Performance)Amazon.co.uk: Todd Conklin: Books, Biography, Blogs, Audiobooks, KindleEckhart Tolle (Self-development)Home - Eckhart Tolle | Official Site - Spiritual Teachings and Tools For Personal Growth and HappinessSafety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.comIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com
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