Safety Labs by Safety Products Global

In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Dr. Ashley Gill, an experienced safety consultant whose passion for developing the next generation of EHS professionals led her to teaching.Through her work educating the next generation of EHS professionals, experienced practitioners and engineers, Ashley has firsthand knowledge of the habits, assumptions and gaps that shape how students understand safety. She shares stories from the classroom and explores the importance of teaching safety principles to professionals in adjacent roles.Ashley explores how OHS education has evolved over recent years and how it can improve even further. She recognizes that certain elements including non-physical psychosocial risks, soft skills and wider culture enhancement should be key areas of focus going forward.Dr. Gill’s unique perspective offers EHS professionals practical guidance to raise safety standards in the real world - and not just in theory.Find out more about Ashley’s consultancy work: ERM - Environmental Resources ManagementLearn more about WISE: Women in the Safety Profession Member Community | ASSPAshley highly recommends the work of Sydney Decker: Sidney Dekker: Safety DifferentlyDr. Ashley Gill on LinkedIn: Ashley Gill, DBA, CSP | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Safety Products Global, the world's leading manufacturer of safety knives. Through our trusted brands, Klever, Slice and PHC, we empower companies to prevent injuries by providing safer cutting tools for every material and application. Find us at www.safetyproducts.globalIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@safetyproducts.global

In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Jake Mazulewicz, a former firefighter, EMT and paratrooper, who is now a Human Reliability consultant and author. Jake translates ideas from Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) and High Reliability Organizations (HRO) into clear, practical actions EHS professionals can use on the job.He explains why incidents rarely have a single root cause and shows you how to learn from accidents without blame, strengthen team performance, and build resilience so mistakes don’t disable operations. Jake shares many helpful safety enhancement ideas including balancing control-based and learning-based approaches, active vs latent errors, and separating the error from its consequence.Jake also tackles myths about psychological safety, outlines different review types, and highlights classic defenses - which have been keeping workers safe for decades. This interview is packed with actionable steps you can implement immediately.Jake’s company: JMA Human Reliability StrategiesJake’s book: Seven Practical Steps: How to Build Reliability, Safety, and Trust in Technical TeamsJake Mazulewicz on LinkedIn: Jake Mazulewicz, Ph.D. | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Safety Products Global, the world's leading manufacturer of safety knives. Through our trusted brands, Klever, Slice and PHC, we empower companies to prevent injuries by providing safer cutting tools for every material and application. Find us at www.safetyproducts.globalIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@safetyproducts.global

In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Dr. Fred Sherratt, a world-leading academic in the field of construction safety and the founder of Straight Talk Safety. Drawing on her decades of experience and research, Fred explains why safety in construction is never static, and why, at its heart, safety is a people’s game.She describes the unique challenges of an industry where crews, work areas, and priorities constantly shift, positioning construction as a powerful case study for EHS professionals managing change. Fred discusses how production pressures, subcontracting, and evolving environments affect performance, and how leadership, respect and communication keep people safe when conditions are unpredictable.Fred also explores why measuring “safety culture” misses the point, arguing that safety is continually recreated through human relationships and shared understanding. Her perspective and wisdom offer highly practical ways to make systems more adaptable, guide teams effectively, and build trust in complex workplaces.Fred’s company: Straight Talk SafetyFred’s book: Unpacking Construction Site SafetyDr. Fred Sherratt on LinkedIn: Fred Sherratt | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Safety Products Global, the world's leading manufacturer of safety knives. Through our trusted brands, Klever, Slice and PHC, we empower companies to prevent injuries by providing safer cutting tools for every material and application. Find us at www.safetyproducts.globalIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@safetyproducts.global

In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Dr. Matt Law — certified safety professional, researcher, strategist, author, and podcast host. Matt explores why safety research often fails to actually help EHS practitioners in the workplace.He breaks down what makes research “bad,” the roles of qualitative and quantitative methods, and how statistical findings can be better translated for real-world use.Dr. Law also discusses academic limitations, the communication barriers caused by paywalls and jargon, and how digital platforms — from podcasts to TikTok — are changing the way research reaches safety professionals.This interview is packed with practical advice for practitioners to evaluate research critically, stay curious, and collaborate with researchers to measure what really works in practice.Matt’s podcast: Prove It To Me - Real Research, Real Data, No BS | Dr. Matt LawLearn more about Matt’s work: Dr. Matt Law | Explore Proven Environmental, Health, and Safety StrategiesMatt currently serves on the Board of Directors for the: Society for Total Worker HealthDr. Matt Law on LinkedIn: Matt Law, DrPH, CSP, REHS | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Safety Products Global, the world's leading manufacturer of safety knives. Through our trusted brands, Klever, Slice and PHC, we empower companies to prevent injuries by providing safer cutting tools for every material and application. Find us at www.safetyproducts.globalIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@safetyproducts.global

In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Ron Gantt, Vice President of EHS at Beal Infrastructure and a leading voice in safety management. Ron helps safety professionals navigate the challenges of working with contractors, where hidden coordination costs and fragile common ground often undermine safety.He explains why contractors add complexity, how authority differentials distort information flow and risk, and why coordination needs to be treated as real work. Ron introduces practical approaches to build stronger relationships, from co-locating teams and aligning work hours to asking the unexpected question: “How do we want to argue together?”Ron also shares his views on who should be responsible for overseeing coordination, and offers a more collaborative alternative to punitive contractual agreements.Beyond contractors, he also shares valuable advice to help EHS professionals move away from regulations or best practices and thoughtful guidance on truly understanding how people work.Packed with insights and real-world advice, this conversation shows how better collaboration and evidence-based practice can transform safety outcomes.Recommended coordination research:Dr Laura McGuire:Dr Laura McGuire - Edge Hill UniversitySarah ButtSarah BUTT | Research profileSafety podcast co-hosted by Ron:Punk Rock SafetyRon Gantt on LinkedIn:Ron Gantt | LinkedInSafety Labs is created by Safety Products Global, the world's leading manufacturer of safety knives. Through our trusted brands, Klever, Slice and PHC, we empower companies to prevent injuries by providing safer cutting tools for every material and application. Find us at www.safetyproducts.globalIf you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@safetyproducts.global

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