The Safety Leadership Collective

Episode 320: Hosts Nicholas Coia and Mike Thompson speak with Paul Harrison about using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to align leadership, clarify core values, and build traction so safety becomes part of the operating system rather than just lip service. They discuss making safety measurable with leading indicators, simplifying processes, and holding teams accountable through weekly meetings and the IDS problem‑solving method. Paul recommends the book Traction to get started and explains practical first steps leaders can take to implement EOS, including identifying clear metrics, embedding safety in core values, and engaging the leadership team to drive real change. To connect with Paul on LinkedIn, you can do so at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pdharrison1/ To contact Paul, you can email him at: [email protected]. For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

Episode 319: What becomes possible when leaders stop looking for someone to blame and start looking for people who can solve problems? In Episode, Andy Barker explores how trust, recognition, and better storytelling can transform safety performance and business results. He shares real world examples of organizations that moved from serious safety challenges to zero fatalities while also improving productivity, profitability, and collaboration. Andy offers practical steps leaders can take today: challenge familiar assumptions, recognize everyday problem solvers, build recognition into line management, and use safety as a pathway to stronger relationships and better outcomes. This episode is an inspiring reminder that safety leadership is about more than reducing risk. It is about building trust, unlocking the capability within your organization, and changing the narrative to change the results. To learn more about Andy, check out his website at: https://orgtree.co.uk/ Check out his book on Amazon. For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

Episode 318: Former pro athlete Josh Young joins the Safety Leadership Collective to explain how leadership, environment and belief shape behavior and organizational culture. He connects lessons from high-performance sports to workplace safety, arguing leaders must demonstrate values, create psychological safety, and prioritize people to drive safer outcomes. The episode highlights practical steps—shift from punitive accountability to growth-based accountability, probe daily behaviors instead of only celebrating outcomes, and encourage speaking up to prevent normalization of risk. To learn more about Josh, check out his website at: https://joshyoungspeaks.com/ For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

Episode 317: Justin Deflumeri, the CEO of Optimal Safety Inspections, shares his harrowing story of a botched lumbar puncture that caused a CSF leak, leaving him bedridden for months before finding expert treatment and reclaiming his life. He discusses the physical and emotional challenges of recovery, the power of perseverance—"keep digging"—and previews his book Leaking Strength while offering hope and resources for others facing long recoveries. To connect with Justin on LinkedIn, you can do so at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-deflumeri-ms-president-ceo-5271a7b8/ To learn more about Optimal Safety Inspections, check out their website at: https://www.optimalsafetyinspections.com/ For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

Episode 316: Jake Mazulewicz joins hosts Nic Coia and Mike Thompson to explain shifting from a control-based, blame-focused approach toward a learning-based safety culture. He outlines his seven practical steps including building psychological safety, leading after-action reviews, transforming investigations into non-punitive event reviews, applying classic defenses, improving systems, and building resilience. Listeners get practical examples and immediate actions to apply on the job, plus resources to learn more at reliableorg.com and in Jake's book, Seven Practical Steps. To learn more about Jake, check out his website at: https://www.reliableorg.com/ For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/