The Case for Safety Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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