The Risk Matrix

This week Dr. Martin and James dive into OSHA's most cited violations for 2025, revealing the "low-hanging fruit" citations that are costing companies thousands and putting workers at risk. Fresh from the National Safety Council conference in Denver, they break down each of the Top 10 with field-tested insights you won't find in the regulations. From fall protection failures to training gaps that...

This week Dr. Martin and James channel David Letterman's classic countdown format to tackle the ethical challenges that define modern safety practice. From the Friday 4:30 PM confined space scenario to whistleblowing decisions, these aren't theoretical problems—they're the real-world situations that test your professional integrity and could determine whether workers make it home safely. Drawing f...

This week Dr. Martin and James dive into heat stress litigation. With 436 worker deaths over the past decade and federal heat standards stalled, courts are reshaping heat illness prevention through cases. The hosts discuss Matthew Arvin 's article "The Heat of the Moment: Recent Litigation Regarding Heat Stress Injuries" from Professional Safety Journal, breaking down how five states are writing t...

Are those red-yellow-green boxes on your safety documents actually helping workers or just creating colorful paperwork? Dr. Logan F. Martin and James Junkin examine one of safety's most common tools: the risk matrix. This episode explores whether these assessment tools belong in field documents or should stay in planning phases, where they might add real value. The hosts tackle uncomfortable q...

When a workplace incident happens, who’s held responsible—and how? This week, James Junkin and Dr. Logan Martin take on one of the most contentious debates in safety leadership: the line between accountability and blame. With safety investigations on the rise and regulators sharpening their focus, leaders face a complex reality. Post-incident reviews can either drive improvement or spark fear and...

Hurricane Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 storm—but what followed was far more devastating than wind speed alone could explain. Levee failures, flooded hospitals, drowned neighborhoods, overwhelmed shelters, and delayed federal response turned a natural disaster into one of the most catastrophic humanitarian crises in U.S. history. Twenty years later, the memory still cuts deep. In this epis...

Season 2 of The Risk Matrix begins with a high-stakes debate on OSHA’s proposed rollbacks. Hosts James Junkin and Dr. Logan Martin tackle three of the 25 changes under consideration: respirator requirements, construction illumination standards, and the scope of the general duty clause. With decades of safety and compliance experience, they break down what these proposals mean for safety leaders in...

Conference season is here, and most safety professionals are doing it wrong. In this tactical episode, James Junkin reports live from ASSP 2025 in Orlando while Dr. Martin shares the strategic framework that transforms conferences from expensive networking events into career-accelerating investments. Hosted by industry veterans Dr. Martin and James Junkin, this conversation unpacks the hidden stra...

In this episode of The Risk Matrix, hosts James Junkin and Dr. Martin unpack the latest proposed rule changes from OSHA—offering practical insight into what safety leaders should be paying attention to and why it matters. From respirator selection and medical evaluations to recordkeeping rollbacks and the evolving role of the General Duty Clause, the hosts explore what these changes could mean for...

In this episode of The Risk Matrix, Dr. Martin and James Junkin make the case for shifting safety upstream. They explore how Antecedent-Based Safety reframes traditional behavior-based models by focusing on the systems, signals, and decisions that shape behavior before an incident occurs. From field-tested observations to common sense hazard ID, this is a grounded, real-world look at what it takes...

Mental, physical, and financial health aren't just HR concerns, they're frontline safety issues. In this episode, we sit down with David Joerring, CEO of HealthKey, to explore how access to simple, affordable care reduces risk across the subcontractor workforce. This conversation unpacks the real-world connection between worker stress and workplace incidents — and how better data and outre...

We're celebrating our 100th episode! Tune in this week to hear: Our favorite moments from past episodes How James met Dr. Martin Most memorable guests Bonus, we are giving away $100 to a live listener. As always, bring your questions.

We're tackling a big one on The Risk Matrix LIVE this week: how to modernize your Operator Qualification program. The truth is, most OQ systems were built for regulatory compliance and do not to reflect how work actually gets done today. That gap between "qualified" and "competent" shows up in ways that could cost you through rework, delays, incidents, and audit exposure. T...

Even when safety risks are rising, many leaders struggle to get the budget they need. Executives often view safety as a cost; not a strategic investment. We explore hands-on examples you can use to make the business case for safety by tying it to outcomes leadership cares about like reducing downtime, liability, and insurance costs. You'll learn how to speak the language of decision-makers, qu...

These are the real disconnects: Safety vs. Speed. Culture vs. Compliance. Reporting vs. Reality. This is the conversation between safety, operations, and leadership that everyone avoids. We're bringing it front and center.

The risk doesn't end when the contract's signed. In this episode, Katie Hill, CSP , VP of Client Success at Veriforce, shares what hiring clients are really watching for—and how high-performing suppliers are shifting their approach to risk. From communication breakdowns to contractor red flags, Katie brings 14 years of insight on how to win (and keep) business in the modern risk landscape....

OSHA isn't just about inspections and fines, and this episode proves it. Join retired OSHA Area Director David Bates and safety veteran Rick Ingram for a deep dive into the misunderstood functions of OSHA. From cooperative programs to behind-the-scenes initiatives that save lives without headlines, this conversation reveals the agency's full scope, and what most employers, employees, and safety st...

88 psychosocial hazards are waiting to blow up your team, your culture, and your bottom line. Dr. Daniels is done waiting for the industry to wake up. You think you're keeping people safe? Think again. PsychoSocial Hazards are real, and they're wrecking teams, trust, and lives while everyone pretends it's "not their problem." Dr. Daniels is here to call it out, LIVE on The Ri...

You've got questions, James Junkin and Dr. L.F. Martin are bringing the answers. Two safety pros tackling your biggest challenges, in real time. From field issues to leadership friction — nothing's off-limits . Submit your question. Then grab your crew and tune in. This one's for you .

Make your lunch break a mission‑critical training session: This episode is a 45‑minute safety blitz with Dr. L.F. Martin, Chris England, and James Junkin. You'll get: Proven shortcuts to slash contractor chaos and keep projects on track Battle‑tested protocols to stop incidents before they start Deepwater Horizon‑born policies that cut risk, fines, and downtime No slides. No sales. Just real t...

Don't miss our 2nd LIVE Risk Matrix as we dive into the world of telematics with sponsor Quartix! Global Sales Director Sean Maher shares real-world insights on harnessing vehicle data to cut road risks and costs, boost driver behavior, and unlock serious fleet efficiency. It's data-driven safety—live and unscripted!

No guests. No filters. Just the raw truth. This special LIVE edition peels back the layers on the everyday tensions between safety and procurement—where budgets clash with boots-on-the-ground realities. From safety shortcuts to unvetted vendors, we're asking the hard questions and calling out the silent friction. Brought to you by Quartix, the real-time vehicle tracking pros who know visibilit...

This week on The Risk Matrix: We're talking ALARP — "As Low As Reasonably Practicable" — and why it's not the same as ALARA. Fred Manuel dives deep into the nuances, the legal implications, and the practical reality for safety pros in the field. What's reasonable? What's practicable? And who decides? Plus: A teaser for our first-ever live audience show this April. Quartix...

Is AI the next 'easy button' in contractor risk management—or just another coin toss? In our latest Risk Matrix edition, we’re tackling the hype head-on: yes, predictive analytics can help pinpoint higher-risk contractors, but data quality and real-world experience still rule the day. From construction sites to oil & gas fields, we already know the usual suspects—and AI won't magic...

Every safety professional is a trainer at heart. In this episode, Bill VandeSande, Expert Trainer and our hosts our reveal why most training fails and how to transform from reading slides to commanding the room. "Welcome to show business. If you can't keep them awake, you're not going to teach them anything." Discover why training is a practiced art, how to express yourself authe...