The Accidental Safety Pro

#74: Worker Memorial Day 2021 Apr 28, 2021

In this special episode of the podcast, we recognize Worker Memorial Day and remember those that have lost their lives while at work. Listen to a keynote speech given by our series host Jill James, about a tragic workplace fatality and the fallout from it.

#73: Safety Up North Apr 21, 2021

In this episode of the podcast, series host Jill James interviews Ryan Quiring. Ryan is a 14 year veteran of functional safety engineering and process safety - and he’s been applying those principles to safety for the past six years. Ryan is also a Canadian native as well as the founder of his own company.

#72: Opiates and COVID-19 Apr 07, 2021

In this episode of The Accidental Safety Pro Podcast, series host Jill James interviews Eric Persaud. Eric is a doctoral candidate in public health at the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, at the State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, and Eric will soon be defending his dissertation. Eric has a lot of insight on ways the pandemic has affected us in ways that might otherwise go unseen to the general public, like the rise in opiate overdose deaths.

#71: OSHA is Considering an Emergency Temporary Standard Mar 24, 2021

In this special episode of the podcast, series host Jill James interviews Mark Catlin. We have Mark in the studio today because OSHA is talking about issuing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

#70: From firefighting to ammonia Feb 03, 2021

In this episode of The Accidental Safety Pro Podcast, our guest is Gary Smith, President and CEO of the Ammonia Safety Training Institute. Gary has a remarkably storied carrer and a fascinating rise to where he is today. This is our longest episode ever because we couldn’t pack Gary’s story into just an hour. You won’t want to miss this one!

#69: Safety from every perspective Jan 20, 2021

In this episode of The Accidental Safety Pro Podcast, Series host Jill James interviews Paul Penn. Paul is a Swiss Army Knife of emergency management, environmental management, and health & safety management. His safety and advocacy work has been making waves in the safety world for decades. Listen to all the great stories, advice, and more!

#68: The Immediate Responder Jan 06, 2021

In this week’s episode, series host Jill James speaks with Lindsay and Darcy, subject matter experts in Active Violence Emergency Response Training. Together, they’re the founders and directors of AVERT.

#67: I See You Dec 02, 2020

In this unique episode of The Accidental Safety Pro Podcast, series host Jill James reaches out to everyone affected by the pandemic.

#66: Safety in the Sewer Nov 18, 2020

In this episode of The Accidental Safety Pro, series host Jill James interviews Sheldon Primus. Sheldon is a safety consultant and trainer with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in environmental policy. He’s also a trainer for the Certificate of Occupational Safety Managers and Certified Occupational Safety Specialist programs of the Alliance of Safety Council, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Also, Sheldon is the author of “7 Steps to Starting a Profitable Safety Consulting Business” and the host of the weekly podcast, “Safety Consultant with Sheldon Primus.” This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

#65: Intergenerational Union Workers Nov 11, 2020

Series host Jill James sits down with Ashlee in this episode of The Accidental Safety Pro. Ashlee is a safety professional from Pennsylvania with the United Steelworkers. She has seen many generations in her family become union workers, including herself. Listen now!

#64: Unions and Conservation Oct 28, 2020

In this episode of The Accidental Safety Pro Podcast, Series host Jill James interviews Yodit. Yodit was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and is a 35-year-old educator in sustainability practices. She is also currently the coordinator of the environmental career worker training program at UCLA’s Labor Occupational Safety and Health Division. Come listen to them talk about safety, unions, and sustainability.

#63: Safety DNA Sep 16, 2020

In this episode of the podcast, series host Jill James interviews Dr. Esteban Tristan. Dr. Tristan holds a Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology and is a member of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the American Society of Safety Professionals. He’s actively involved in applied research and has published articles in professional journals such as the International Journal of selection Assessment, the Journal of Organizational Psychology, the Journal of Safety Research, and EHS today. Listen to Jill and Dr. Tristan talk about safety DNA and much more!

#62: Take a moment for yourself Aug 12, 2020

Podcast series host Jill James interviews Jonathan Rosen. Jonathan is a certified industrial hygienist and principal consultant, providing occupational safety and industrial hygiene services to labor unions, government agencies, and organizations throughout the United States. Come listen to Jill and Jonathan discuss the work he has done during the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ll learn more about industrial hygiene!

#61: On the Frontlines of COVID-19 Jul 08, 2020

In this episode of the podcast, series host Jill James speaks with Mark Catlin. Mark has previously been a guest for episode 11 and also our Special Dedication Episode to Dr. Eula Bingham. Mark is an Industrial Hygienist with MDC Consulting and Training in Maryland. Like many, Mark has been on the front lines throughout this pandemic, utilizing his talent, training and expertise to protect essential workers.

#60: The Legacy of Dr. Eula Bingham Jun 24, 2020

In this episode, podcast series host Jill James is joined by Mark Catlin, an industrial hygienist from Maryland. This episode is a memorial dedicated to health and safety professionals—and workers—whose lives and professions were impacted by the work, research, and advocacy of Dr. Eula Bingham. Dr. Bingham passed away recently at the age of 90. She began her career as a toxicologist. She was the first woman to head federal OSHA under the Carter administration. She was a fierce advocate for worker training. If you’ve ever wondered how hazardous substance labeling came to be, well, that was Dr. Bingham. This is a can’t miss episode of the podcast.

#59: Distracted driving during COVID-19 Jun 17, 2020

In this episode, podcast series host Jill James interviews husband and wife team Jacy Good and Steve Johnson. Jacy and Steve are normally out touring the country giving speeches to high schools and businesses about the dangers of distracted driving. Jacy and Steve were called to the profession after Jacy’s parents were tragically killed by a distracted driver. Come and listen to their perspective on the effects COVID-19 has had on distracted driving.

#58: SAFER Update with Lorraine Martin - COVID-19 Special May 27, 2020

In this episode, podcast series host Jill James is joined by Lorraine Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. Lorraine returns with an update on the SAFER task force. SAFER stands for Safe Actions For Employee Returns. This task force, comprised of world-leading companies, is helping employers prioritize and plan for effectively bringing their employees back to work safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Come listen and see what has happened since we last saw Lorraine in episode 55.

#57: Finding the Courage with Scott and Krista Geller - COVID-19 Special May 20, 2020

In this star-studded episode of the Accidental Safety Pro, series host Jill James gets the opportunity to interview Scott and Krista Geller, who have been teaching and inspiring generations of safety and health professionals. If you’ve ever said the words “behavior-based safety”, Dr. Scott Geller said them first, literally. He wrote the book Understanding Behavior-Based Safety. Dr. Geller is alumni distinguished professor at Virginia Tech and director of the Center for Applied Behavior Systems in the department of psychology and has been teaching for 50 years this year. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, the association for psychological science and the world Academy of productivity and quality. Krista’s mission is to inspire people to take time to actively care for the safety of themselves and others. Dr Krista has a master’s and doctorate degree in human development Virginia Tech. Krista has been a researcher at Virginia Tech center for applied behavior systems and taught at Radford University, Virginia Tech and King College. Together, Scott and Krista founded the education and training organization, Actively Caring For People or AC4P. Come along for the ride as they discuss their areas of expertise and COVID-19

#56: Printing Companies, Paper, and Safety May 06, 2020

In this episode of The Accidental Safety Pro, podcast series host Jill James is joined by Jeff, a seasoned safety & health professional with over 20 years in the industry. Jeff currently works as an environmental health and safety pro in a manufacturing setting in Wisconsin. Come listen as Jeff recounts his early days of safety, from getting his degree at UW-Stout to working in a paper mill, and much more.

#55: How we can return to work the right way - COVID-19 Special Apr 27, 2020

In this special COVID-19 episode, podcast series host Jill James speaks with Lorraine Martin, President & CEO of the National Safety Council. This is Lorraine’s 2nd time on the podcast, having joined us for a live recording at the 2019’s National Safety Congress and Expo in San Diego. The National Safety Council is the nation’s leading safety advocate; last week NSC announced an effort to help employers create safe workplaces in a post Coronavirus world. The effort is called SAFER: Safe Actions for Employee Returns. Jill & Lorraine discuss the effort. This truly is an essential podcast episode!

#54: What happens the day before the disaster Apr 22, 2020

Podcast series host Jill James interviews Chip Hughes, award-winning Director with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Chip runs an innovative program securing cooperative agreements for rapid deployment of new safety and health training programs for workers involved in hazardous substance response. Example? NIEHS COVID-19 Response Training. Chip sets the bar for emergency response training expertise. Don’t miss this.

#53: Equity for all Apr 08, 2020

In this episode, podcast series host Jill James interviews Katica Roy, a gender economist and CEO of Pipeline Equity. Why a gender economist? Popular demand! Our listeners frequently reach out asking how more women can be welcomed and encouraged to join the safety and health profession—a STEM field. Katica shares gender and pay equity facts and how they influence STEM. She also covers how women can impact the economic recovery from COVID-19. This is a highly requested episode that you won’t want to miss!

#52: A Nurses Perspective - COVID-19 Special Mar 24, 2020

In this episode of the Accidental Safety Pro, podcast series host Jill James interviews two nurses to get their perspective on the Coronavirus situation. Jill and her guests, Jo and Sue, talk about how to prevent COVID-19, and cover everything from explaining proper handwashing techniques, to talking about the individual social responsibility we all have to practice: social distancing.

#51: What Not to do With Your Cleaning Supplies - COVID-19 Special Mar 20, 2020

In this special episode, podcast series host Jill James speaks with Corey Martin, the founder and CEO of Spotlight Safety. Corey holds an MS degree in Immunobiology from Yale University, making him the perfect interviewee to talk to about COVID-19. Jill and Corey discuss how to use chemicals for cleaning in the safest, healthiest way possible, along with general tips to help protect yourself and your community.

#50: What Employers Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) Mar 11, 2020

In this episode, podcast series host Jill James is joined by Deborah Roy, President-Elect of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). They discuss how employers can prepare for the Coronavirus in affected and not-yet-affected areas, where to get accurate, current information, and how to prepare for pandemics. This is a very timely episode you will not want to miss.

#49: The power of reflection Feb 12, 2020

In this episode, podcast series host Jill James talks with an old friend, Dr. Todd Loushine - a returning veteran of the podcast. Jill and Dr. Todd explore the role attitude has in safety and much more! Todd is a professor at the University of Whitewater-Wisconsin in the Occupational Safety degree program and is also the vice president of the Council for Professional Development for the ASSP. You won’t want to miss this one.

#48: Baby’s first incident Jan 29, 2020

Podcast series host Jill James interviews Iowa farm girl turned safety pro, Nicole. Her path to safety began in early childhood, when a life-changing incident resulted in the loss of multiple fingers. Listener’s will hear some familiar themes as Nicole shares her journey, and take in more than few remarkable stories from her work in insurance brokerage. You’ll learn about safety in the agriculture industry, related insurance considerations, and benefit from her unique perspective on risk mitigation. This is underexplored territory for much of the greater safety community.

#47: Almost like a bad spy movie Jan 15, 2020

Podcast series host Jill James speaks with Jim Allyn, MarTech Media’s resident subject matter expert for reliability training. Jim is one of the most experienced training instructors to ever grace the podcast, with too many stories from the field to pack into one episode. After leaving a 20-year career in the military (8 years as a training instructor), Jim briefly entered the oil & gas industry, leaving soon in the interest of literal self-preservation—it’s dangerous work. Tapping his background in reliability systems, Jim moved on to work for an engineering firm, developing preventative maintenance strategies. He successfully pursued OSHA Outreach instructor certification. Today, for MarTech customers, Jim blends industrial skills training with safety and compliance, for a unique approach. He’s delivered hands-on mechanical skills training all over the world; Jim’s work takes him into the engine rooms of large power generators, hydroelectric power plants, and manufacturing facilities, where he trains millwrights, industrial mechanics, and operations managers. Learn about Jim’s experience working with safety professionals, his approach to training craft trades personnel, and what it feels like to experience high-risk work in far flung locales when ‘safety culture’ is non-existent.

#46: The CEO of Spotlight Safety Jan 01, 2020

In this episode of the Accidental Safety Pro, series host Jill James is joined by Corey Martin, a safety professional and founder and CEO of Spotlight Safety. Jill and Corey have a lot to say in this hour-long episode - they discuss everything from “work at the bench” to the hazards present at a brewery. You won’t want to miss this jam-packed episode!

#45: The Adventures of Attila the Hun & The Hammer Dec 18, 2019

In a series first, podcast host Jill James talks with a reigning American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Women in Safety Excellence Safety Professional of the Year, Crystal! As far as impressive curriculum vitae goes in the world of occupational safety and health, Crystal is eating all the cake: Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Safety Management Specialist (SMS), past president of the Hudson River Valley ASSP chapter, organizer of the Blacks in Safety Excellence ASSP group, and published author in Professional Safety Journal. She owns her own safety consulting business and is known as the “Safety Diva”. Her story in safety is well worth the listen.

#44: Creepy Carl. Safety Manager. Dec 04, 2019

On the eve of Thanksgiving, podcast series host Jill James catches up with Jason Maldonado, who is grateful for how his chosen profession of 15 years has influenced the risk perception of his children. Jason’s start in safety began in the Air Force, where he revived training efforts for Hazard Communication, HAZWOPER, and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO). He transitioned to the private sector, and, with the help of a great mentor, developed his characteristic style of employee safety engagement. Today, he owns his own safety consulting business and is the published author of The Practical Guide to the Safety Profession. You’ll learn about what happens when you have the wrong safety goal, and hear a bunch of terrific stories from his career.

#43: Roadhouse and Dr. Phil Nov 20, 2019

Podcast series host Jill James speaks with Jason Lucas, creator on #SocialMediaSafetyMinute. Today, Jason is an experienced safety professional who’s served in a few high-risk industries. Jason lives in the field, with the workforce, every day. He’s also a prolific content creator across social platforms, known for his characteristic authenticity. When he made the career-defining move to occupational safety, his first approach was that of the classic “Safety Cop”. Along the way, he learned the difference between building relationships and building walls. You’ll learn how Jason’s early experiences inform his personal, candid—and super successful—approach to our social media safety community.

#42: How safety is made Nov 06, 2019

Podcast series host Jill James speaks with two safety birds of a different feather, Jana and John. Each are Master’s-level instructional designers, with decades of experience developing safety training right on the evolving technology curve. Grabbing and holding attention is an art—anyone who leads training knows this. Often, it is poorly done (raise your hand if you’ve sat through to boring training). There are no two better-qualified individuals to speak about the science of effective audience engagement. John and Jana have developed safety content for every medium and mode of delivery since the 90’s. Listen to this episode to learn all about how memorable safety training experiences are created (it takes a village of really bright people).

#41: How does safety in a church work? Oct 09, 2019

Series host Jill James interviews Jordan, a safety pro working with his faith community. Jill takes us through Jordan’s fascinating path to safety professionalism. You’ll learn about the unexpected safety considerations unique to faith-based congregations. There’s something new here for all listeners.

#40: A whole long conversation about mold Sep 25, 2019

Podcast series host Jill James talks with American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Fellow Cindy, whose career in industrial hygiene spans an amazing 38 years. With a fresh biology degree, Cindy was unable to find laboratory work after graduation. So she found a clerical job at Colorado State University, continued taking classes, and ended up with a Masters in Industrial Hygiene. How do you serve public health without getting into healthcare? Cindy started with OSHA as a safety consultant. From one of the most knowledgeable IHs around, you’ll learn what it was like to build a hazard communication plan from scratch for a Fortune 500 company and deliver training to it—before OSHA developed the standard! Also, what’s in the Industrial Hygienist’s toolkit?

#39: Tom Andrzejewski at NSC 2019 Sep 14, 2019

Chief Safety Officer and podcast host Jill James, sits down with Tom Andrzejewski, Safety Director at Hunt Electric to talk about Tom’s path into safety, how their paths unknowingly crossed years ago, and the importance of networking and associations.

#38: Christine McConnell, BCSP Foundation Officer, at NSC 2019 Sep 13, 2019

Jill and Christine take some to talk about BCSP Foundation and three main initiatives they’re working on at the Foundation.

#37: Lorraine Martin, NSC President and CEO at NSC 2019 Sep 11, 2019

New President and CEO of the National Safety Council talks with podcast host and Vivid Learning Systems Chief Safety Officer, Jill James live from the floor of the 2019 NSC Expo.

#36: Krista Geller at NSC 2019 Sep 11, 2019

Krista Geller talks with Jill James about the importance of pets in our lives, growing up in safety and research, and Actively Caring for People.

#35: Jacy Good and Steve Johnson at NSC 2019 Sep 10, 2019

Jill James, Chief Safety Officer, and podcast host talks with Jacy Good and Steve Johnson about their story, Hang Up and Drive, as well as what it’s like to be married public speakers on the road together.

#34: Dr. Scott Geller at NSC 2019 Sep 09, 2019

Vivid Learning Systems Chief Safety Officer and podcast host sits down with Dr. Scott Geller live on the expo floor from the 2019 NSC Expo.

#33: The day you’re born and the day you discover why Aug 28, 2019

Podcast series host Jill James talks with Mark Hernandez, Navy man, construction veteran, EMT, OSHA compliance officer, speaker, coach, author, and safety professional. Mark’s remarkable journey began at the bottom of a scaffolding operation, when he raised his hand for a late-night safety coordinator role, leveraging his bilingual talent…and never looked back. You’ll learn why a combination of technical and soft skills are essential for any aspiring safety pro, the difference between mentors and maestros, and the “full dimensional” approach to safety.

#32: Not the safety cop Aug 14, 2019

Jill James speaks with special guest Abby Ferri about her storied career path, how to avoid being the safety cop by earning the trust of your workers, and utilizing social media as a safety pro.

#31: Body after body Jul 31, 2019

Podcast series host Jill James speaks with former professional boxer, firefighter, and elephant stampede survivor, Tony Taylor. Tony’s start in safety began while serving as a Marine, where he pushed leadership to support injury rate reduction efforts—and won (26% down!). No small feat in the armed services (or any organization, for that matter). As a civilian, he later found work fighting fires for the Department of Defense, where he focused on fire prevention. Eventually, he was orchestrating fire drills and Life Safety training for a major healthcare provider. Today, he’s carrying safety in the construction trades, where there’s a lot of work left to be done. You’ll find a ton of great advice in the episode and a new idea: job shadowing for safety.

#30: Hardcore one-on-one safety stuff Jul 17, 2019

Live from the University of Notre Dame! Jill connects with the trailblazing Eric Kloss, Director of Risk Management and Safety, who is leading the University’s effort to become the nation’s only higher education institution to enter OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). They talk about ND’s Safety Summit, a campus-wide kick-off event related to the VPP pursuit, the magnetism and impact of event speaker Charlie Morecraft, and Eric’s professional journey (he always wanted to be and eventually did become, a firefighter). You’ll learn about the benefits of real leadership training and rotational internships.

#29: Charlie Morecraft Jul 03, 2019

Live at the University of Notre Dame Safety Summit, podcast series host Jill James connects with one of her idols, the spellbinding safety legend Charlie Morecraft. 30 years. 1 story. Hundreds of thousands of lives touched. That’s the Charlie Morecraft experience. Charlie shares the unforgettable story of how he got into safety the old fashioned way—after a serious injury at work. But there’s so much more. And that’s why his message has taken him from standing in a double-wide trailer in the middle of an Exxon refinery, across the world, in front of huge audiences.

#28: How to raise a safety pro Jun 19, 2019

Podcast series host Jill James connects with Debra, a lecturer at her alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the Occupational & Environmental Safety and Health Department. Debra received her formal safety education at the school in the early 1970s, making her a pioneer in what remains a male dominated profession. Often the only female in class, Debra’s experience started with whispers of “She won’t make it” and ended with “May I borrow your notes?”. After earning her degree, Debra found work as an engineer in the loss control division of a large insurer. She went back to the school to earn her Masters and found herself lured into teaching a few classes part-time, and hasn’t stopped since. You’ll learn—through Debra’s example—why learning continuously is so critical to success in the safety profession.

#27: Big wheels keep on turning Jun 05, 2019

Today, Jill James talks with Andrew, JB Hunt’s Regional Safety Manager. Andrew helps keep those 80,000 pound big rigs rolling safely down the highway. In fact, Andrew can maneuver a semi truck like a pro. He looks forward to the journey ahead by embracing new technology and the challenges it will bring. His key piece of wisdom? Earning a little street cred goes a long way.

#26: You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf May 22, 2019

Live meditation practice? On a podcast? Yep! Podcast series host Jill James brings in two incredible guest-experts on the subject of mindfulness in safety. Former Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) President Linda Martin, and Australian triathlete-turned-social science researcher Rachael Grace, join Jill to share their passion for the subject of mindfulness. After returning from a 30-day meditation retreat, Rachael soon began training hundreds of her co-workers on the discipline—by popular demand—and was unexpectedly rewarded for her efforts improving the safety culture of her organization. Linda published an influential research paper titled The Art and Science of Mindfulness in the Practice of Safety along the pursuit of her doctoral thesis. Together, they’re changing the safety profession by introducing a powerful new idea, and leading organizations into field practice exploration.

#25: The singing safety professional May 08, 2019

Podcast series host Jill James welcomes Josh to the show. Now practicing safety on behalf of a large civil constructor, Josh’s unlikely path started as a teenage tagalong on his father’s construction sites, a go-fer. When his college pursuit of music scholarship was sidetracked by romance and relocation to the West Coast, he found familiar work back in the construction industry. While seeking heavy equipment certification, Josh caught on with a safety consulting firm and threw himself into learning the OSHA regs. Today, he’s also an authorized OSHA Outreach program trainer. You’ll learn the difference between a “qualified” and “competent” person, and why calling OSHA is a smart move when you’re stuck.

#24: Tackling Workers Comp Apr 24, 2019

In this episode, Chief Safety Officer and host of the show, Jill James, talks with Cassandra, a workers compensation claims consultant. Cassandra’s accidental path to the world of occupational safety began in college. Having trouble choosing a course of study and career, Cassandra eventually found herself working as a receptionist with a printer packaging company. That role soon presented an unexpected opportunity—an interview for the risk management position (she got it) that started her career in safety. Cassandra and Jill discuss workers comp in some detail, including experience modifiers, how to deal with the sometimes dishonest “11%”, and how different state laws affect working in this field.

#23: Jay Allen from SafetyFM Apr 10, 2019

Jill James, our series host, talks with Jay Allen from SafetyFM. They cover topics including his broadcasting background, trying to settle on a major, and Jay explains how a vehicle fatality gave him a push to get into safety.

#22: Eight stories and a big thank you. Mar 27, 2019

Podcast series host Jill James shares eight of her favorite moments from the show. You’ll hear about a hydrogen explosion, what it’s like to grow up with a safety parent, and the virtues of unlikely mentorships. These stories from safety professionals across the country will make you laugh, make you wince, and leave you with the sense that you’re not alone.

#21: ASSP’s Emerging Professionals Roundtable Mar 13, 2019

In a podcast first, series host Jill James sits down with three emerging professionals affiliated with American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). With pathways to safety as unique as their backgrounds, our guests on the 21st episode share important commonalities: formal education in occupational safety and internships. You’ll hear from one non-traditional student now job-hunting across the country, a Masters-level safety manager in the oil & gas industry, and one passionate advocate for industrial health. Key themes of mentorship, community, and engagement. Also, a few great stories from the field.

#20: Get up on the roof or find a new job. Feb 27, 2019

Podcast series host Jill James talks to Robert, whose career in safety led him to the closely related discipline of risk management. Robert came to safety through a popular pathway—the trades, skilled labor. As a teenage apprentice electrician, Robert was struck by an arc flash. Then, as a carpenter, he slid off of a roof without any fall protection gear. After that, while clearing trees, a large log rolled up on him. Naturally, each incident let him to question the unsafe conditions of employment experienced by hundreds of thousands of workers, ultimately starting his journey in professional safety.

#19: Other kids didn’t grow up around safety. We were doing fire drills in our house once a quarter. Feb 13, 2019

Podcast series host Jill James catches up with Chevon, a true outlier in the profession. Contrary to the theme of the show, Chevon was seemingly born to the safety occupation. That’s what happens when your mother is a professor of occupational health and safety. On a path to music scholarship, Chevon eventually stopped fighting her native interests, switched majors, and accepted her destiny: a career safety pro.

#18: If I don’t remember that, then I don’t need to be doing safety. Jan 30, 2019

Podcast series host Jill James connects with Certified Safety Professional Rick, a home grown pro with over 30 years of experience. Rick started on a poultry production line and, building upon his interest in emergency response, worked his way up the ranks of the safety ladder for a major food industry brand. Eventually, he found himself supervising 160 professional safety staff and 350 occupational health nurses. Podcast fans will learn about mapping safety to organizational business strategy, the futility of ‘management without measurement’, and developing safety metrics from workers comp stats. Also, discover a fantastic internship opportunity available now. Bonus? Answer the most important question every safety pro must ask themselves.

#17: First year safety pro syndrome Jan 16, 2019

Series host Jill James connects with Katie, a safety specialist in manufacturing from the Milwaukee area. Katie is one of the few who began higher education with a focus on occupational safety, earning a Bachelor of Arts and Masters in health and safety. With 6 years of experience, Katie is a member of the new generation of safety professionals who benefited from increased access to formal education in the field. Podcast fans will learn from Katie’s story about maximizing internship opportunities, where mentorship may be found along your career, and the importance of business-skill fluency in the safety job. Her words of wisdom? Priorities change; values don’t.

#16: These guys really lived safety. It wasn’t just a flavor of the month. Jan 02, 2019

From starting his career as a chemist at a nuclear facility to becoming an operations manager at a hydro plant and on through his recent retirement, our guest Harold talks with series host Jill James about his path towards becoming a safety pro. We get to hear how Harold went from a co-worker to supervisor overnight and how that changed his view on safety, from only having to worry about his own safety to now being responsible for the safety of his employees, widening his circle of responsibility. Jill and Harold also talk about how safety changed over time, both in regulations and internal procedures and behaviors within their roles.

#15: I can die on that hill and make it better for somebody else. Dec 05, 2018

Our host, Jill James, sits down to have a conversation with Linda Martin, 2018 President of the Board of Certified Safety Processionals, chair of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals Foundation Board, and recipient of the 2018 Marion Martin Award recognizing influential women in safety. Together they talk about their shared Midwest origins and accents. Linda talks about getting started in her career as HAZWOPER was going into effect and how that moved her into a safety practice. The two also discuss feeling like they could make a difference through safety and how that led and drove her career path.

#14: Guess what I did to a turkey today? Nov 21, 2018

In this episode of the podcast, series host Jill James reconnects with Dr. Amy Orders, Managing Director of Emergency Management Mission Continuity, with North Carolina State University. Dr. Orders got her start as a radiation safety officer, in the healthcare industry. Today, she’s making her professional safety mark in higher education, yet remains close to radiation safety research. With infectious enthusiasm, Dr. Orders offers plenty of terrific, practical advice for safety pro colleagues out there. You’ll learn how the presentation of facts and science can break or break the safety training experience, the importance of establishing dialogue and practicing “relationship language” with the workforce, and why tailoring your approach with different audiences is essential for success. You’ll also explore two paradigms of adult education: Problem-Based Learning and Authentic Learning. Also, there’s a great story involving fall protection harnesses and a literal leap of faith off of a 2-story building.

#13: The real test is, ‘Can we change other people’s minds about this?’ Nov 07, 2018

Podcast series host Jill James connects with filmmaker Dave DeSario, an unlikely workplace safety champion and outspoken reform advocate. Dave, a lifelong temp worker, is founder of the Alliance for the American Temporary Workforce. His 2015 film A Day’s Work—a must-see for any occupational safety and health leader—spotlights the plague of serious injuries and workplace fatalities (SIFs) amongst the fast-growing temporary labor force. You’ll learn about the safety nuances and pitfalls of non-traditional employee-employer relationships, the correlation between workers’ compensation systems and increase in temp staffing nationwide, and why this population of workers is more at-risk than your traditional employee population. This episode will connect you with resources to ensure you’re in-step with OSHA’s guidelines for temp worker safety, and open your eyes to an unseen safety epidemic that may hit close to home.

NSC Live: “I always tell people it’s a sales job. You’re really essentially a salesman.” Oct 26, 2018

Jill James, Chief Safety Officer and show host, talks with Justin, a VP of Safety, with an oil and gas company in Texas–live from the Expo floor of the NSC Congress.

NSC Live: “A recovering liberal arts student.” with John Dony Oct 26, 2018

This episode features John Dony, Director of the Campbell Institute and Director of EH&S at the National Safety Council. He sits down to talk with host and Vivid’s Chief Safety Officer Jill James, live on the Expo floor of the NSC Congress, about the work and research taking place at the Campbell Institute.

NSC Live: “Eliminating preventable deaths in our lifetime.” with NSC President Debbie Hersman Oct 24, 2018

Series host Jill James sits down with the President and CEO of the National Safety Council, Debbie Hersman. Together they discuss safety legislation, being a “worst case scenario mom”, and the new mission of the NSC - eliminating preventable deaths in our lifetime.

NSC Live: “I think this would be a great way for us to fund steel toe boots.” Oct 23, 2018

Russell, a electrical safety pro from Texas, joins us live on the floor of the NSC to talk with our Chief Safety Officer and host Jill James.

NSC Live: “People were making bets on how long I could make it.” Oct 23, 2018

Our host Jill James sits down with the Safety Training Ninja, Regina McMichael from the Learning Factory, live from the floor of the NSC Expo.

#12: The Swiss cheese model of accident causation. Oct 17, 2018

Podcast series host Jill James connect with Paul, a safety professional of 26 years. Paul’s interest in safety took root as an undergrad, and grew after taking advantage of an internship. For Paul, occupational safety proved to be the ideal professional combination: risk management, law, economics, and engineering. He started his career with the technical writing of lockout-tagout and respiratory protection programs, a job that paved the way to a major corporate environmental health and safety (EHS) department. After that, Paul investigated serious injuries & fatalities (SIFs) for a decade before moving to the University of Minnesota’s occupational health division. You’ll learn about the life of a young safety professional on the road, covering 400K miles from plant to plant in America’s heartland. Paul’s also got a bunch of near-miss stories any safety pro will connect with, along with advice for building safety “street cred”, and having rewarding experiences working with Millennials.

#11: Crab asthma. Oct 03, 2018

Podcast series host Jill James catches up with Mark, who’s got 36 years of professional industrial hygiene experience, with never a dull moment. While Mark was orienting his undergraduate studies for a career in environmental science, a chance encounter with a federal OSHA inspector opened his eyes to possibilities involving occupational safety and health. You’ll learn how Mark’s blue-collar upbringing influenced his perspectives on occupational safety, and how a 7-year adventure in Alaska working as one of about 15 industrial hygienists in the entire state, solidified his professional interest (along with some measure of local celebrity) by offering the truly unique experience of working with under-served Native American communities. Mark’s story will take you all over the country—and back—and from the public sector to private consulting. You’ll visit the frontlines of asbestos abatement, HAZWOPER training, OSHA public hearings on workplace violence, and meetings with the National Academy of Science. Listeners are treated to an unrivaled perspective on occupational illnesses built by decades of firsthand engagement, often involving exploration of worker exposure histories and workers’ compensation cases. There’s a good lesson here for all young environmental safety and health professionals about how accepting the challenge of public speaking can unlock career opportunities. Also, learn why aspiring industrial hygienists must make the time to visit occupational medicine clinics. Fun Fact: Mark is a real occupational safety historian – visit his YouTube channel for more.

#10: It’s not about being more careful. Sep 19, 2018

Podcast series host Jill James speaks with Scott, a safety engineer in the telecomm industry, and published author. An 18-year professional safety veteran, Scott started his journey as an undergraduate psych major when a summer job at the local factory gave him his first taste of occupational safety. From there, Scott went on to graduate-level education in the safety discipline, making him a rarity in the field. His diverse career includes stints in consulting, temp staffing, prison safety, and shoe manufacturing. You’ll learn all about how occupational safety principles are applied in the corrections industry, what it takes to write a corporate safety manual, and what machine operators can teach you about safe work design. For Scott, the key to working safely is found through exploration of why people perform their jobs in specific ways. His well-researched conclusion: change the job, not the people. Fun Facts: Scott served in the National Guard (thank you, Scott!) and shares a somewhat unpopular opinion about Behavior-Based Safety.

#9: Safety? In that industry? All I can think of right now are Buzz and Woody. Sep 05, 2018

Ever wonder what occupational safety looks like for a Hollywood studio? This episode of the podcast finds series host Jill James talking with Carolina, a safety leader at Pixar. Her fascinating journey to occupational safety included a pit stop in franchise motor vehicle service, aviation electronics, emergency medical technician (EMT) certification, and a decade with the municipal police department. Her credentials and diversity of experience—emergency management, security, workers comp—ultimately helped her score a job with Pixar, a Disney company. A demonstrated life-long learner, Carolina’s hands-on, knee-deep, sponge-like approach to safety professionalism is a lesson for any aspiring EHS leader. This discussion shares some of the resources she’s leveraged along the way, including CAL-OSHA trainings, OSHA 10-hour, peer mentoring, and safety industry expertise. You’ll learn about building trust with regulatory bodies, how occupational safety is managed for Pixar’s 1400 employee, multi-building campus, and, once more, that hazards are present in all working environments.

#8: I have to tell you, those science teachers love to accumulate chemicals they shouldn’t keep. Aug 22, 2018

For this episode, series host Jill James speaks with another friend and former OSHA investigator, Cheryl. While working toward pre-med in college, Cheryl’s father experienced a serious occupational injury—a miraculous near-miss of sorts—that deeply affected her family, ultimately leading her to switch course of study in pursuit of a Masters in Industrial Safety. She talks about her internship at a paper mill, the reality check of running her 1st safety meeting at 22-years old, and the ‘art & science’ of effective, live safety training. You’ll learn about the lives of two young female OSHA investigators with overlapping pregnancies, how to cook a turkey, pre-natal styrene exposure limits, and the merits of ‘upward mobility by spousal pressure’. This discussion covers Cheryl’s 10-year journey of safety leadership in the pipeline industry, where she’s writing confined-space entry programs, and is responsible for the wellbeing of thousands of employees across 12 states. Also, she talks about what it’s like to work along with 100 other safety professionals in thesame organization. And if you’re interested in high-level incident investigation and accidents with Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) potential, this episode is a goldmine. Fun Fact: Host & Guest went through the same MA program and were taught by some of the same instructors!

#7: I’m letting everybody know our secrets. Aug 08, 2018

Series host Jill James speaks with her former colleague and friend of 20+ years “Dr. Todd”, the man who inspired the podcast! Certified Safety Professional (CSP) Todd explains the moment that moved him away from the academic pursuit of chemical engineering, which led him to interviewing with OSHA and a career that involved working some of the same investigations as our own Jill James. This conversation covers why you shouldn’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call OSHA for help, where to get formal safety education, and shares about a dozen other credible sources of go-to safety info for people at any career stage. You’ll get tips for one of safety’s most active mentors—Dr. Todd is Wisconsin-Whitewater’s department Coordinator of Internships and Fieldwork—and learn what’s in store for the next generation of occupational safety pros from the guy who wrote the book on Safety Leadership and Professional Development. Bonus? Dr. Todd talks about OSHA’s “$1000 poster”, OSHA’s Field Operations Manual, and other secrets known to OSHA investigators (the “drive-by”).

#6: Turning a really great story into some story about death in like 5 seconds. Jul 25, 2018

Series host Jill James talks to fellow self-avowed “safety nerd” and Board Certified Associate Safety Professional Michelle, who’s audited just about every high-risk work environment imaginable over the course of her career, laying the foundation of occupational health and safety programs from the ground on up. Somewhere on the path between chemical engineering, and her dream job of designing landfills, Michelle started consulting, and got a taste of “compliance” and audits (a taste one has to acquire), and along with it, her first real exposure to safety in the workplace, where she discovered her niche. Over the course of this conversation between two of Minnesota’s finest, Michelle shares her experiences managing safety across multiple facilities, talks about the importance of building relationships with the workforce to resolve real safety issues, starting over in the wake of the recession and working her way back to the top of the profession. You’ll learn about the fine art of staying flexible when facing inflexible regulations. Fun/weird fact: Their brothers share the same profession.

#5: Do your homework, speak your mind, and don’t be afraid. Jul 11, 2018

Series host Jill James caught up with EHS Specialist Brandy while she was in the midst of studying for the Associate Safety Professional (ASP) exam, and just before attending ASSE’s SAFETY 2018 conference in San Antonio. After earning her bachelors in biology, Brandy got her start in safety doing industrial hygiene, where she “was excited to get in to asbestos”, to pay the bills after college. This discussion covers how annoying it must be for friends and family when you are unable to turn-off your ‘safety vision’ away from the job, and dealing with the old school safety mentality when you’re not only young but also a woman. 2 years into her current role, Brandy is writing custom lockout/tagout procedures for hundreds of unique pieces of machinery. She talks about the value of touring an organization “…so focused on safety, it’s crazy…” and offers her three pieces of advice for new safety professionals.

#4: Teach me. Jun 27, 2018

To pay his way through school, Jeremiah started working in agriculture. Today, he’s the Director of Occupational Safety & Environmental Risk Management for a prestigious organization in the zoo and aquarium industry. While studying animal science and planning to attend veterinary school, he began a career in safety to support his young family, eventually moving on to larger leadership roles and never looking back. Speaking with series host Jill James, Jeremiah shares what he’s learned along the way, his good fortune to work early on in high-performing Safety cultures, what he is most proud of, and the reason why “teach” and “me” are the two most important words he’s ever learned.

#3: Everyone’s invincible until chemicals are pumped into the wrong tank. Jun 13, 2018

Series host Jill James speaks with ‘Philly Joe’ Kaufmann, Director of Occupational Health Services for the Inspira Health Network. Joe discusses making the leap from 12-hour shifts in refinery production to the safety and occupational health role, and how his father’s severe occupational injury impacted his childhood, ultimately shaping his approach to the safety job. The conversation covers the pursuit of higher education mid-career, leaving behind the fear of reinvention, and the uncanny adrenaline rush of emergency response. You’ll hear all about what happens if you stay in a job where bad things happen to people, ethics and the state of safety denial, along with Joe’s advice for all safety professionals. Bonus? What happens when the Pope visits your block and how to plan for that.

#2: This is one of those dirty secrets people don’t want to talk about. May 30, 2018

Series host and Chief Safety Officer Jill James talks to her good friend Brandy, a 10-year veteran safety professional from the mid-west. The conversation shares tips for earning credibility with employees (hint: recipe cards), the challenge of proving yourself to management in new environments, and how good it feels to finally get the win that helps. You’ll hear the word “trust” a lot, and learn why keeping your hands dirty with the workforce is a must. Also, how exposing management to hazardous working environments can be the right eye-opener. Beyond her career evolution, Brandy discusses her approach to safety management, what it’s like to take the job home with you each night, and reveals a deeper motivation. From the perils of beet sugar production to leading an industry-wide safety committee, this episode will connect with wherever you are on the occupational safety journey.

#1: They’re gonna give me a badge and a beige Ford Taurus? May 16, 2018

True to the show, podcast host and Chief Safety Officer Jill James retraces her career-long journey in safety. Jill tells the story of how her professional aspirations changed in college, the internship that landed her a job as an OSHA investigator, and describes her mentors along the way. And if you’ve ever wondered what it was like to be a woman in the safety field circa 1990, this is the brief, often funny, oral history you’ve been searching for. Also, cleaning up a mercury spill and what that’s like—bonus!

#0: It’s about community May 10, 2018

We’re launching a brand new safety-focused podcast, The Accidental Safety Pro. Vivid’s Chief Safety Officer Jill James will be hosting the show and having conversations with safety professionals across the country. We’ll hear the stories of how each safety career began and share the unique struggles and victories of the occupational safety job. Subscribe in the podcast player of choice and look for the first full-length episode to be coming out later this month.

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