The Occupational Safety Leadership Podcast

In today's episode, fall protection is covered by repeat guest Dr. Drew Hinton of Arrow Safety.  Drew covers fall protection requirements along with training needs.  Drew emphasizes the importance of a rescue plan.  In particular, mobile equipment work platforms and low-slope roof are covered.

In today's episode, Dr. Ayers discusses building relationships.  Walk the floor and the office every day and meet the employees.  Building relationships breaks down barriers and makes it easier to report a hazard.

This episode brings back Bryan Haywood to discuss ventilating confined spaces.  Bryan covers the ventilation requirements and air exchanges along with atmospheric monitoring for flammables.  Flammables pose a unique challenge in confined spaces as the correction factor must be used to properly understand the LEL located in the confined space.

This episode comes from an avid listener of the podcast.  The Safety Professional in this podcast episode assumed a safety plan had not been completed for a critical crane lift.  He forgot he approved it.  This was a humbling experience and it took a long time to regain the confidence of the company.

When a hazard or incident is discovered, do not raise your voice or yell.  Safety Professionals are supposed to be a voice of reason.  Gather information and stay calm. Correct the hazard or stop the situation.

In today's episode, Dr. Ayers talks about stop trying to make everything perfect.  Perfection is a way to spend more time in the office as opposed to correcting hazards.  

Core idea: Anna Albright explains how cooling and heat‑management vests from ClemaCooling help workers manage thermal stress on the job, outlining how the technology works, when vests are appropriate, and how leaders can integrate them into a broader heat‑safety program.

Key points

• How the vests work: ClemaCooling vests use phase‑change materials or active cooling packs to absorb body heat and extend tolerance to hot conditions; some models also provide evaporative cooling options for dry heat.
• When to use them: Vests are most useful for short‑duration tasks in high‑heat exposures, for workers who must wear PPE that traps heat, or during heat waves as a supplemental control—not as a substitute for engineering controls.
• Fit and comfort matter: Proper sizing, mobility, and compatibility with other PPE determine whether workers will actually wear the vest; Anna emphasizes trials and worker input.
• Integration into a heat program: Vests should be part of layered controls—work/rest cycles, hydration, shade, acclimatization, and training—plus monitoring of environmental conditions and worker signs of heat strain.
• Maintenance and logistics: Leaders must plan for charging/replacing cooling packs, laundering, inspection, and storage; logistical planning affects program success and cost‑effectiveness.

Practical takeaways for supervisors

• Use as a supplement: Prioritize engineering and administrative controls first; use vests to reduce residual risk or protect high‑exposure tasks.
• Train and involve workers: Teach proper donning/doffing, pack replacement, and signs of heat illness; solicit feedback to improve adoption.
• Track outcomes: Measure worker comfort, incident rates, and productivity during trials to justify broader adoption and budget.

 

Anna B Albright, co-founder and CEO of Clema Cooling, building next-gen on-body cooling for the 2.4 billion people who work in extreme heat, a problem draining $1.09 trillion from the global economy each year.  Clema's revolutionary smart suspenders cool the skin 30°F+ across a full 8–12-hour shift on a single battery swap, with no ice or water, addressing a real gap in heat-illness prevention and empowering safety managers and industrial hygienists with technological solutions to heat. 

The main message is that hazard reporting is only effective when safety leaders actively respond to the hazards employees report.

Dr. Ayers challenges safety professionals to adopt a 24-hour response commitment:

• Respond quickly: When an employee reports a hazard, don't let the report sit unanswered. Make it a priority to respond within 24 hours.
• Make it personal: Don't simply handle the report through paperwork, email, or an electronic reporting system.
• Go to the scene: Safety leaders should physically visit the location where the hazard was reported so they can understand the actual conditions.
• Talk to employees: Speak directly with the people who identified or are exposed to the hazard. They often have important information about what is really happening.
• Create a follow-up process: If your organization doesn't have a mechanism for responding to hazard reports, create one.
• Build trust: Prompt, visible action demonstrates to employees that their safety concerns matter and encourages them to continue reporting hazards.

Key takeaway

The goal isn't simply to collect hazard reports—it's to create a culture where employees report hazards because they know leadership will listen and take action.

The 24-hour challenge is therefore less about an arbitrary deadline and more about creating accountability, responsiveness, and employee engagement in safety. When leaders personally investigate reports and communicate with employees, hazard reporting becomes a proactive tool for preventing injuries rather than just another compliance activity.