The Occupational Safety Leadership Podcast

Episode 285 - Dr. Drew Hinton and NFPA 70E Training

Great chat with Dr. Drew Hinto on Electrical Safety and NFPA70 Training

Key Themes

• NFPA 70 Overview The episode centers on NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code) and its critical role in preventing electrical hazards in workplaces. Dr. Hinton explains how proper training ensures compliance and reduces risk of shock, arc flash, and fire.

• Training Gaps & Challenges Many organizations provide only minimal electrical safety training. Dr. Hinton highlights the dangers of “check-the-box” approaches and stresses the need for hands-on, scenario-based instruction.

• Leadership’s Role Safety leaders must champion NFPA 70 training, not just for electricians but for all employees who may encounter electrical systems. Building a culture of awareness is key.

• Practical Applications

  • Understanding lockout/tagout procedures in electrical contexts.

  • Recognizing the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) for electrical work.

  • Using NFPA 70E (the standard for electrical safety in the workplace) alongside NFPA 70 to guide safe practices.

• Dr. Hinton’s Insights He emphasizes that electrical incidents are often preventable with proper training and leadership commitment. He encourages leaders to integrate NFPA standards into daily operations rather than treating them as compliance checklists.

🎯 Core Message

Electrical safety isn’t just technical—it’s cultural. NFPA 70 training, when led by engaged safety leaders, empowers workers to recognize hazards, apply protective measures, and prevent catastrophic incidents.

Episode 284 - Risk and Hazards in Occupational Safety

• Hazards vs. Risks

  • Hazard: Anything with the potential to cause harm (chemicals, machinery, electricity, noise, etc.).

  • Risk: The probability that harm will occur, combined with the severity of the outcome.

  • Example: A ladder is a hazard; the risk depends on how it’s used (height, stability, training).

• Risk Assessment Frameworks

  • Tools like the risk matrix (likelihood × severity) help quantify risks.

  • Leaders must prioritize risks that are both likely and severe, not just visible hazards.

  • Episode ties into earlier discussions (Ep. 92 & 93) on 3×3 and 4×4 risk matrices.

• Control Strategies

  • Apply the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE.

  • Focus on reducing risk, not just identifying hazards.

  • Example: Noise hazard → engineering controls (soundproofing) reduce risk more effectively than just PPE.

• Leadership Role

  • Safety leaders must communicate clearly: workers often confuse hazards with risks.

  • Training should emphasize risk perception—helping employees understand not just what could go wrong, but how likely and how severe it could be.

  • Leaders should foster a culture where workers report hazards early, so risks can be assessed and mitigated.

⚖️ Challenges & Trade-offs

• Overemphasis on Hazards: Some organizations stop at hazard identification without quantifying risk.

• Subjectivity in Risk Assessment: Different people may rate likelihood/severity differently.

• Resource Allocation: Leaders must decide which risks to address first when budgets are limited.

• Complacency: Familiar hazards may be underestimated because workers “get used to them.”

📌 Practical Takeaways for Safety Leaders

1. Always distinguish hazards from risks in training and communication.

2. Use structured risk matrices to prioritize interventions.

3. Apply hierarchy of controls—don’t rely solely on PPE.

4. Document risk assessments to strengthen compliance and defensibility.

5. Engage workers in identifying hazards and rating risks to build ownership.

Episode 283 - Personal Development and Occupational Safety

🎙️ Core Message

The episode explores how personal growth and professional development directly influence workplace safety outcomes. It argues that safety leadership isn’t just about compliance—it’s about cultivating individuals who are resilient, self-aware, and proactive.

🔑 Key Points

• Self-Awareness & Reflection: Employees who invest in personal development (goal setting, self-assessment, continuous learning) are more likely to recognize unsafe behaviors and correct them.

• Leadership Growth: Supervisors who focus on their own development—communication skills, emotional intelligence, and coaching—create safer, more supportive environments.

• Transferable Skills: Skills like time management, stress reduction, and problem-solving improve both personal effectiveness and hazard recognition.

• Culture of Growth: Organizations that encourage personal development (training, mentorship, career pathways) see stronger engagement in safety programs.

 

📌 Practical Applications

• Integrate Safety into Development Plans: Tie safety goals into employee performance reviews and personal growth plans.

• Mentorship Programs: Pair experienced workers with newer employees to build both technical and safety competencies.

• Continuous Learning: Offer workshops not only on safety procedures but also on personal skills like communication and resilience.

• Recognition: Celebrate employees who demonstrate growth in both personal and safety dimensions.

🌟 Why It Matters

• Personal development strengthens accountability and ownership of safety.

• It bridges the gap between “rules-based compliance” and “values-based safety culture.”

• Long-term, it creates workplaces where employees thrive personally and professionally—leading to fewer incidents and stronger organizational performance.

Episode 282 - Professional Development and Occupational Safety

🎙️ Core Message

This episode highlights the connection between structured professional development and stronger safety performance. It argues that investing in employees’ careers isn’t just about advancement—it directly improves hazard awareness, decision-making, and leadership in safety-critical environments.

🔑 Key Points

• Skill Building for Safety: Technical training, certifications, and ongoing education sharpen employees’ ability to identify and mitigate risks.

• Leadership Pathways: Professional development programs prepare supervisors to lead with safety-first mindsets, improving communication and accountability.

• Cross-Functional Growth: Exposure to different roles and responsibilities broadens perspective, helping employees understand how safety impacts the entire organization.

• Retention & Engagement: Workers who see growth opportunities are more engaged, which translates into stronger participation in safety initiatives.

• Continuous Improvement: Professional development fosters a mindset of learning and adaptation—critical for evolving safety standards and practices.

 

📌 Practical Applications

• Integrate Safety into Career Tracks: Make safety leadership a core competency in promotion pathways.

• Offer Dual-Focus Training: Combine technical skill development with safety modules in workshops and courses.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Pair rising professionals with experienced safety leaders to accelerate growth.

• Measure Impact: Track how professional development correlates with safety metrics (incident rates, near-miss reporting, etc.).

🌟 Why It Matters

• Professional development strengthens both individual careers and organizational safety culture.

• It ensures that safety isn’t siloed—it becomes part of every employee’s growth journey.

• Long-term, this approach reduces incidents, builds resilient teams, and positions safety as a driver of organizational excellence.

Episode 281 - Growth Mindset and Occupational Safety

🔑 Key Points

• Learning from Incidents: A growth mindset reframes mistakes and near-misses as opportunities to learn rather than failures to hide.

• Adaptability: Workers and leaders who embrace growth are more open to new safety procedures, technologies, and evolving standards.

• Resilience: Growth-oriented employees bounce back from setbacks, maintaining focus on safe practices even under pressure.

• Leadership Role: Supervisors who model growth mindset behaviors—asking questions, encouraging experimentation, and rewarding effort—create a culture where safety innovation thrives.

• Continuous Improvement: Safety programs benefit when organizations treat hazard identification and risk reduction as ongoing processes, not one-time fixes.

 

📌 Practical Applications

• Training Programs: Incorporate growth mindset principles into safety training, emphasizing effort and improvement over perfection.

• Feedback Culture: Encourage open dialogue about hazards and incidents without blame, focusing on lessons learned.

• Recognition Systems: Reward proactive learning and hazard correction, not just compliance.

• Leadership Development: Train managers to coach employees toward growth, linking personal development with safety outcomes.

🌟 Why It Matters

• A growth mindset transforms safety from a compliance exercise into a dynamic, evolving practice.

• It empowers employees to see themselves as active contributors to safety culture.

• Long-term, it reduces incidents, increases engagement, and builds organizations that thrive on resilience and innovation.

Episode 280 - Face your Fears in Occupational Safety

🔑 Key Points

• Common Fears in Safety: Workers may fear retaliation, being labeled as “difficult,” or slowing production when raising safety concerns.

• Leadership Responsibility: Leaders must acknowledge these fears and actively create an environment where speaking up is safe and encouraged.

• Courage as a Skill: Facing fears isn’t innate—it can be developed through training, role modeling, and reinforcement.

• Psychological Safety: Teams thrive when employees know they won’t be punished for voicing concerns or stopping unsafe work.

• Transforming Fear into Action: When fear is addressed, employees are more likely to intervene, report hazards, and collaborate on solutions.

 

📌 Practical Applications

• Normalize Conversations: Encourage open dialogue about hazards during daily check-ins or toolbox talks.

• Role-Play Scenarios: Practice speaking up in training sessions to build confidence.

• Recognition Programs: Celebrate employees who demonstrate courage in addressing safety issues.

• Leadership Modeling: Supervisors should openly admit their own fears and show how they work through them.

🌟 Why It Matters

• Fear is one of the biggest barriers to proactive safety behavior.

• Confronting it builds resilience, trust, and a culture where hazards are corrected quickly.

• Long-term, organizations that help employees face fears see fewer incidents and stronger engagement.

Episode 279 - Ego and Occupational Safety

🔑 Key Points

• Ego as a Barrier: Leaders or workers who let ego drive decisions may dismiss concerns, ignore feedback, or resist change.

• Impact on Communication: Ego can silence frontline employees who fear being shut down, reducing hazard reporting.

• Humility in Leadership: Strong safety leaders admit mistakes, listen actively, and prioritize safety over personal pride.

• Team Dynamics: Ego-driven behavior erodes trust, while humility fosters cooperation and shared responsibility for safety.

• Continuous Learning: Acknowledging that no one has all the answers keeps safety practices evolving and effective.

 

📌 Practical Applications

• Model Humility: Supervisors should openly accept feedback and show willingness to adjust.

• Encourage Dialogue: Create safe channels for employees to raise concerns without fear of ego-driven backlash.

• Training Programs: Incorporate self-awareness and emotional intelligence into safety leadership development.

• Recognition Systems: Reward collaborative problem-solving rather than individual “heroics.”

🌟 Why It Matters

• Ego-driven cultures lead to underreporting, missed hazards, and preventable incidents.

• Humility and openness strengthen trust, communication, and proactive hazard correction.

• Long-term, reducing ego in safety leadership builds resilient teams and safer workplaces.

Episode 278 - Rod Courtney-Part 3 of 8 Habits of a Highly Effective Safety Culture

In today's episode we continue discussing Rod Courtney's book "* Habits of a Highly Effective Safety Culture."  Today's episode is part 3 and we focus only on habit 5.  Previous episodes include 268 when habit 1 and 2 are discussed and episode 274 where habit 3 and 4 are discussed. I really enjoyed Rod's book and a must read for Safety Professionals.