No management theory, platitudes, or guru speak - just actionable workplace safety and health info you can use right now.
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August 12, 202644 min
Episode 201: Building Safety Capacity
What happens to safety performance when you're away? Discover the impact of leadership styles on safety outcomes in this insightful episode. Key takeaways: * Understand the effects of absence on safety performance. * Explore different leadership modes: Taskminder, Micromanager, and Strategic Leader. * Learn how to build capacity in your safety culture. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:39 What happens to safety performance when you're away? 01:25 The importance of leadership in safety 02:19 Different leadership modes explained 05:11 The Taskminder vs. Micromanager 10:32 The Strategic Leader's role 20:06 Building capacity in safety 30:43 Practical tips for safety leaders What's your biggest challenge with safety leadership? Drop it in the comments! Subscribe for weekly insights on safety management and leadership strategies! #SafetyLeadership #WorkplaceSafety #SafetyCulture
June 30, 202639 min
Episode 200: AI in Safety - Smarter Tools, New Blind Spots
The conversation delves into the hype and challenges of AI in safety, including the use of QR codes, AI-driven safety tools, predictive analytics, computer vision, psychosocial and ethical considerations, deskilling, overreliance on AI, data quality investments, and worker involvement. Takeaways AI technology in safety has the potential to revolutionize safety programs, but it comes with challenges and ethical considerations. Investing in data quality and worker involvement is crucial for the successful implementation of AI technology in safety. Chapters 00:00 The Hype of AI in Safety 06:16 AI-Driven Safety Tools 23:21 Psychosocial and Ethical Challenges 28:41 Deskilling and Overreliance on AI
April 1, 2026Episode 19936 min
Episode 199: Dynamic Warm-Ups w/Lori Frederic
This episode with Lori Frederic gets into workplace fitness, injury prevention, and the importance of understanding the 'why' behind movement and exercise. It explores the challenges of construction work in mission-critical projects, the transition to dynamic warm-ups, and the old vs. new approach to injury prevention and fitness. Also, we discuss the impact of attitude and trends in health and fitness, as well as advances in understanding human anatomy and the attitude towards health and fitness. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Swag Competition 07:30 Transition to Dynamic Warm-ups and Functional Fitness 17:30 The Impact of Attitude and Trends in Health and Fitness 25:12 Advances in Understanding Human Anatomy and Attitude Towards Health and Fitness
April 1, 2026Episode 19858 min
Episode 198: The Metrics Dilemma w/Alex Paradies
Summary This episode with Blaine Hoffmann and Alex Paradies, from TapRoot gets into the value of metrics, the purpose of measuring, and the importance of understanding what to measure and what control we have over the results. They also talk about the challenges and limitations of leading and lagging indicators, the impact of gamifying measures, and the design fallacy in workplace metrics. Chapters * 00:00 The Value of Metrics * 07:37 Challenges of Leading and Lagging Indicators * 32:50 Proactive Measures vs. Leading Indicators * 46:26 Leadership and Accountability in Metric Adoption * 53:51 Cultural Shift for Successful Metric Implementation
March 11, 2026Episode 19742 min
Episode 197: Demystifying OSHA: A Conversation with David Keeling
In this insightful interview, Blaine Hoffmann speaks with David Keeling, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, about OSHA's strategic direction, safety culture, emerging trends like AI, and how safety professionals can demystify OSHA to foster collaboration and improve workplace safety. #OSHA #workplacesafety #safetyculture #safetymanagement #safetyprograms #VPP #safetyleadership #safetytrends #OSHApartnership
September 25, 2017Episode 1520 min
015: Chemical Safety Labels
Labels still create problems for many employers. Learn what is needed and listen to some examples of what to do and not do when it comes to labels in the workplace. Be sure to send email questions or topics for future episodes to info@thesafetypropodcast.com .
August 19, 2017Episode 1013 min
010: BONUS - SMART Goals Part 2
I got a lot of responses from the last episode and noticed an odd trend each time I release a new one as well. I talk about those here in this bonus episode. Keep the emails coming! And hey, if you enjoy the info in the podcast please be sure to leave a ranking and review on Apple Podcasts or drop me a personal message using the email address above.
March 1, 2019Episode 6226 min
062: The Difference Between a Safety Inspection and Safety Audit
Powered by iReportSource Safety Inspection or Safety Audit? This issue has come up before, and I want to tackle it in this episode. So some coaching is going on in this episode. First, let's get the definitions out of the way: Inspection : Physical checks for acceptable conditions conducted at the direction of regulatory requirements, guidelines, policies, procedures, etc. outlined in your overall safety manual or as a part of a safety management system. Audit : An independent review of the effectiveness, implementation, and compliance with established regulatory requirements, guidelines, policies, procedures, etc. outlined in your overall safety manual or as a part of a safety management system. It is important to note that independent does not necessarily mean from an outside organization. Independence means not being responsible for the activity being audited or free of bias and conflict of interest, which means you cannot audit your own work. So think of an inspection as a specific physical check to see if a tool, vehicle, machine, etc. are in safe working condition. Like a forklift inspection; before each shift operators are required to conduct an inspection to ensure it is in a safe condition. Always provide adequate checklists to ensure consistency of inspections and to allow a trend analysis to be developed t look for areas of improvement during any program audits. An audit is a review to see if inspections are being done and to check the quality of the inspection results. Or, inspections are tactical, and audits are strategic. Most folks focus on the tactical activity of performing inspections. They have checklists, cards, etc. Our industry needs to place more emphasis on the strategic review of safety as well. I would encourage you to go one step further and apply a management system approach to these activities. To help illustrate the importance, I will use the ANSI Z-10 Standard for Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems (OHSMS) as an example. The OHSMS cycle ANSI lays out entails an initial planning process and implementation of the safety management system, followed by a process for checking the performance of these activities and taking appropriate corrective actions. The next step involves a management review of the system for suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness against its policy and this standard. At a high level, this is an audit of the OHSMS. It is worth noting that ANSI/AIHA® Z10 focuses primarily on the strategic levels of policy and the processes to ensure the policy is effectively carried out. The standard does not provide detailed procedures, job instructions, or documentation mechanisms. Each organization must design these according to their needs, such as inspections: what to inspect and how often. In a management system approach, there is an emphasis on continual improvement and systematically eliminating the underlying or root causes of deficiencies. For example, if an inspection finds an unguarded machine, not only would the unguarded machine be fixed, but there would also be a systematic process in place to discover and eliminate the underlying reason for the deficiency. This process might then lead to the goal of replacing the guards with an effective design, or to replacement of the machines themselves, so the hazard is eliminated. This systematic approach seeks a long-term solution rather than a one-time fix. To see if this is being done effectively, an audit must take place. You would review how many inspections are being done, the total number of inspections resulting in findings, number of outcomes resulting in root cause analysis, and corrective or preventative actions (CAPA). So I want to give you three criteria you need to use to conduct an audit of any aspect of your safety management system. I call it the 3 P's: Paper: Look at any written programs, instructions, policies, procedures, etc. and determine if they are adequate for the area they address. HAZCOM is an example; review the written program to ensure it meets the minimum OSHA requirements as well as the SDS index. Does the program check all the boxes? When was it last reviewed? Who has access to it? People: Interview workers to determine their level of understanding of the written programs, instructions, policies, procedures, etc. Which also tells you a bit about training effectiveness and retention. Sticking with the HAZCOM example, ask workers about chemicals in their work area, SDS location, labeling requirements, spill/clean-up, etc. Places: Go out to the job site or production floor and look for evidence that the written programs, instructions, policies, procedures, etc. are being followed. For HAZCOM, look for labels-are they worn, missing, are drums labeled? Are SDS books up to date? Are they placed in the proper location? What about spill kits? So you can see the benefit of the three P's when auditing your safety management system. Always extend your audit across all three P's: Paper, People, Places. Which will ensure you have done a proper and thorough audit. Let me know what you think. Send an email to info@thesafetypropodcast.com and share with me your thoughts about safety inspections or audits. Please let a freind or colleague know about the podcast. Also, you can find me on LinkedIn! Post a LinkedIn update, letting me know what you think of the podcast. Be sure to @ mention Blaine J. Hoffmann or The SafetyPro Podcast LinkedIn page. You can also find the podcast on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter!
January 13, 2020Episode 8915 min
089: 5 OSHA Agenda Items to Watch
Powered by iReportSource OSHA has a decent list of regulatory agenda items. While I don't want to go through them all, I do want to highlight five that I think are particularly impactful. Safety professionals always need to be looking ahead at what is coming so we can prepare our employers, update any programs, which includes employee training and certifications that may be required. 1. Lock-Out/Tag-Out Update - Pre-Rule Stage Recent technological advancements that employ computer-based controls of hazardous energy (e.g., mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, chemical, and radiation) conflict with OSHA's existing lock-out/tag-out standard. The use of these computer-based controls has become more prevalent as equipment manufacturers modernize their designs. Additionally, there are national consensus standards and international standards harmonization that govern the design and use of computer-based controls. This approach of controlling hazardous energy is accepted in other nations, which raises issues of needing to harmonize U.S. standards with those of other countries. The Agency has recently seen an increase in requests for variances for these devices. This RFI will be useful in understanding the strengths and limitations of this new technology, as well as potential hazards to workers. The Agency may also hold a stakeholder meeting and open a public docket to explore the issue. 2. Emergency Response and Preparedness - Pre-Rule Stage OSHA currently regulates aspects of emergency response and preparedness; they promulgated some of these standards decades ago, and none as comprehensive emergency response standards. Consequently, they do not address the full range of hazards or concerns currently facing emergency responders, nor do they reflect significant changes in performance specifications for protective clothing and equipment. The Agency acknowledged that current OSHA standards also do not reflect all the considerable developments in safety and health practices that have already been accepted by the emergency response community and incorporated into industry consensus standards. OSHA is considering updating these standards with information gathered through an RFI and public meetings. 3. Mechanical Power Press Update - Pre-Rule Stage The current OSHA standard on mechanical power presses does not address the use of hydraulic or pneumatic power presses. Additionally, the existing standard is approximately 40 years old and does not address technological changes. OSHA previously published an ANPRM on Mechanical Power Presses (June 2007) in which it identified several options for updating this standard. The Agency would like to update the public record to determine how best to proceed. This project is under Executive Order 13777, which facilitates the review of existing regulations that may be outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome, and to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal them. 4. Powered Industrial Trucks - Pre-Rule Stage Powered Industrial Trucks (e.g., fork trucks, tractors, lift trucks, and motorized hand trucks) are ubiquitous in industrial (and many retail) worksites. The Agency's standard still relies upon ANSI standards from 1969. The Industrial Truck Association has been encouraging OSHA to update and expand the OSHA standard to account for the substantial revisions to ANSI standards on powered industrial trucks over the last 45 years. The current standard covers 11 types of vehicles, and there are now 19 types. Also, the standard itself incorporates an out-of-date consensus standard. OSHA will begin the process to develop a proposed rule updating the consensus standard referenced from the 1969 version of the American National Standard B56.1 to the 2016 version. This project is also under Executive Order 13777, which facilitates the review of existing regulations that may be outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome, and to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal them. 5. Tree Care Standard - Pre-Rule Stage There is no OSHA standard for tree care operations; the Agency currently applies a patchwork of standards to address the severe hazards in this industry. The tree care industry previously petitioned the Agency for rulemaking. Tree care continues to be a high-hazard industry. Wrapping it all up Again, these are just five of the agenda items to watch. How can you keep up on these proposed changes without sitting in front of your computer at www.reginfo.gov ? Well, luckily, there is an app for that - RegInfo. With RegInfo Mobile, you can have information about upcoming federal regulations and forms at your fingertips. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the General Services Administration (GSA) partnered to bring you a mobile version of Reginfo.gov , an online look into agency rulemakings that are on the books, planned, or under review by OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). RegInfo Mobile also provides information about forms and other information collections that OIRA has approved or is currently reviewing under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). With RegInfo Mobile, you have access to all of this information, and more, to the palm of your hand! Some of the app features are as follows: Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions and the Regulatory Plan Current and historical information since Fall 1995 edition View detailed information about regulations, including regulation identifier number (RIN) title, abstract, effects on society and completed/planned actions for the next six months Timeline Chart - an interactive visualization of when proposed and final regulations are published, OIRA reviews of regulations, related information collections, and more! Regulatory Reviews View detailed information about OIRA's pending and concluded reviews of significant rulemakings Meetings with the Public Browse the log of past and scheduled public meetings about regulations under OIRA review Information regarding each meeting includes RIN, the title of the regulation, date, participants, and affiliations, and written materials submitted by the public Information Collection Requests under the PRA View detailed information on OIRA's pending and concluded reviews of agency information collection requests (ICRs), including OMB Control Number, expiration date, requested/approved burden on the public, supporting statements, forms, etc. Keyword search that returns results for matching RINs, regulatory reviews and ICRs Subscribe to a RIN and receive notifications when something happens Let me know on LinkedIn if you have used this app at all - be sure to @ mention Blaine J. Hoffmann or The SafetyPro Podcast LinkedIn page. You can also find the podcast on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter.
October 11, 2019Episode 7921 min
079: 4 Types of Root Cause Evidence According to TapRooT
Powered by iReportSource When an incident occurs it is the investigator's main function to gather all relevant evidence in order to discover root causes and ultimately prevent a recurrence. The tricky part is that evidence isn't always what it seems. Witnesses accounts can be spotty, inconsistent, they may tell conflicting stories about the same incident, etc. Physical or even environmental conditions can change before the investigation process begins. Paperwork, such as a work instruction or JSA, may be misplaced or even changed in some way. With all of these variables and more, you want to make sure you collect the right types of evidence during your investigation. I want to share with you some information from TapRooT® , which is a systematic process and training for finding the real root causes and precursor incidents, for not only major accidents but minor mishaps and even near misses. According to TapRooT® , there are four types (or categories) of evidence to be evaluated. TapRooT® calls these categories 3 Ps and an R. This stands for: People evidence Paper evidence Physical evidence Recording evidence People Evidence Often, evidence collection starts with people evidence (a witness statement), and that evidence guides the investigator to collect paper, physical and recording evidence. Examples of people evidence include: Interviews Fatigue-related information Evidence of injuries, including cuts and scrapes, bruises, fractures, or sprains Information about medical conditions that may have influenced performance (refer to HR or corporate counsel for guidance on HIPPA) Where do you begin? First, determine who was involved. This includes those who planned the work, supervised the work and performed the work. Other considerations include a worker's capability, capacity, training, and qualification to perform his or her role. Inquire into the background of those involved. Determine if they have been involved in any previous incidents or if they have any related performance or conduct issues. Find out if those involved had any work restrictions such as an impairment, physical capability, or lapsed accreditation. Understand how the employees worked together. What were the dynamics of the team including supervision and team performance? Determine the context (such as environmental conditions, distractions or perspectives). Paper Evidence Paper evidence may include all sorts of things including: Regulatory paperwork Activity-specific paperwork Personnel paperwork Policy and procedure paperwork Equipment manuals What do you think the biggest mistake is when it comes to collecting paper evidence… given all of the paper that we have in our workplaces? Collecting too much paper not relevant to the investigation! You don't need to collect every piece of paper at your facility. How do you know what you don't need? By looking at the timeline of events that led to the incident. You need all the paper that supports your timeline of events and supports the facts. If you use TapRooT® , you can easily upload digital copies of this paperwork, and highlight relevant pages in your report to management. Don't make the mistake of collecting so much paper that what you need for evidence is somewhere at the bottom of the stack. Physical Evidence Physical evidence can range from a very large piece of machinery to a very small tool. It includes hardware and solid material related to the incident. You will gather physical evidence in one of two ways. You will collect it or you will record/document evidence that can't be collected (for example, it is too large to collect, or it is still in use). Types of physical evidence to collect: Broken equipment/parts Residue/debris Fluid samples Paint samples Fiber Hair, bloodstains, tissue or other DNA Types of physical evidence to record/document Evidence is recorded when it is impossible to collect or when it is still in use by the workforce. Following is a list of possible evidence to collect by recordings: Burn marks and flame patterns Tracks Indentations Handprints, Footprints, Fingerprints Tools Equipment Products in use Equipment status (fixed, portable or temporary?) Lights, noise, and temperature Confined space Obstructions Surface hazards Housekeeping Clarity of signs and labels Instructions Following are additional pieces of information you may want to collect: Failure history Modification/change of use Operator interface Maintenance records Installing/commissioning Storage/transportation Procurement Design/fabrication Recording Evidence Recording evidence, such as photography and video, should be captured as soon as possible after an incident to preserve the scene in images before it is altered in any way. It provides a documented overview of the entire scene. This may occur as soon as you or a qualified team member can obtain access to the scene. In addition to video and photography recorded by the investigator, recordings include: Video footage (examples: site security cameras, control room cameras, traffic cameras, etc.) Audio recordings (examples: audio of the noise level, voicemail recordings, videos - check State Laws; many prohibit the recording of sound by security cameras in the workplace and there may be restrictions around recording conversations by phone or other devices as well, so always consult an attorney) Photos (examples: wide shots, up-close shots, any pics taken by others, security pics, etc.) Computer data (example: magnetic swipe card system security data for entry doors, data logs from machines/vehicles, inspections completed in the past, previous hazards reported, etc.) Sketches of an incident scene, such as with traffic accidents. Side note, iReportSource has a cool feature that allows you to create a road diagram with different streets, intersections, add multiple vehicles, lights, signs, etc. A pretty cool feature for capturing this stuff accurately without relying on your artistic skills (or lack of) As you record the scene, ask "Am I recording the scene as it was in its original state or has it changed in any way?" If the scene has changed, make a note about what has changed including those involved and WHY! Be sure to capture that information. Identify fragile, perishable evidence and immediately document, photograph and collect it. Environmental conditions are a good example. Such as in the case of ice/snow and as the day progresses it melts, compounds, etc. Also, make a note of any transient evidence that can't be captured by a camera or video like steam, smoke/vapors, smells, and temperature, etc. Remember, the best way to collect unbiased evidence is to gather evidence from each of these four categories: people, physical, paper, and recordings. Each piece of evidence collected will help lead you to the root causes of the incident so that you can properly analyze them for effective corrective and preventative actions. Nothing is more frustrating than going through this process and determining what to fix only to learn that not only were you fixing the wrong things, but another incident has occurred that could have been prevented. Let me know what you think. Send an email to info@thesafetypropodcast.com and share with me the tools and techniques you use! If you think of it, find me on LinkedIn! Post a LinkedIn update letting me know what you think of the podcast. Be sure to @ mention Blaine J. Hoffmann or The SafetyPro Podcast LinkedIn page. You can also find the podcast on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter!
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