The Safety Guru

"When we sleep, the brain produces tomorrow's fuel." Back for another compelling episode of The Safety Guru, sleep expert Dr Nicholas Mabbott returns to explore the fascinating sleep science for safer workplaces and its profound impact on our daily lives. Dr Nick breaks down the stages of sleep, emphasizing how quality sleep fuels our health, well-being, and overall safety. He reveals the dangers of sleep deficits, shares how fatigue impacts workplace performance, and provides practical strategies organizations can use to promote better sleep, reduce risk and absenteeism, and strengthen safety outcomes by proactively addressing fatigue risk. If you're ready to wake up to the hidden risks fatigue brings and learn more about sleep science and its impact, this episode delivers powerful insights and practical tools to drive meaningful change. Tune in now to discover how better sleep can lead to safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces. About the Guest: Dr Nicholas Mabbott is a Fatigue Risk Management Specialist with over 28 years of experience in sleep and fatigue risk management. He has provided sleep and fatigue management training and education to over 34 thousand people from a wide range of industries. His recently published book, “The Wonder of Sleep: Beyond Midnight,” is a compilation of 27 years of learning about sleep and the benefits people get from appropriate sleep. The book challenges road safety professionals and sleep scientists to examine and test new theories on better managing sleep, workplace safety, and road safety. He also has a YouTube channel called “The Wonder of Sleep” with 23 videos. For more information: www.beyondmidnight.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this distinctive episode of The Safety Guru, renowned safety expert Dr Andrew Hopkins joins us to explore the critical lessons from the Boeing 737 MAX. Drawing from his latest book, Andrew unpacks a comprehensive analysis of its troubled history, uncovering flawed system design, organizational blind spots, and safety decisions that led to devastating consequences. He shares key learnings for boards and executives, emphasizing safety as a core responsibility and underscoring the importance of understanding and managing risk at the highest levels, while addressing how long-term safety performance is essential to sustainable business success. This information-rich episode delivers valuable takeaways on strengthening the role of safety governance, enhancing risk oversight, improving leadership accountability, and building safer systems for the future. Listen now! About the Guest: Andrew Hopkins is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the Australian National University, Canberra. He was a consultant to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board in its investigations of the 2005 BP Texas City Refinery disaster and the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and served as an expert witness at the Royal Commission into the 1998 Exxon gas plant explosion near Melbourne. He has written books on these and other disasters, including in mining, and has consulted for major companies in the mining, petroleum, chemical, electrical, and defence industries. He speaks regularly to audiences around the world about the human and organisational causes of major accidents. For more information: https://sociology.cass.anu.edu.au/people/professor-andrew-hopkins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, we present a powerful and timely conversation with our returning special guest, Beverly Beuermann-King, a seasoned expert in workplace mental health. Beverly shares her insights on two critical threats to workplace safety and well-being today: toxicity in the workplace and the importance of self-care for leaders. She explores real examples of toxic workplaces and offers actionable strategies to help leaders recognize warning signs, communicate effectively, and engage in difficult conversations to address issues head-on. Beverly also unpacks the deeper drivers behind workaholism, sharing how leaders can identify root causes, set healthy boundaries, and intentionally create space to rest, recharge, and reflect, prioritizing self-care to enhance both their own well-being and that of their teams. This episode highlights why mental health isn’t just a personal wellness matter; it’s a workplace safety issue that fosters a healthier, more resilient workplace culture. Tune in for expert insights to help leaders prevent burnout, navigate toxicity in the workplace, and build environments where people and organizations can truly thrive.  About the Guest: Beverly Beuermann-King has over 25 years of experience helping individuals and organizations master their responses to stress, build resilience, and thrive using her innovative S-O-S Principle™. Since founding WorkSmartLiveSmart.com in 1995, she has transformed teams across diverse business sectors. Her presentations, grounded in psychology, sociology, management, and adult education, offer practical strategies to enhance mental health and workplace well-being. She is also a prolific author, respected podcaster, and trusted media spokesperson, with over 500 television and radio appearances. Beverly currently serves as the National President of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. Prepare to be captivated as she empowers you to conquer stress, cultivate resilience, and unlock the secrets to a healthier, more fulfilling life. For more information: www.WorkSmartLiveSmart.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We welcome back Brandon Williams, former fighter pilot and seasoned expert in human factors and safety leadership, for another profound episode of The Safety Guru that you won’t want to miss! In this intriguing conversation, we explore The Debrief Culture, a powerful approach rooted in the debriefing method and mindset of elite fighter pilots that transforms organizational performance and builds a culture of continuous improvement. Drawing on his experience in high-stakes aviation environments, Brandon shares insights on creating a structured debrief culture that can be applied across industries to drive consistent accountability, clear communication, continuous learning, and sustainable growth. Tune in for a contemplative discussion on human factors leadership for accountability and learning, as Brandon unpacks actionable, practical strategies to help leaders build an effective debrief culture that fosters a high-growth mindset, combats complacency, and drives learning from both wins and missteps. Join us! About the Guest: Brandon Williams is a highly sought-after speaker, airline pilot, and human factors professor with over two decades of experience leading teams in some of the world’s most dynamic, complex, and high-risk environments. A former U.S. Air Force Fighter Pilot, Lieutenant Colonel, and Safety Officer, Brandon brings a unique blend of military precision, safety expertise, and real-world leadership to organizations striving for excellence in high-reliability industries. As a recognized expert in Human Factors and organizational safety, Brandon equips leaders with the strategies and tools to build High-Reliability Organizations (HROs) and High-Performance Teams across sectors, including transportation, healthcare, energy, construction, and manufacturing. His powerful keynotes and training sessions are grounded in military aviation principles and safety science, offering actionable insights into system-level thinking, human error mitigation, and decision-making under pressure. For more information: https://brandonwilliamsspeaker.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you energize your safety programs to be effective, engaging, and inspire action with lasting real impact? Join us for a dynamic conversation with Michael Melnik, owner and president of The Energized Approach®, as he shares how safety programs can be reimagined to be more sustainable, fun, and meaningful. With decades of experience helping organizations “energize” their workplaces, Michael introduces the 10 energy sources—the core drivers behind truly successful and sustainable programs. Michael emphasizes the importance of safety programs that resonate with workers, engage teams at every level, and drive lasting success through leadership commitment and communication. He also shares how to revitalize existing safety programs to build a strong safety culture. Don’t miss this episode as we dive into the energized approach for real impact, putting safety in motion across your organization. About the Guest: Michael Melnik is an occupational therapist with a master’s degree in exercise physiology. He is the owner and president of The Energized Approach, a company that helps organizations “Energize” their workplaces, their safety programs, and their people. For more than 30 years, he has presented his practical, high-energy, and humorous approach to more than 750,000 participants around the world. He is the author and talent in several award-winning injury prevention videos that are used by thousands of companies, and is the creator of the ReachOut365 Video Coaching Platform. Clients include Delta Airlines, The Home Depot, Coca Cola, Wells Fargo, PetSmart, Wal-Mart, Willis Towers Watson, Best Buy, Exxon Mobil, and many more. For more information: www.energizedapproach.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover how to keep your workplace safer, stronger, and more in control—one smart move at a time. In this engaging and informative episode of The Safety Guru, we welcome Robert Pater, founder of MoveSMART®. Robert brings a unique perspective, blending martial arts principles with cutting-edge safety and ergonomics to explore how internalizing mental and physical safety practices can elevate your safety culture. Drawing on decades of expertise, he shares practical strategies to rethink ergonomics for safer workplaces, engage senior leaders in safety initiatives, make safety changes easy to boost compliance and effectiveness, and tap into “eureka moments” that enhance learning retention while driving deeper, lasting behavioral shifts. Don't miss this conversation packed with actionable ways to reduce injuries, improve ergonomics, and empower workers to take control of their safety. About the Guest: Robert Pater is the Founder and Managing Director of the MoveSMART® system for significantly reducing soft-tissue injuries and slips/trips/falls while simultaneously elevating Safety culture and leadership. He has published over 370 articles (in Professional Safety, Occupational Health & Safety, and many others). He's also the author of "Leading From Within", in 5 languages. Globally, their client list has included: Airgas, Alcoa, American Airlines, BHP Billiton, BMW, BorgWarner, BP, Cummins, Cushman & Wakefield, DuPont, Frito-Lay, Hawaiian Airlines, Honda, Honda Canada, Kimberly-Clark, Kinross Gold, Kloeckner, Marathon Oil, Michelin, Nissan, Nutrien, ONE Gas, Pfizer, Prysmian, Solventum, United Airlines, U.S. Steel, and many others. For more information: www.movesmart.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for a deeply moving episode of The Safety Guru as we welcome Jacqueline Quinlivan, who courageously shares her story of unimaginable loss and the lasting ripple effects that followed. In 2018, Jacqueline’s husband, Lyndon, lost his life in a completely preventable workplace incident. Since that tragic day, Jacqueline has transformed her grief into a powerful mission—advocating for safer workplaces so that no one else has to endure the same devastating loss. In this heartfelt conversation, she recounts the heartbreak of that day and highlights the profound impact it had on her family, coworkers, and the broader community. Her story is a sobering and urgent reminder of what’s truly at stake when safety is compromised. Tune in as Jacqueline calls for a culture where safety is lived every day, where workers are empowered to speak up for safety, and leaders actively influence safety for their teams because everyone deserves to come home safe. About the Guest: In the aftermath of a heartbreaking loss, Jacci Quinlivan, a young widow with two children, embarked on a journey fuelled by a promise to her late husband. Her unwavering commitment to pursue justice, ensuring accountability, and championing transformation reforms is rooted in a personal vow to prevent others from enduring similar pain. Jacci's moving story strikes a chord whilst reshaping perspectives on workplace safety. Through her poignant narrative, she aims to spark essential conversations with organisations and individuals alike. Her goal is to promote a proactive stance on safety whilst acknowledging the lasting repercussions of such tragedy on individuals and communities. For more information: https://jacquelinequinlivan.com.au/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this unforgettable episode of The Safety Guru, we’re joined by Dave Sanderson, a survivor of US Airways Flight 1549, widely known as The Miracle on the Hudson. Dave takes us behind the scenes of that extraordinary day in 2009, when the plane crash-landed into the freezing Hudson River and every passenger made it out alive. He shares what it truly means to step up under pressure and help others stay safe in urgent, high-stakes situations. Through his gripping firsthand account, Dave shares life-saving safety lessons and emphasizes the power of clear communication, leading with intention, and practical strategies for managing your mind under pressure. He explains why casual leads to casualty, emphasizing that pattern recognition, quick decision-making, situational awareness, and decisive action can make all the difference when every second counts. Tune in to gain powerful lessons learned from the Miracle on the Hudson and pivotal insights that extend far beyond the cabin of an aircraft. About the Guest: Dave Sanderson is a nationally recognized leadership speaker, accomplished author, and inspirational survivor of what is known as "The Miracle on the Hudson." As the last passenger off US Airways Flight 1549, which had to ditch into the river, he took the lessons he learned from that profound experience in the frigid water and emerged from the wreckage with a mission to encourage others to do the right thing and share coping skills to address any adversity they may face. Named one of Inc.com's Top 100 Leadership speakers, Dave travels the world to share his inspirational leadership lessons and has raised over $14.8M USD for the American Red Cross over the last ten years through his talks. For more information: https://davesandersonspeaks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us on The Safety Guru for a thought-provoking conversation with Dr Paul Salmon, professor and seasoned expert in applied human factors and systems science research. In this insightful episode, Paul breaks down how interconnected systems and both direct and indirect decision-making impact safety outcomes, and how every individual plays a role. He also explains the difference between the old and new views of safety, sharing real-world examples to deepen our understanding of complex systems. Discover why systems thinking matters for safety and learn how to apply it across your organization with practical, actionable strategies. Don’t miss this powerful episode! About the Guest: Dr Paul Salmon is a professor of Human Factors and creator of the Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He has almost 25 years’ experience of applied Human Factors and systems science research in a diverse set of domains. Paul has co-authored 23 books and over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles. His current research interests are focused on the application of Human Factors and systems science to manage societal and global risks. Paul has received several prestigious awards from the International, Australian, US, and UK Human Factors and Ergonomics societies, and for the past 5 years, The Australian has identified him as Australia’s field leader in the area of quality and reliability. For more information: https://www.usc.edu.au/staff/professor-paul-salmon#research Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can safety leaders learn from the football field? In this high-energy and captivating episode of The Safety Guru, we’re joined by Dan Comiskey, a former Canadian Football League star turned safety leadership expert. Dan shares powerful leadership lessons learned under the stadium lights to inspire a winning safety culture. He brings to life what it means to lead by example and foster a culture grounded in accountability and care. Discover how building mindful habits and empowering team members to take ownership can strengthen a resilient and high-performing team. Don’t miss this episode! It’s packed with game-changing takeaways to help you develop a Champion Mindset and put your game plan for safety into action. About the Guest: Dan Comiskey is a dynamic and inspirational speaker renowned for his ability to deliver impactful keynote presentations to audiences across diverse industries. Drawing on over 20 years of professional football experience and more than a decade in industrial safety leadership, Dan has honed his expertise in leadership, accountability, resilience, and the power of creating mindful habits. From cultivating a culture of safety to fostering resilience and teamwork, Dan’s keynote presentations go beyond inspiration—they provide actionable insights that empower his audience to create huge changes over time. For more information: https://www.dancomiskey.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices