Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

Michael Flynn, a Cultural Anthropologist, discusses the impact of 'in-groups' and 'out-groups' on physical and psychological safety. He explores the importance of recognizing assumptions, challenging outdated systems, and reshaping cultural norms. The podcast also discusses power dynamics in work environments, the interconnectedness between diversity, equity, inclusion, and safety, and strategies for addressing employee issues while maintaining authenticity.

In this episode, Dr. I. David Daniels speaks with a former litigator and firefighter, Shannon Sedlacek, about how her experience in two extremely high-pressure occupations has prepared her to assist and coach others in their efforts at high performance in high-pressure situations. While progress is being made, there are and will be for a while to come high-pressure environments that produce high levels of stress that need human beings to be successful. These humans need the tools to be able to withstand these high-pressure situations. So where can we go? Enter Shannon Sedlacek. She was a competitive athlete before finding the same kind of competitive energy when she became a corporate lawyer in a prestigious law firm. While the work was stimulating, she decided she wanted to be someone other than the person the profession would have required her to be. In her late 30s, she decided to become a firefighter. Despite several setbacks and challenges, she completed a career that included a promotion as the first female fire lieutenant in the history of the city she worked in, and she is now a corporate coach for organizations and individuals seeking high performance in situations where high stress is the norm.

Chris Linton, risk and compliance professional, discusses the importance of both leading and lagging indicators in creating a safe culture. He explores the integration and differences between risk management and safety activities, as well as the challenges of safety and risk management conversations within a business environment. The podcast also touches on the changing work environment and the need for organizations to adapt. Overall, it emphasizes the importance of valuing human capital and integrating psychological considerations into safety and risk management.

LISTEN TO PART TWO OVER AT THE PSYCH HEALTH AND SAFETY IN CANADA PODCAST! 😁 In this episode, Dr. I. David Daniels speaks with special guest Kim MacDonald, who hosts the Psych Health and Safety Canada Podcast. Kim is a Certified Workplace Psych Health & Safety Advisor & Trainer, and the CEO of 13 FACTORS. 13 FACTORS is a workplace psychological health and safety learning and development and coaching company. This mission-driven business focuses on changing workplace mental health impacts, climate, and psychological health and safety culture. We use science-backed, peer, and evidence-based research in all our work, product development, and delivery. This not only be the continuation of our celebration of the first year of the USA podcast but a wide-ranging conversation about psychological health and safety in the first of a two-part "crossover" episode that will conclude on the Psych Health and Safety Canada podcast. Kim will share her background in psychological health and safety as the host of the Canada podcast, some of the more impactful aspects of the show, and her experience in the profession. Having joined the global podcast family through the encouragement of founding host Mary Ann Bayton, Kim carries on the tradition of rich conversation with guests from across Canada and will be a guest on the USA podcast for the first time.

This episode marks one year since the start of the Psych Health and Safety USA podcast and again features a conversation with Joelle Mitchell and Jason van Schie, the co-hosts of the original Psych Health and Safety podcast in Australia. In a unique conversation, Jason and Joelle talk with Dr. Daniels about the last year of the USA podcast and some of what he’s learned over the year. They also fill him in on some of what has been going on “down under” relative to Psychological Health and Safety.

Experts Kahlilah Guyah, Ken Clayman, and Dr. Allessandria Polizzi discuss ISO 45003, a guidance standard on psychological health and safety at work. They cover topics like the importance of hazard recognition, understanding psychosocial risks, cultural bias surrounding mental health, proactive prevention, addressing psychosocial factors, and positive developments in workplace mental health.

Dr. Darryl Hill, responsible for safety and security in a company with nearly 60,000 employees, discusses creating a culture of growth, the connection between psychological safety and traditional safety management systems, expanding incident reviews, the impact of electrification on bus noise and employee behavior, and prioritizing employees for better customer experience.

Michael Coplen, former Division Chief of Safety Policy and Promotion at the Federal Transit Administration, shares his experience in researching safety culture and safety management systems. Topics discussed include psychological health and safety, rail industry experiences, the impact of psychosocial hazards on behavior, staff shortages and sleep deprivation, considering human needs in challenging environments, and the importance of safety during national safety month.

Continuing our celebration of National Safety Month, in this episode, host Dr. I. David Daniels will speak with Yara Carrillo, a Chemical Engineer by training and a credentialed safety professional specializing in providing services to workplaces needing safety-related documents, information, and training in Spanish. The number of Hispanic workers in the labor force has grown from 10.7 million in 1990 to 29.0 million in 2020 and is projected to reach 35.9 million in 2030. Hispanics are projected to account for 78% of net new workers between 2020 and 2030. The Hispanic proportion of the workforce has increased from 8.5% in 1990 to 18.0% in 2020. In 2030, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects Hispanics to account for one out of every five workers in the labor force, at 21.2%. Hispanic workers are not only a significant percentage of the workforce but the majority in many of the most hazardous occupations. The sector with the highest concentration of Hispanic workers is farming, fishing, and forestry, at 43.0%. In second place is building and grounds cleaning and maintenance, at 37.9%, followed by construction and extraction, at 35.7. One of the important keys to perception is the language that one understands. It is difficult to feel psychologically safe when the language used to transmit safety information does not match the language you understand best. While it would be a stereotype to suggest that all Hispanic workers don’t speak or understand English, it would not be an exaggeration to suggest that many workplaces assume that everyone speaks and understands English. This bias can have catastrophic consequences for workers and organizations that care about safety. Yara will share her thoughts and experiences regarding bridging this divide and the value and importance of language in ensuring psychological health and safety.

To kick off our celebration of National Safety Month, in this episode, host Dr. I. David Daniels will speak with Nathan Benson, the Director of Occupational Safety, Risk Management, and Disability Services in Chatham County, Georgia. There are approximately 90,000 governments in the United States, divided into three categories: federal, state, and local. The public sector employs 20.2 million people in the US, approximately 14.5 percent of the workforce. However, when conversations about safety of any kind are had, workers in the public sector or left out. Injury rates tend to be significantly higher than similar work done by the private sector. Seven years ago, Chatham County, Georgia, decided to buck this trend by developing an occupational safety division and bringing in a 2015 National Safety Council Rising Star to lead the effort. Director Benson has been able to build the team and help the county through the global pandemic when less than 50% of the county’s workforce could work remotely. He will share the work done to reduce worker injuries and create a culture where workers feel supported and less anxious about the rare occupation that they are injured at work.