The Accidental Safety Pro

In this engaging discussion, Stacy Dubin, Regional EHS Manager at Hyperion Americas, shares her transition from teaching to industrial hygiene after finding her passion for toxicology. She emphasizes the importance of building rapport and trust in EHS, asserting that professionals excel as influencers rather than through authority. Stacy offers practical insights on integrating safety into operational conversations, understanding employee needs, and fostering psychological safety. She also highlights her vision for a cohesive global EHS framework that balances personal connection with effective safety programs.

Dr. Elif Erkal, an expert in safety performance measurement at the Construction Safety Research Alliance, discusses innovative approaches to preventing serious injuries and fatalities. She introduces High Energy Control Assessments (HECA), emphasizing the importance of direct controls and present-tense safety measures over traditional metrics like TRIR. Elif critiques ineffective safety layers, advocates for data-driven approaches, and highlights community efforts to enhance safety practices. Tune in to learn how HECA can transform safety management and why collaboration between industry and academia is crucial.

At this year’s NSC Safety Congress, Jill partnered with three other women in EHS to present “Female EHS Leaders: Leveraging Your Superpowers.” The conference room was full of women and allies, and the topic was so well received, the presenters decided to continue the conversation! In this episode, Jill and Monique Parker, Chief Sustainability Officer and ASSP Board Member, further expand on communication strategies, setting boundaries, salary negotiation, and understanding your value, while also sharing personal experiences and examples from their own journey’s to leadership positions. Take charge of your career growth and salary expectations with the provided worksheets linked in the show notes, and discover how to advocate for yourself and your future in EHS.Resources for Female EHS Professionals, including the Salary and Career Map worksheets.

With over 20 years of experience at industry giants like Caterpillar, Dow Chemical, and Merck, Dana Dawsey's career has been anything but comfortable—by design! Dana is currently the Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety at Pentair, but like most guests, she didn't see safety as her future when becoming an industrial engineering student. Since then, she has implemented life-saving ergonomic improvements and spearheaded global EHS strategies. Dana's story is one of resilience, continuous learning, and a people-centric leadership style, enriched by her certification as a John Maxwell leadership coach. Whether you're an EHS professional or someone interested in leadership and organizational culture, Dana’s insights on embedding safety and well-being as core values will leave you motivated and inspired.

For the third year in a row, Jill sat down with EHS professionals who were attending this year's ASSP’s Safety Conference and Expo in Orlando, FL. Jill had the pleasure of asking short form questions to EHS professionals who shared their thoughts on the future of EHS, attending conferences and making connections, how they found the profession, their favorite parts of the job, and more! Thank you to all who participated in this year's episode. We'll see you again soon at the NSC Safety Congress & Expo, September 15 - 17 in Denver, Colorado. Be sure to stop by the HSI booth, #3549, and say hi to Jill and others from HSI.

Initially aspiring to be a hip-hop music producer, PJ Gillam instead found his career in EHS through early experiences working in chemical and laboratory safety roles. With the encouragement of mentors, PJ continued down the path of EHS and transitioned to a leadership position in manufacturing, adapting as a one-person safety team and creating the "Safety After Dark" program for night shift workers. He advocates for using AI and data analytics to enhance safety and encourages EHS professionals to “find their hook,” have conviction, and adopt new technologies. PJ stresses the importance of relationships, empathy, and prioritizing the well-being of others while sharing insights on overcoming challenges and making a meaningful impact in the safety field.

Ryan Word's journey began as a firefighter in Georgia, where a fire truck accident prompted his shift to working for his family’s construction company. He eventually moved to a major construction corporation in Orlando, climbed the ladder to superintendent, and started taking notice of safety more while working on theme park jobsites. He played a crucial role in developing a safety plan for a BROWZ certification, and decided that would be his next career move. Ryan is now a Safety Manager at FTI and is active in the local ASSP chapter, currently serving as chapter president. He is passionate about discovering individuals' motivations for safety and advocates for human and organizational performance principles. Ryan also contributes to the ASSP Professional Safety Journal, sharing insights on various safety topics.

In today's ever-changing landscape, health and safety professionals need to practice resilience more than ever. For this special 7th anniversary episode, previous guest, Chip Hughes, discusses significant challenges in the industry, focusing on the evolving recognition of mental health's impact on workplaces, and the changes to critical government agencies like NIOSH. Jill and Chip share resilience practices, discuss the importance of resilience for safety professionals, and hit on the need to improve communication of complex health and safety information effectively.

Tune in to hear how the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is shaping the future of occupational health and safety. CEO, Larry Sloan, shares with us AIHA's innovative initiatives, such as their heat stress monitoring app, collaboration with NIOSH on the Total Worker Health program, and AIHA's commitment to research, resource development, and training to elevate industrial hygiene practices. Larry and Jill discuss how AIHA is dedicated to advancing the health and safety of workers everywhere, making a difference through its membership of over 7,000 professionals. Find out how you can get involved in this mission to eliminate workplace injury and illness.AIHALarry Sloan's LinkedInAIHA Heat Stress AppAIHA Total Worker Health Advisory Group

Does your EHS program have a negative reputation within your organization? Are you tired of always just being associated with regulations, instead of being seen as an integral business driver? Welcome back Subena Colligan, a seasoned industrial hygienist and safety professional, who leads EHS professionals towards becoming strategic business partners. Her approach focuses on developing elite EHS programs by aligning them with business outcomes and risk tolerance. She advises on how to engage with C-suite executives by understanding company priorities and building trust. Subena employs an audit-strategize-resolve model to gather data, create strategic plans, and implement quick wins, facilitating transformation over an 18-month period. She also emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and concentrating on controllable factors during periods of change and uncertainty.Subena Colligan's LinkedInErnst & Young EHS Maturity ModelMcKinsey & CompanyThe Changing World Order by Ray DalioWall Street Journal Article: It’s Called a Premortem—and It’s the Most Productive Thing You’ll Do All YearThe 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace