Illusion of Safety

Yes, safety philosophy is a thing. Maybe not something people get to do often, but there are benefits to exploring some of the more...fuzzy...aspects of safety and human behavior. The trick is to turn those discussions into actionable items that will make a difference in peoples' lives. Talking about safety philosophically can enhance creativity and bring new ideas to the forefront, but it has to be more than just an exercise. Expand your mind and find ways to bring those discussions to the workplace to make real change!

Volunteering to give your time and energy to an organization, especially in the safety profession, is a great way to contribute to the industry and even get some networking opportunities that can advance your career. But like all things, there are good ways to do it and not-so-good ways. The steps to be a good volunteer are fairly straightforward: - Show up: If you say you're going to be at a meeting, be there! Ghosting isn't cool, especially since people are relying on you! - Bring a great attitude: Life gets busy and volunteering can be hard. But showing up with a great attitude can turn that frown upside down and even help others who might be having a tough time, too. - Be willing to learn: As we've said in previous episodes, no one likes a know-it-all. With a little bit of humility and a desire to learn, you'll be more open to new experiences. That's it! Go out there and make a difference! Also, this video was referenced by Gabe in the episode. It's more about procrastination, but many good lessons can be applied to volunteering, too. https://youtu.be/arj7oStGLkU?si=baz5v3K6oJFXRh5g  

As the great philosopher Nelly once said, "It's getting hot in herre" And by "herre" we're pretty sure he meant everywhere. More workers are being exposed to high-heat conditions. We've figured out how to cool machines and buildings but cooling of our most valuable assets--the humans doing the work--is still a challenge. That's what Anna Albright is working to fix through her company, Clema. Anna gives us a glimpse into her personal mission to help workers who need to work in these conditions, and why the issue can't just be solved by telling workers to drink more water or take a break. It'll take a multi-faceted approach, from worker education, to technological advances in hardware, to management support. Anna is up for the challenge! To learn more about Clema, visit www.clemacooling.com.

It was a packed schedule at the National Safety Council Congress and and Expo in Indianapolis this year but we still got a chance to chat with Holly Burgess and Randy Milliron. If you've ever wondered what it's like to attend a conference of this scale as both an attendee AND an exhibitor, the conversations with Holly and Randy should give you an idea. After you get their tips on how to be a good conference attendee, you'll be a safety conference pro in no time!

Safety can be an all-consuming job to the point that it can become the safety pro's only identity--to their coworkers, to their managers, and even to themselves. This is a gentle reminder that all of us, including Allison, Josh, and Gabe, have lives outside of the safety profession and we'll go so far as to say that it's even important for us to have lives outside of safety. It makes us better safety professionals and better people overall. Let's pull back the curtain and get a peek at the lives of safety pros when they're not doing the safety thing!

So you've worked really hard to build up a professional network because everyone said it was necessary, but now what do you do with it? That's the question we're pondering with Russell Duren. Russell walks us through how to cultivate your professional network and the nuances of tapping into that network for help. There are some great ways to do it, and definitely some things to avoid. Ultimately, it's about giving and being willing to help others, something that safety professionals know a lot about.

We're amazed at the work that people continue to do to help workers do their job safely, with workwear and personal protective equipment that works as hard as they do. That's why we have Svetlana Blancher, founder of Rugged Peach Workwear, to talk about a very special group of workers she's here to help: pregnant women. Svetlana shares how her own (unsuccessful) search for workwear while she was pregnant led to her creating a line of high-visibility clothing that is tailored for expectant moms. As Svetlana mentions, they may be a small percentage of the workforce, but that small percentage still comes out to a big number...and they need properly fitting PPE, too! Check it out at ruggedpeach.com! Also visit Build-Her.org, a group that Svetlana is partnering with to advocate for women in construction and other trades!

Often we think of firefighters and rescue personnel as the ones who help keep the public safe, but who helps them do their work safely? That's where safety pros like David Wenzel come in! With over 25 years in safety, David brings a high degree of expertise and a deep level of care and concern for the brave men and women in the fire service. He is fully immersed in the firefighter culture, which is important when he's helping to improve the work for everyone before, during, and after those calls. Even though fire safety has it's own unique culture, David clues us in on some safety lessons and practices that can apply to any industry, especially when working with teams of people.

Let's rock n' roll...it's part 2 of our LIVE, in-person recording at the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Safety 2026 conference in Anaheim, CA! We welcome Valerie Stakes, Herb Osborne (first-time attendee!) and Christina Roll to talk about expo hall strategies, making connections, and the fun/weird experiences of ASSP conferences that we've come to know and love! Again, a huge "thank you" to our guests and the ASSP events team for helping us put together this unique experience to connect with one another in-person and on location!

We had a unique chance to all record together in person at the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Safety 2026 conference in Anaheim, CA and it was a blast! On part 1 of this 2-part series we have Pam Walaski and Carly Baez sharing some background info on their safety conference experiences in the past and what makes the event so special for them. From connecting with familiar friends that they may not have seen for years to helping new safety professionals get connected, Pam and Carly share what makes each professional development conference special for them! Be sure to tune in for Part 2!