Combustible Dust in the Workplace What Weve Learned and Whats Changing with James Burke

Combustible dust remains a major—but often overlooked—industrial hazard. In this episode, we break down what combustible dust is, why deadly explosions continue to occur, and what's changing in regulations and industry best practices. We also explore practical steps organizations can take right now to strengthen prevention, improve training, and build a safer workplace. Perfect for safety leaders, supervisors, risk managers, and anyone responsible for protecting workers and preventing catastrophic incidents.

Practical winter safety strategies for outdoor workers and supervisors, informed by the field experience of Maine's Baxter State Park rangers. Rob Tice - Baxter State Park District Ranger. He began his career in Baxter State Park in 2001 and was hired as the Alpine Ranger spending nearly a decade of winters at Chimney Pond, in a remote cabin, 15 miles from his truck. Conducting search and rescue, Avalanche, education and ice climbing. Rob is a law-enforcement supervisor and enjoys spending time in the park to recreate and has been participating in search and rescue for 33 years. Rob has had the opportunity to climb and mountaineer on Mount Rainier, Denali and in the Canadian Rockies. Matt McGuire - Chief Ranger (Director of Operations).   Matt worked 26 years for Maine Stare Parks as a Ranger and Supervisor before joining Baxter in August of 2024. He oversees law enforcement, campgrounds, trails, and maintenance & transportation divisions, as well as wild land fire, emergency medicine, and Search and Rescue operations. Matt has been climbing in the park for more than 20 years, with the majority of that time being in the winter. He is a licensed EMT and MASAR certified Search Team Member and Technical Rope Rescue Team Member.

In today's competitive landscape, workplace safety isn't just about compliance – it's a critical driver of success, deeply intertwined with an organization's culture and leadership.   This episode unwraps two case studies: the remarkable journey of WD-40, guided by a CEO whose unwavering dedication to employee well-being has not only minimized incidents but also fueled innovation and profitability.  Contrast this with the ongoing challenges at Boeing.  Once a titan of engineering excellence, the aerospace giant continues to face significant scrutiny and setbacks due to a perceived erosion of its safety culture. Joined by Randy Klatt, former director of Loss Control at MEMIC, who now sits on the Advisory Board for the Foundation for Aviation Safety - we'll analyze how principles of strong safety leadership, from transparent communication to empowering frontline workers, can either elevate a company to new heights or bring it to its knees. Whether you're a CEO, a safety professional, or simply interested in the dynamics of organizational success, this podcast will illuminate why safety is, without a doubt, the ultimate dividend.

On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast I am joined by MEMIC safety consultant Rose Wess and former WGME 13 news anchor Kim Block to talk about the critical importance of slip, trip, and fall prevention. Learn how these accidents happen, the devastating impact they can have, and practical strategies to keep yourself safe at work and home.

Reports of violence in the workplace have escalated over the last 10 to 20 years, despite laws and rules that have been put in place to prevent these situations from happening. So, as a business owner, supervisor or manager, what can you do? Are you prepared to manage a situation once it starts? Better yet, do you know the warning signs and have a plan to deescalate the situation before it starts? Today on the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, Command Master Sergeant, United States Army Retired Bart Womack, author of the book, Embedded Enemy, and screenplay for the feature film of the same name, joins me to discuss the issue of workplace violence using his experience, expertise and knowledge from a survivor's perspective on insider threats. https://www.bartwomack.com/

Workplace safety isn't just about compliance; it's a reflection of leadership and a commitment to employee well-being. Leadership in the workplace plays a crucial role in fostering a culture of safety using leading indicators to identify problem areas as well as leadership strategies that support safety as the balancing point between productivity and quality.  Today on the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, Shawn Galloway, CEO of the global consultant agency, ProActSafety joins me to discuss his insights on how business leaders can create and nurture a safer workplace through targeted leadership and the strategic use of leading indicators. Links: Home - Shawn Galloway, Speaker, Author, Consultant ProAct Safety - Experts in Behavioral Safety Safety Culture Excellence® on Apple Music

In this episode, we explore the fascinating realm of AI (artificial intelligence) with Lillith Chute, senior software engineer here at MEMIC. We will go from its basic concepts to its potential for revolutionizing industries.  Join us as we navigate the exciting and complex world of AI, exploring its potential, its limitations, and its impact on our future.

Every summer, MEMIC interns from across all departments dip their toes into the world of safety culture and Workers' Compensation insurance by working alongside industry professionals, both in the field and around the office. Join me as I chat with Isaac, our Loss Control intern, and Caitlin, our Communications intern.

Having the right hiring practices is critical for building an effective, productive, and safe team that will attract other quality candidates. In this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I speak with Mark Walker and Luck Slabaugh of Safer Hire about using pre-hire surveys to identify applicants who best fit your company's needs and culture.

Slip and fall exposures exist everywhere and can easily be overlooked in the workplace until someone is injured.  Today on the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I have Tim McCarty, MSc, Senior Vice President – Safety & Risk Consulting for Clark Insurance, A Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company. Tim has expertise in many fields within the realm of safety, but one that he and I have collaborated on is slip and fall prevention and we are going to delve into the problem of slips and falls, why they happen, and talk about ways to prevent them. Episode Links: https://www.nsc.org/ https://nfsi.org/ https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/fy07_sh-16625-07_slipstripsfalls.ppt https://www.osha.com/blog/slips-trips-falls-prevention https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2013-100/pdfs/2013-100.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011-123/pdfs/2011-123.pdf https://memic.com/workplace-safety/resource-library/slip-trip-fall