Thinking About Families Following Catastrophic Injuries with Bill Duguay
NSSGA Podcast
Bill Duguay brings his vast amount of industry experience back to the podcast today to discuss the importance of workplace safety, accident prevention, and the implementation of stringent safety protocols. Bill, who now advises leadership teams on running safety-oriented businesses, shares a personal and poignant story about a lockout/tagout procedure gone wrong, an incident that nearly cost his father his life, and that had a profound impact upon his family. Throughout the episode, he stresses the human element of workplace safety, advocating that the protection of workers extends...
info_outline
Do as I Say and Do with Aaron Witt
NSSGA Podcast
In a key Safety Shorts episode, Aaron Witt, CEO of Build Witt, shares crucial safety insights from his early construction days. Starting at 18 with no prior experience, Witt learned the hard way that following experienced workers without question doesn't guarantee safety. His narrative highlights the danger of neglecting safety protocols, especially around trenches, and the life-saving importance of adhering to guidelines. The discussion emphasizes the need for questioning, the courage to challenge unsafe practices, and the shared responsibility in promoting a safe work environment....
info_outline
Total Worker Health with Josh Ierna
NSSGA Podcast
Josh Ierna, Safety Manager at Tilcon Connecticut, joins Libby today to delve into the transformative journey of Total Worker Health and its profound impact on organizational wellbeing. Josh highlights the evolution of Total Worker Health, addressing multifaceted issues such as mental wellness, opioid overdose prevention, and suicide awareness, through proactive engagement with employees, fostering a culture of support and empowerment. Throughout the discussion, Josh elaborates on Tilcon Connecticut's journey, from raising awareness through dedicated training sessions to implementing...
info_outline
Why We Do Training with DJ Schmutz
NSSGA Podcast
This week, Libby reunites with DJ Schmutz, Director of Operations with MSHA Safety Services, as he delivers a compelling narrative that transcends workplace boundaries to underscore the real-world significance of safety training. DJ's harrowing personal experience from a year and a half ago vividly illustrates the importance of being prepared for emergencies, as his son's seizure becomes a poignant reminder that safety skills can be a lifeline in unexpected situations. As you will hear, this episode not only emphasizes the critical need for maintaining composure and relying on training in...
info_outline
Critical Incident Response with Cal Beyer
NSSGA Podcast
Welcome to another impactful episode of Safety Shorts with your host, Libby Pritchard. In this episode, Libby welcomes back a special guest, Cal Beyer, Vice President of Risk, Safety, and Mental Well-Being at ethOs, who brings with him his extensive experience and knowledge in addressing mental health and critical incident response in the workplace. Today, he shares a pivotal moment when he realized the importance of psychological first aid and critical incident response, while also offering practical strategies that can transform the way organizations support their employees through...
info_outline
Have a Plan, Get Home Safe with Bill Duguay
NSSGA Podcast
With the holidays right around the corner, Libby brings us this special installment of Safety Shorts that is both timely and timeless. Today, the spotlight is on Bill Duguay, an industry veteran with an impressive 40+ years of experience in constructing roads and bridges across the nation. Beyond his career in construction, Bill now collaborates closely with leadership teams, aiding them in the pursuit of business excellence. The central theme of this episode revolves around a powerful safety narrative, as Bill shares a personal account that serves as an unwavering reminder of the grave...
info_outline
The Importance of Fall Protection by Jennifer Miles
NSSGA Podcast
In another compelling episode of Safety Shorts, host Libby Pritchard introduces a special guest, Jennifer Miles, a seasoned safety professional with 16 years of expertise currently affiliated with Sales Solutions. Jennifer's passion for safety and her dedication to saving lives serve as a true source of inspiration. In this episode, the focus delves deeply into the critical topic of fall protection when working at heights, a subject that has witnessed a concerning increase in fatalities within the industry this year. Join Libby and Jennifer in this enlightening episode to help make a positive...
info_outline
Epilepsy Awareness with Jason Epstein
NSSGA Podcast
Welcome back to another impactful episode of Safety Shorts, where Libby welcomes Jason Epstein, NSSGA's Director of Membership, to delve into the significance of Epilepsy Awareness Month and explore Jason's own personal journey living with epilepsy. In this engaging conversation, they discuss the importance of dispelling myths about epilepsy, offer practical tips for assisting someone having a seizure, and highlight the broader impact of raising awareness about this neurological condition. As you listen in today, you are encouraged to remember that your knowledge can make a difference in...
info_outline
Who is Responsible for Your Safety?
NSSGA Podcast
In yet another compelling episode of Safety Shorts, Libby welcomes DJ Schmutz, an advocate from MSHA Safety Services, to highlight the paramount importance of fostering a strong workplace safety culture and encourage individuals to assert their Stop Work Authority in hazardous situations. DJ's gripping personal story vividly illustrates the human inclination to yield to external pressures, emphasizing that safety ultimately rests in one's own hands. This episode underscores the significance of personal responsibility in safety, the role of leadership in shaping a safety-oriented environment,...
info_outline
Workplace Accident and Lessons Learned with Travis Wilson
NSSGA Podcast
Travis Wilson, a former member of the 82nd Airborne, joins Libby on the podcast this week. As an army veteran with extensive experience in safety and health, Travis brings his wealth of knowledge in hazardous waste management, chemical safety, and industrial hygiene to share a cautionary tale that highlights the importance of safety basics and staying vigilant in the face of potential hazards. As you will, Travis’ story serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of adhering to safety protocols, maintaining effective communication, and understanding the importance of emergency...
info_outlineJoining Libby today is Jay Canada, VP of Safety and HR at Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel In this episode, Jay shares details about his company’s Good Catch program, including its journey all the way from its origins up to the current day, and the remarkably positive impact it continues to have.
Episode Highlights:
- While the Good Catch program officially started in 2009, it really has its roots in a 2007 presentation by Ron Lehmann regarding culture, skill sets, and mindsets
- This presentation got Jay and others at Pine Bluff thinking about their culture, and they decided to become more proactive about safety
- After consulting with Cajun Industries about their Good Catch program, Pine Bluff decided to start their own
- Over the years the program has gone through an evolution regarding why they do what they do, and how to do that better
- Any idea which notes how things can be safer where their employees are working everyday is deemed a ‘Good Catch’
- They have been doing this for over 10 years and are committed to continuing it
- In 2021 alone, they harvested 946 good catches, many of which dealt with potential serious injuries or fatalities
- By focusing on the prevention and the proactive side in the Good Catch program, they have very positively affected incidents and events
- They now get together every six months, and instead of having a safety meeting, they have a culture meeting where they talk about good catches more and celebrate those, recognizing people and giving them awards and recognition for the good catches that they've submitted
- They still talk about incidents as well, of course, but they have fewer to talk about now
- Like any safety journey, the Good Catch journey never ends
- Jay definitely encourages others to take consider implementing some kind of Good Catch program or process
- Their Good Catch program is forward thinking, it’s looking before something happens; even more than that, it is a mindset, a part of their culture, and it is empowering to employees to find those things that might be unsafe for their worksite
Toolbox Talk Discussion Questions:
- At Pine Bluff Facility, they look at their safety culture and shift the focus to proactivity. What are your thoughts on this?
- How can we work to build this type of mindset among ourselves?
- Does anyone have a good catch that they’d like to share with the group?
Quotes:
“How do we think about safety? And how do we think about our culture? And how do we move into people's mindsets? And how do we look at the decisions that our team members make when they are at work?”
“But how do we get upstream? How do we become more proactive and get into the equation of the decisions they're making when that incident happens? And so we decided to think about Good Catch.”
“It's gone through an evolution, it's gone through many changes.”
“Tell us what your ideas are, and tell us how this thing can be safer where you're working every day.”
“It'll evolve and change, but it's something we believe we're going to do for a very long time.”
“We have not had a lost time at a quarry since April 20, of 2016, and we have greatly reduced our ‘recordables’ or ‘reportables’.”
“It's really a mindset.”
Links:
National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association website