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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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_outlineJustin Ganschow, Business Development Manager for Caterpillar Safety Services joins Libby for today’s episode. Justin has been in the industry for almost 20 years, and, as a result, has a wealth of stories and presentations to offer. In this episode, he shares a story about the human side of safety and about being an intentional safety leader.
Episode Highlights:
- Several years ago, Justin was working with a company that, after suffering a pretty traumatic injury involving six of their employees, embarked on a safety culture improvement journey with him
- Part of the journey was developing cross functional teams to build meaningful safety activities that govern how everybody worked in the field, shop, and office
- Many of the field workers were not excited about taking part in these
- RJ was one field worker who had grown up in the industry, and who began sharing his ideas about safety, gaining the attention and support of his colleagues and leaders alike.
- Eventually, RJ decided to go back to school and get a degree in safety because he was now in a culture that supported him and his peers, and really empowered them to make the changes needed to take ownership of safety
- RJ’s best friend and longtime colleague, Josh, didn’t really support RJ’s decision to do this
- Years later, though, Justin was pleasantly surprised to see that Josh paid his own way to support RJ as he presented at an executive safety leadership summit in a different city - Josh now saw RJ as his ally and advocate within the company
- The lesson that Justin feels can be learned from this is that, while safety is often viewed as something that needs to be enforced by ‘safety cops’, it doesn't have to be that way. It can be a lot more effective when we have courageous safety leaders.
- RJ cared so deeply that he changed his life to have the backs of the men and women that worked around him - a lesson that we can all take to heart
Toolbox Talk Discussion Questions:
- In this episode Justin shares about RJ who was initially reluctant to participate in the meetings, but later became really involved in safety trainings. How can we reach those who are initially resistant to participate?
- How can this story encourage us to engage in cross-department safety discussions?
- Does anyone have a story about how their safety mindset has changed over their career?
Quotes:
“I've had the distinct privilege of working with a lot of companies and different industries over the years to improve safety, culture and leadership abilities.”
“After suffering a pretty traumatic injury that injured six of their employees, this organization embarked on a safety culture improvement journey with us.”
“RJ… had seen safety programs come and go in the past, but he decided he would try it. And throughout the week, he kept leaning in and leaning in and speaking up, giving us his ideas about how to develop this new safety process for safety training.”
“I saw him come alive and realize that his voice mattered. And his ideas were then adopted by his peers. They were cheered on by leadership.”
“It was about a year later that I got a phone call from RJ. And he shared with me that he decided he was going to go back to school and get a degree in safety.”
“That was amazing to me that someone who had spent their whole career in the trades, was going to, midlife, go back to school to support the people that they work with every day.”
“So many times safety is viewed as something that needs to be enforced… it can be a lot more effective when we have courageous safety leaders.”
“This is somebody he now saw as his ally, as his advocate, within the company.”
“I hope that's a lesson that all of us can take to heart when we show up on the job site. Are you there for policies and procedures? Are you there for your people?”
“At the end of the day, safety is about people, it's about the 24/7. Are we living it? Are we really owning it?”
“Safety leadership is about doing, it's about being proactive, and it's about people. It's about caring.”
Links:
National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association website