The Occupational Safety Leadership Podcast

This episode focuses on how hospitals and healthcare facilities respond when a patient arrives after exposure to hazardous materials. Guest Thomas Price walks through real-world procedures for handling these incidents — including decontamination, triage zones, and coordination between transport teams and hospital response staff.

Key Takeaways & Procedures:

-Gross decontamination at the spill site — Before the patient enters t...

• NFPA 70 Overview The episode centers on NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code) and its critical role in preventing electrical hazards in workplaces. Dr. Hinton explains how proper training ensures compliance and reduces risk of shock, arc flash, and fire.

• Training Gaps & Challenges Many organizations provide only minimal electrical safety tra...

• Hazards vs. Risks

  • Hazard: Anything with the potential to cause harm (chemicals, machinery, electricity, noise, etc.).

  • Risk: The probability that harm will occur, combined with the severity of the outcome.

  • Example: A ladder is a hazard; the risk depends on how it’s used (height, stability, training).

• Risk Assessment Frameworks

  • Tools like the risk matrix (likelihood × severity) help quantify risks.

  • Le...

The episode explores how personal growth and professional development directly influence workplace safety outcomes. It argues that safety leadership isn’t just about compliance—it’s about cultivating individuals who are resilient, self-aware, and proactive.

• Self-Awareness & Reflection: Employees who invest in personal development (goal setting, self-assessment, continuous learning) are more ...

This episode highlights the connection between structured professional development and stronger safety performance. It argues that investing in employees’ careers isn’t just about advancement—it directly improves hazard awareness, decision-making, and leadership in safety-critical environments.

• Skill Building for Safety: Technical training, certifications, and ongoing education sharpen employees...

• Learning from Incidents: A growth mindset reframes mistakes and near-misses as opportunities to learn rather than failures to hide.

• Adaptability: Workers and leaders who embrace growth are more open to new safety procedures, technologies, and evolving standards.

• Resilience: Growth-oriented employees bounce back from setbacks, maintaining focus on safe practices even under pressure.

• Leadership Role: Supervi...

• Common Fears in Safety: Workers may fear retaliation, being labeled as “difficult,” or slowing production when raising safety concerns.

• Leadership Responsibility: Leaders must acknowledge these fears and actively create an environment where speaking up is safe and encouraged.

• Courage as a Skill: Facing fears isn’t innate—it can be developed through training, role modeling, and reinforcement.

• Psychological ...

• Ego as a Barrier: Leaders or workers who let ego drive decisions may dismiss concerns, ignore feedback, or resist change.

• Impact on Communication: Ego can silence frontline employees who fear being shut down, reducing hazard reporting.

• Humility in Leadership: Strong safety leaders admit mistakes, listen actively, and prioritize safety over personal pride.

• Team Dynamics: Ego-driven behavior erodes trust, wh...

• Empowerment over compliance: Dr. Ayers emphasizes that safety leadership isn’t just about enforcing rules—it’s about enabling employees to take ownership of hazard correction. When workers feel empowered, hazards are addressed faster and more effectively.

• Trust and accountability: Allowing employees to correct hazards demonstrates trust in their judgment. This builds accountability and reinforces...

• Frontline Empowerment: The episode emphasizes that employees closest to the work are often the first to spot hazards. Giving them authority to act immediately—rather than waiting for management—creates safer workplaces.

• Psychological Safety: Leaders must foster an environment where workers feel confident to speak up and intervene without fear of reprisal.

• Ownership of Safety: Empowerment shifts safety from bein...