Welcome back to The Safety Knights Podcast — the roundtable for protectors of the industry.

In this episode, we sit down with Benjamin Gratto for a straight-up conversation about safety, leadership, culture, and what actually makes a program work when the pace is high and the pressure is real.

From serving in the Marines…to stepping into the world of EHS…to realizing that safety isn’t just about rules — it’s about people—Benjamin’s story is a reminder that no one chooses safety… safety chooses you.

🔥 What we cover in this episode:

• How Benjamin transitioned from the Marines into safety

• Why relationships and soft skills matter as much as technical knowledge

• How empathy and communication can make or break a safety program

• How to build trust with operations and move past “safety cop” stereotypes

• Balancing compliance with compassion without losing credibility

• Why the human element is the difference-maker in every incident, near miss, and decision

• How to turn hard moments into lessons that strengthen culture

• Practical advice for safety pros who are trying to influence without authority

🔥 Most powerful message in this episode:

“Safety starts with understanding people, not just processes.”

Every week, we sit down with safety leaders to explore the mindset, battle scars, and breakthroughs shaping the EHS profession.

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⚙️ About the Safety Knights Podcast

Every week, we sit down with safety leaders to explore the mindset, frameworks, battle scars, and breakthroughs shaping the EHS profession.