In this episode of Safety on the Edge, host Corrie Pitzer sits down with David Myers (Vice President of Safety & Training, Southern Company) and Chris Hutzler (Director of Safety & Health, Southern Company Services)

Southern Company was recently honored with the Safety on the Edge Excellence Award for their pioneering approach to safety—an award voted on by peers across industries. David and Chris share what the recognition means to them, how their leadership team drives cultural change, and the bold steps they’ve taken to move beyond traditional compliance-based safety.

Key themes in this conversation include:

• Why focusing only on injury rates misses the bigger picture
• The critical role of leadership in shaping culture and trust
• How Southern Company stopped outdated practices and doubled down on frontline engagement
• Lessons learned from serious injury and fatality (SIF) prevention efforts
• Preparing for the future: new technologies, a changing workforce, and the importance of continuous learning

This episode is an inspiring look at how one of the largest utilities in the U.S. is rethinking safety, engaging its people, and setting a new standard for the industry.