When we think about industrial safety, we often picture hard hats, steel-toed boots, and rigid protocols, but the future of safety isn't just physical—it’s psychological. In this episode, Dr. Emily J. Haas, Associate Director for Science at CDC/NIOSH’s Division of Safety Research, shares how to turn safety research into practical, real-world changes in frontline behavior.

About the Guest

Dr. Emily J. Haas is the Associate Director for Science at CDC/NIOSH’s Division of Safety Research and a leading voice in implementation science. Her pioneering work turning safety research into practical results in the mining industry has earned her the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) and the Service to America Medal. She is also the editor of the Mine Safety and Health Handbook: Approaches from the Field.

Key Takeaways:

🧠 The Psychology of Safety

The future of industrial safety relies on implementation and behavioral science to turn safety research into real changes in frontline behavior rather than just enforcing rules.

👁️ Making Invisible Risks Visible

Showing workers real-time data regarding invisible dangers, like dust exposure, changes their behavior faster and more effectively than a thousand traditional safety lectures.

🤖 Navigating the AI Hype

While AI and predictive analytics have massive potential to modernize safety systems, leaders must understand where the technology is genuinely improving outcomes and where it is still overhyped.

🤝 Building Trust in New Technology

There is a crucial difference between simply having a safety system and having a workforce that actually trusts it. Rolling out new safety tech requires prioritizing worker trust, fairness, and well-being to avoid creating resistance or anxiety.

📚 Resources & Contact

To dive deeper into Dr. Haas's research on implementation science, trust, and safety culture, explore the following resources:

* Service to America Medal Honoree: Emily Joy Haas, Ph.D.

* PECASE Award Feature: Emily Haas Awarded PECASE

* Research on Safety in Coal vs. Metal Mines: Read the study

* Research on Real-Time Dust Exposure: Read the study

* Research on Trust and Technology Integration: Read the study

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