“If you're being paid to do safety, why don’t you call yourself a professional?”


In this episode of The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management, I sit down with Michael Dupont who shares why safety is not just a role, but a mindset. He says that the scope extends from redefining professionalism to building systems that prevent injuries and its impact. Together, we explore the difference between doing safety work and owning it as a profession.


Many people working in safety roles hesitate to call themselves professionals. Why? Because safety is often treated as a temporary role rather than a long-term commitment to excellence.


Michael shares lessons from more than two decades of experience across operations and global safety programs. He explains how real safety performance is not driven only by policies but also by systems and consistency. He also spoke about the Five Five Five approach, a framework built around clear metrics and accountability structures that keep safety efforts from fading over time.


What You’ll Learn:

• Why many safety professionals hesitate to own the title
• How mindset impacts safety performance more than policies
• What the Five Five Five framework looks like in practice
• Why safety programs fail when they are not designed for outcomes
• How to lead without relying only on regulations
• Why small actions define safety culture more than big initiatives
• How to approach site visits with focus and intention
  
  

About the Guest:


Michael Dupont is the Senior Director of Global Health and Safety at Rayonier Advanced Materials, a company focused on high purity cellulose and sustainable materials. With more than twenty years of experience across safety, environmental, and operational leadership roles, he has led safety programs across multiple facilities and global teams. His approach focuses on building systems that are practical, measurable, and centered on people. He is known for translating safety from a compliance function into a leadership responsibility that drives real outcomes.


Episode Resources:

• Michael Dupont on LinkedIn
• Michael Zalle on LinkedIn
• Yellow Bird Website
• The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on Apple Podcasts 
• The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on Spotify
• The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on YouTube
  
  

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