The Risk Matrix

In 1983, I encountered a sweet smell that should have been my last breath. At 300,000 parts per million of hydrogen sulfide, the exposure was exponentially beyond fatal levels. Yet here I am.

"Chuck shouldn't be here now. Chuck should be dead... all those workers that went down there to rescue Chuck, they all should be dead... that's all I can say with the amount of H2S they were exposed to."

Fresh out of college, with my oil field knowledge coming from "The Beverly Hillbillies," I made a decision that defied my supervisors – and somehow lived to tell about it.

What happened that day transformed me from an "ignorant college boy" into one of the nation's leading H2S experts. But more importantly, it revealed hard truths about safety culture that the industry needed to hear.

As James recalls: "When I first got into the oil field, this guy that taught the H2S class - everything you did, you gonna die. If you get out the truck, and you're thinking about your momma, and you're not thinking about H2S, you're going to die. You gonna die die, die, die, die. I was so stressed out after 4 hours of that course, I told my wife, I'm going back into the Navy. They're killing people in the oil and gas industry. I felt like I needed a strong drink and Xanax after that H2S course. Scaring people is not the goal... but you do need a healthy fear and awareness of this chemical."

Listen to the full episode to discover how this brush with death revolutionized H2S safety practices.

Cutting-edge podcast on occupational safety and risk management.

Hosted by industry titans:​

JAMES JUNKIN, MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO​

DR. L.F. MARTIN, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, MSP, CHMM

Every Tuesday: Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions.Presented by Veriforce: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs.

DON'T MISS AN EPISODE

Elevate your safety performance. Tune in now.

Today we're diving into a chilling H2S incident in Deerpoint, Texas - "A systematic failure of epic proportions" as described by James Junkin. Tune in now to this episode of The Risk Matrix. Hosted by James Junkin, MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO, Chairman of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board, and Dr. L.F. Martin, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, MSP, CHMM, Member of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board.

Key points:

• 2 workers killed, 35+ injured

• Community forced to shelter in place

• Echoes a 2014 incident: 2 dead, 4 hospitalized

This tragedy underscores a critical message: Process safety is PARAMOUNT.

"Nobody goes to work to die....nobody" - James Junkin

The incident occurred during routine maintenance, likely a line break - a common procedure this time of year. But somewhere, an energy isolation point was missed.

Dr. L.F. Martin notes: "Workers were injured by lack of knowledge and lack of controls"

This incident is a stark reminder that assumptions can be deadly. As Junkin points out, witness statements will likely include phrases like "I thought," "I assumed," "I was told."

Tune in to learn more about this incident and the crucial lessons it teaches us about workplace safety and the dangers of H2S.

Sponsored by Certified Environmentally Responsible Contractor Program (CERC)

Cutting-edge podcast on occupational safety and risk management.

Hosted by industry titans:​

JAMES JUNKIN, MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO​

DR. L.F. MARTIN, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, MSP, CHMM

Every Tuesday: Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions.Presented by Veriforce: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs.

DON'T MISS AN EPISODE

Elevate your safety performance. Tune in now.

Join us for an insightful episode of Risk Matrix featuring guest Tyler Thompson, HSE Advisor and Coordinator at Mariner Gulf. Hosted by James Junkin, MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO, Chairman of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board, and Dr. L.F. Martin, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, MSP, CHMM, Member of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board.

• "When you're on your tools, don't take it for granted. You're going to learn more from being on your tools on how to be safe." - Tyler Thompson

• "There are three things that are going to happen on every single job site: Good Things, Bad Things, and Weird Things." - Tyler Thompson

• "The way the Veriforce platform is, it brings every idea together...and it makes it the best way to train." - Tyler Thompson

Sponsored by SafeDriver by Veriforce

Cutting-edge podcast on occupational safety and risk management.

Hosted by industry titans:​

JAMES JUNKIN, MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO​

DR. L.F. MARTIN, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, MSP, CHMM

Every Tuesday: Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions.Presented by Veriforce: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs.

DON'T MISS AN EPISODE

Elevate your safety performance. Tune in now.

In this critical episode of Risk Matrix, we are discussing active shooter scenarios in the workplace. Hosted by James Junkin, MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO, Chairman of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board, and Dr. L.F. Martin, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, MSP, CHMM, Member of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board.

• Common themes in workplace shootings

• The importance of proactive risk assessment

• Developing comprehensive Emergency Action Plans

• Mental health awareness and violence prevention training

• Critical response strategies: Evacuate, Hide, Fight

These experts emphasize the necessity of tailored safety protocols, highlighting that "people do not rise to the situation, they descend to their training." Sponsored by Xero

Cutting-edge podcast on occupational safety and risk management.

Hosted by industry titans:​

JAMES JUNKIN, MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO​

DR. L.F. MARTIN, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, MSP, CHMM

Every Tuesday: Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions.Presented by Veriforce: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs.

DON'T MISS AN EPISODE

Elevate your safety performance. Tune in now.

The Risk Matrix is your premier destination for insightful discussions on risk management and health and safety, with captivating topics, insightful strategies, and more. Hosted by James Junkin MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO Chief Executive Officer at Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, Veriforce Master Trainer, and Chairman of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board and Dr. L.F. Martin, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, CHMM, a Technical Expert in Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Risk, Auditing/Inspection, and ESG.

The Risk Matrix is your premier destination for insightful discussions on risk management and health and safety, with captivating topics, insightful strategies, and more. Hosted by James Junkin MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO Chief Executive Officer at Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, Veriforce Master Trainer, and Chairman of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board and Dr. L.F. Martin, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, CHMM, a Technical Expert in Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Risk, Auditing/Inspection, and ESG.

The Risk Matrix is your premier destination for insightful discussions on risk management and health and safety, with captivating topics, insightful strategies, and more. Hosted by James Junkin MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO Chief Executive Officer at Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, Veriforce Master Trainer, and Chairman of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board and Dr. L.F. Martin, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, CHMM, a Technical Expert in Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Risk, Auditing/Inspection, and ESG.

The Risk Matrix is your premier destination for insightful discussions on risk management and health and safety, with captivating topics, insightful strategies, and more. Hosted by James Junkin MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO Chief Executive Officer at Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, Veriforce Master Trainer, and Chairman of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board and Dr. L.F. Martin, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, CHMM, a Technical Expert in Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Risk, Auditing/Inspection, and ESG.

The Risk Matrix is your premier destination for insightful discussions on risk management and health and safety, with captivating topics, insightful strategies, and more. Hosted by James Junkin MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO Chief Executive Officer at Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, Veriforce Master Trainer, and Chairman of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board and Dr. L.F. Martin, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, CHMM, a Technical Expert in Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Risk, Auditing/Inspection, and ESG.

The Risk Matrix is your premier destination for insightful discussions on risk management and health and safety, with captivating topics, insightful strategies, and more. Hosted by James Junkin MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO Chief Executive Officer at Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, Veriforce Master Trainer, and Chairman of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board and Dr. L.F. Martin, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, CHMM, a Technical Expert in Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Risk, Auditing/Inspection, and ESG.