In this episode, Monika and Scott are joined by Mark Rushton, CEO of Comet Analysis, to unpack a big question in safety: are we measuring the right things?

They explore why lagging indicators still dominate, what gets missed when teams focus on “easy” metrics, and how near misses and weak signals can reveal real risk.

In this conversation:

1. The difference between activity metrics and true risk indicators

2. Why traditional safety metrics can give a false sense of control

3. What more mature, proactive measurement actually looks like

Because looking safe and being safe aren’t the same thing.

In this episode, Monika and Scott challenge one of the biggest misconceptions in safety performance: that green dashboards mean everything is working.

Scott shares real-world stories from his career leading global safety programs, including how easy it is for organizations to hit their metrics without actually reducing risk. Together, they unpack the difference between vanity metrics and meaningful indicators, why over-celebrating lagging indicators can backfire, and how strong safety cultures use data to drive real behavior change, not just reporting.

They also explore what mature safety data actually looks like, how leadership accountability shapes outcomes, and how modern technology is helping organizations surface risks faster, engage frontline workers, and make smarter decisions.

If you’ve ever questioned whether your metrics are telling the full story, this conversation offers a candid look at what it really takes to build a proactive, data-driven safety culture.

Exploding safety glasses. A spider that shut down an entire night shift. A “chemical cloud” that turned out to be flour. Even a bounty hunter showing up at a job site.

In this episode of The Safety Brief, Monika, Scott, and special guest Scott Gerard share real (and truly bizarre) workplace incidents from decades of safety and operations experience — and the serious lessons hiding behind them.

From PPE failures and procurement shortcuts to environmental hazards, security gaps, and human assumptions, this episode explores how strange incidents often reveal the biggest blind spots in safety systems. Because sometimes the weirdest moments teach the most important lessons.

In this episode, hosts Monika Todorova and Scott Gaddis sit down with internationally recognized hypnosis trainers Mike Mandel and Chris Thompson to explore the subconscious side of workplace safety. The conversation dives into how autopilot habits, mental shortcuts, and hidden scripts shape behaviour more than rules ever do.

Key themes include:

• Why the brain defaults to shortcuts and unconscious patterns

• The role of energy cycles, rest, and micro‑breaks in maintaining safety and efficiency

• How leaders influence behaviour - consciously and unconsciously through rapport, prestige, and example

• Practical strategies like gamifying mistakes, clarifying vague “management-speak,” and building awareness of daily habits

• The balance between Safety 1 (risk mitigation) and Safety 2 (learning from success) in modern organizations

From neuroscience to leadership influence, this episode uncovers how subconscious programming impacts safety culture and how awareness, rapport, and smarter rhythms can help us work safer and better.

In this episode of The Safety Brief, hosts Trevor Bronson and Scott Gaddis sit down with Rob Spatzer, (AGACNP) and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), to take on one of today’s most complex workplace challenges: the hidden hazard of mental health at work.

Safety teams are used to spotting physical risks. But what about the unseen stress, burnout, and emotional pressures that quietly shape decision-making, productivity, and wellbeing on the job? 

They discuss: 

• Why mental health is one of the hardest hazards to spot 
• The difference between support and therapy, and why peer connection matters 
• How leaders can foster trust and dialogue in environments where stigma exists 
• Practical ways to support wellbeing without “becoming a therapist” 
• The impact of burnout on EHS professionals 

Join the conversation to explore the emotional side of safety and why honest discussions may be your organization’s most powerful risk-reduction tool.

In this episode of The Safety Brief, hosts Trevor Bronson and Scott Gaddis dive into how Gen Z is reshaping the workplace. From tech-savvy expectations to bold demands around mental health, inclusivity, and purpose-driven work, this generation is challenging leaders to rethink safety and culture.

Is Gen Z harder to manage or are they simply pushing us to lead better? Tune in and decide for yourself.

In the first episode of The Safety Brief, hosts Scott and Trevor unpack what AI really means for safety professionals — and whether it makes their roles less important or more impactful.

They debate how AI can both help and harm the work of keeping people safe, what it truly means to be a safety professional in a world of automation, and the big question: do you really have predictive analytics for people, or just data points?

This episode sets the stage for the series with bold questions, fresh perspectives, and a candid look at the future of safety.