The Safety Guru

"It's the buy-in. All the safety systems are there, but they are worth nothing without the buy-in." Theo Venter, the only known survivor of a 22,000-volt electric shock, joins the podcast this week to share his powerful story and eye-opening message highlighting the inevitable dangers of shortcuts in the workplace. Tune in as Theo describes the psychological aspects that contribute to serious injuries and fatalities and unpacks actionable strategies for mitigating risk and powering up personal accountability and safety ownership in the workplace.

About the Guest:

Theo Venter is the only known survivor of a 22,000-volt electrical shock through the heart and shares his amazing story with audiences across the globe. When he removed his insulated gloves while working on a damaged transmission pole, he made a decision that would impact himself and his family in ways he couldn’t have imagined. That although taking risks is normal and inherent in every human being, you could potentially be the next fatality at your workplace. That’s why it’s important to talk about it and bring it out in the open. By allowing Theo to share his story, people are impacted in a way that they are reminded of what can go horribly wrong when they take a shortcut.

For more information: https://www.theoventer.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're excited to have Tom Corfield join the podcast this week to share his inspiring and heartfelt story of lessons he's learned in overcoming adversity and prioritizing safety. At the age of 17, Tom was working as an apprentice in construction when he was involved in a workplace incident that left him blind. In this deeply moving episode, he shares the impact the incident had on his loved ones and his mental health. Tom's message is sure to motivate you to build a safety foundation based on effectively navigating production pressure, leading with vulnerability, and prioritizing safety for frontline workers who are new within an organization. Tune in!

About the Guest:

Tom Corfield suffered a workplace accident 15 years ago where he lost sight in his left eye. He was just 17 when cement splashed back in his face, covering his eyes leaving him blind. Tom raises the key message that such a small incident had a huge impact on himself, his family, and his colleagues. It strengthens the message that managing health and safety, no matter how trivial it may seem, is so important.

For more information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-corfield-803039180 or [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie Curreri, retired Air Force F16 pilot and American Airlines Airbus 320 Captain as well as founder and developer of Project Wingman, makes a special appearance on The Safety Guru this week! With his keen insight and extensive research, Charlie has discovered the great need for peer-to-peer hotlines in the aviation industry and has taken action by creating and continuing to develop Project Wingman into a safe place for pilots to seek necessary help. Don't miss this insightful journey with Charlie as he navigates us through an aviation case study emphasizing the importance of creating a just culture and the profound impact that supportive peer assistance programs continue to have on the aviation industry. Tune in and prepare for take-off!

About the Guest:

CA Charlie Curreri is a retired American Airlines Airbus 320 Captain and a retired Air Force, combat decorated F16 pilot. He was founder and developer of Project Wingman, a pilot peer support program at American Airlines and the Allied Pilots Association in 2011. He is a licensed professional counselor in the State of Texas, a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP) and a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). In addition, he is Director of the Center for Aviation Mental Health (CAMH) and Chairman of the International Pilot Peer Assist Coalition (IPPAC).

For more information: https://c4amh.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Steven Kirby joins The Safety Guru to share his inspiring journey of resilience, hope, and purpose. Steven was involved in a workplace incident in 2011 that deeply affected him both physically and mentally. In our conversation, Steven shares his extraordinary story and reveals how he has transformed his personal life-changing events into a lifelong mission to inspire others. His message will undoubtedly prompt you to reflect on how to motivate individuals and organizations toward safer practices. Tune in to hear Steven's powerful story about safety bonuses leading to life-changing events.

About the Guest:

Steven Kirby is a former demolition/construction contractor with over twenty years of site experience. In 2011, he was involved in an accident at work which caused him to suffer both physically and mentally. In 2019, he set up SKLifeCoachUK Ltd. He now uses the tools, techniques, and knowledge that got him through his darkest times to coach individuals who are struggling. He also shares his story with companies to improve safety culture and mental health awareness.

For more information: https://www.sklifecoachuk.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Howe, motivational speaker and Safety Director at Emil Anderson Group, joins The Safety Guru this week to share his powerful story with us. He suffered a serious injury at work in 2006 when an excavator bucket struck him through his abdomen. Steve shares insights surrounding motivations behind shortcuts, the crucial influence that supervisors possess in truly promoting a safe culture, and practical ways for safety leaders to make safety simple. Drawing from his personal journey and rich experiences, Steve makes safety concepts relatable and easy to understand through emphasizing that safety should remain everyone’s responsibility. Tune in to learn, be inspired, and make safety simple with Steve Howe.

About the Guest:

With over 18 years in the construction industry, Steve Howe understands the daily hazards faced by workers and why safety is often viewed as an impedance. In the spring of 2006, while working as a young tree faller on the Sea to Sky Highway project in British Columbia, Steve suffered an unimaginable injury. Despite the feeling that something wasn’t right that morning, Steve pushed forward – as many would – to get the job done. Unfortunately for Steve, this decision - to ignore his gut - resulted in being struck by an excavator bucket through his abdomen and being dragged for several feet. It was the beginning of a drastically altered life. Living through 83 surgeries, 90 Days in a Coma and over 500 days in a hospital allowed Steve the opportunity to reflect on his accident and he developed a passion to share his story with others. His message of survival, emphasizing the importance of working safety not just for yourself but others around you, has been heard all around the world.

For more information: https://keynotespeakerscanada.ca/speaker/steve-howe/ and https://safetystevehowe.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we're very excited to feature Anna Feringa, expert in leadership and Mental Health and best practices in workplace Mental Health, on the podcast this week. "No one can be 100% safe in any workplace if they're not healthy both mind and body." When an individual is not well in their mind, they're more inclined to make poor decisions resulting in more physical injuries and human error in the workplace. Tune in as Anna emphasizes the crucial link between mental health, psychosocial risks, and workplace safety. Discover insightful strategies for mitigating these risks within your organization to reduce injury and cultivate a positive workplace culture.

About the Guest:

Anna Feringa is an award-winning International Speaker, Author, Trainer and Workplace Mental Health Consultant. She is a leading expert in topics including Psychosocial Health & Safety, Leadership Capability, Injury Management and best practice workplace Mental Health. As a respected member of global HSE, Anna was recently recognized as a Global Top 10 Health and Safety Influencer, 2020 and voted LinkedIn Top Voice for Workplace Mental Health in 2022. With over 18-years’ consulting experience, Anna supports employers by helping them see that embracing Mental Health in the workplace can help prevent injury and drive a great culture. She helps Australian businesses transition from fearful and confused to confident and responsive when faced with Mental Health challenges in the workplace.

For more information: www.annaferinga.com.au or https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaferinga/.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Culture comes from the top and is enacted from the bottom." Dr. David Hofmann has been researching safety climate and leadership for over 20 years and joins the podcast this week to discuss the multi-level aspects of improving safety culture and the daily micro-decisions leaders make that in turn affect safety performance. Tune in to learn strategies for leaders to personalize safety in a tangible way, foster trust, and reduce psychological distance from the frontline.

About the Guest:

Dr. Dave Hofmann’s research focuses on organizational climate, leadership, organizational change, organizational design, and decision-making. A specific focus of Dr. Hofmann’s research is the impact of leadership and organizational culture on safety and errors in organizations that operate in high-risk environments. He received the American Psychological Association’s Decade of Behavior Research Award and a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award to study errors and safety issues in organizations at the University of Giessen in Germany. Dr. Hofmann has presented his research and conducted executive development sessions around the world.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Nobody ever said to me, 'Cut corners, work unsafely, product over people.' No one ever said that. I think it was an invisible pressure that I put on myself." In this powerful and inspiring episode, Lisa and David share their story and experience surrounding Lisa's workplace incident that occurred seventeen years ago and how they continue to overcome the mental and physical aftermath within their family. Tune in as Lisa shares the crucial importance of building a culture of safety ownership, encouraging team members to speak up, and reporting all safety concerns. Learn why working safely is the greatest gift you can give to your family and loved ones.

About the Guests:

Lisa Ramos was involved in a forklift accident at work in 2006, and as a result of this is now an above knee amputee. She had been working alongside her husband David Garton for several years. They offer a unique alternative to raising awareness of health & safety issues within the workplace, with their frank and honest account of her rehabilitation, and the long-term struggles that are part and parcel of adjusting to life as a disabled person. Whilst they came to terms with what happened many years ago, the change in Lisa's behavior has had a lasting impact on their son Kieran.

For more information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-ramos-255505124/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-garton-162798150/, or contact them by email at [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to OSHA, implementing an ergonomic process is effective in high-risk industries and increases productivity. Join our conversation with professional ergonomist Carrie Taylor to learn the many benefits of ergonomics in improving overall safety, quality, productivity, and employee engagement in the workplace. Tune in to learn strategies to drive impact and success in implementing proper and safe ergonomics within your organization!

About the Guest:

Carrie Taylor launched Taylor’d Ergonomics Incorporated in 1995, after working in the field for several years. Carrie holds an undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics, and a Master of Science degree, both from the University of Guelph. She has attained professional ergonomics certification in Canada (CCPE) and the United States (CPE), and she is also a Registered Kinesiologist. Carrie has experience in many industries, including automotive parts and assembly, food processing, small motors, offices, chemical processing, airlines, nuclear, health care, and many more.

For more information: www.TaylordErgo.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The beauty of human factors is that it's applicable in every space. It's just the stories that change." In this episode, we're excited to have Gareth Lock take us on a deep dive into organizational learning, decision-making, and safety culture through the lens of human factors. Tune in as Gareth shares practical advice for creating a shared mental model within an organization through prioritizing psychological safety and how to effectively foster a culture of embedded learning and growth.

About the Guest:

Gareth Lock is the founder of The Human Diver, an organisation set up to deliver education and research into the role and benefit of applying human factors, non-technical skills, psychological safety, and ‘just culture’ in sports, military, and scientific diving. He has published the book ‘Under Pressure’ and produced the documentary ‘If only…,’ both focused on improving diving safety and performance by looking at incidents through the lens of human factors. While primarily focused on diving, he also works in other high-risk, high-uncertainty domains such as healthcare, oil & gas, maritime, and software. He is currently undertaking a MSc in HF and System Safety at Lund University where he is looking at the power (and limitations) of storytelling to improve learning.

For more information: https://www.thehumandiver.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices