The Safety Meeting

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, we kick off 2026 with our annual regulatory outlook with Zach Pucillo, EHS Regulatory Compliance Manager at KPA. Zach provides insights into the evolving landscape of workplace safety regulations, technology trends, and compliance priorities for 2026. We review the previous year's predictions, developments, and the regulatory shifts that occurred in 2025 and look ahead to the coming year. Key topics include federal deregulation moves, state-led safety initiatives, AI in safety management, and areas for safety professionals to focus on this year to stay compliant and keep their people safe.

1. (00:51) 2025 Regulatory Recap and Predictions for 2026
2. (02:13) Federal Deregulation and State-Level Actions
3. (08:44) EPA's Greenhouse Gas Rollbacks and State Responses
4. (15:03) Heat Illness Prevention and State Regulations
5. (18:34) Industry-Specific Regulatory Changes for 2026
6. (21:49) The Role of AI in Safety Management
7. (26:03) Key Areas for Safety Managers in 2026
8. (29:10) Final Thoughts

Thanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.

Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, we welcome back Amanda Rawls, Director of EHS Field Services at KPA, to discuss OSHA year-end reporting requirements and recent updates for 2025. Amanda, with over 20 years of safety experience in the automotive industry, provides a high-level overview of the OSHA 301 form, 300 log, and 300A summary, and the importance of accurate record-keeping. She addresses changes in electronic reporting requirements for high-risk industries and shares common mistakes employers make, emphasizing the importance of communication and planning within safety and HR teams. Amanda also shares insights on how to turn compliance data into valuable safety improvements for 2026.

1. (00:00) Welcoming Amanda Rawls, KPA’s Director of EHS Field Services
2. (00:55) Overview of OSHA Year-End Reporting
3. (02:40) Changes in Electronic Reporting Requirements
4. (05:59) Common Challenges and Mistakes
5. (10:30) Key Deadlines for 2026
6. (15:44) Clarifying OSHA Forms: 300, 301, and 300A
7. (23:15) Strategic Use of Year-End Reporting Data
8. (28:27) Closing Advice

Thanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.

Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, we recap Connect Live, the KPA Flex User Conference which was held in Dallas in October. Hundreds of Flex users convened to learn new skills, enhance their workflows, and share best practices. We talk with Emily Hartman, Community Manager, and Monica Patel, Software Product Manager, about the event's highlights, including sessions on form-creation, admin tools, API integrations, and hidden features of the KPA Flex platform. We discuss the importance of in person problem-solving, and opportunities for users to learn from each other, and celebrate the gathering’s success.

• (00:00) Welcome Emily Hartman and Monica Patel
• (01:55) Highlights from Connect Live
• (07:22) The Power of In-Person Networking
• (11:09) Hidden Gems in KPA Flex
• (13:23) APIs and Integrations: Unlocking New Possibilities
• (16:15) From Basic to Advanced: User Growth and Learning
• (21:17) Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Next Year’s Event

Thanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.

Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, KPA's Senior Director of Product Management, Jade Hendrix, shares her expertise on the integration of AI technology with workplace safety programs. With 17 years of experience in B2B SaaS technology, Hendrix discusses the distinction between generic chatbots and purpose-built AI, exploring how purpose-built AI can help proactively correlate safety data to predict future risks. She stresses that AI should be used as a decision support tool rather than a decision-maker, highlighting the importance of high-quality data for AI effectiveness. Hendrix also delves into the future possibilities of AI, underscoring that while AI can enhance safety program efficiency and insights, it does not replace human judgment and the need to cultivate a robust safety culture.

• (00:16) Welcome KPA’s Jade Hendrix
• (00:56) Understanding Purpose-Built AI for EHS
• (02:45) AI's Role in Identifying Risks and Patterns
• (04:57) Accountability and Decision Support with AI
• (06:34) Importance of Data Quality for Effective AI
• (08:30) Context in Photo Hazard Recognition
• (10:50) Automation vs. Strategic Insights
• (13:27) Evaluating AI Solutions for Safety Programs
• (15:54) The Future of AI in Safety
• (18:37) Final Thoughts

Thanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.

Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, Dr. Seth Hickerson, founder of My Steady Mind, discusses the critical link between psychological safety, mental fitness, and workplace safety. Dr. Hickerson shares his expertise from high-risk industries, explaining how environments characterized by volatility, uncertainty, change, and ambiguity (VUCA) need both physical safety measures, and proactive mental health strategies. He explains how distraction, stress, and burnout can lead to safety incidents, and why organizations must move beyond reactive solutions to integrate mental fitness training into their jobsite culture.

• (00:00) Welcome Dr. Seth Hickerson
• (00:58) Defining psychological safety and its impact on workplace performance
• (02:07) The VUCA environment: what it means and why it matters
• (05:47) How mental health challenges contribute to workplace incidents
• (07:40) The difference between proactive training and reactive treatment
• (10:00) Why leadership buy-in is essential for culture change
• (11:04) Making mental health training engaging: “hide the medicine in the cheese”
• (13:10) Supporting employees facing mental health challenges
• (16:12) Using assessments to identify soft skills gaps in organizations
• (19:10) Creating a shared language for stress management
• (22:22) The four steps of emotional intelligence
• (27:55) Final thoughts and practical takeaways for listeners

Thanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.

Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

In this episode of The Safety Meeting’s Safety Lab, we explore why overall workplace safety  metrics are improving but Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) rates remain flat or are increasing. We discuss the traditional Hendrick Safety Triangle and introduce a SIF prevention model which focuses on identifying and addressing high-risk precursors. Additionally, we talk proactive strategies that are being employed by safety professionals: How leveraging data smartly and earning leadership support helps create a proactive safety culture. Through real-world examples and a structured Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) approach, we provide a framework for improving SIF prevention.

• (00:35) Understanding Safety Statistics Trends
• (01:55) The Hendrick Safety Triangle
• (02:57) New SIF Prevention Model
• (04:31) Defining Serious Injury and SIF Potential
• (06:27) Identifying Precursors and Indicators
• (08:41) Practical Steps for Safety Managers
• (14:54) Tools and Technologies for SIF Prevention
• (16:52) Measuring Success and Overcoming Barriers
• (18:48) Implementing PDCA for SIF Prevention
• (20:34) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Thanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.

Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, we’re joined by Monica Patel, Senior Product Manager at KPA, to talk about the business case for safety technology. We discuss leveraging technology to tackle safety and compliance challenges, ways to make a strong business case for safety tech to the C-Suite, and look at metrics for calculating return on investment (ROI). We uncover the hidden costs of workplace injuries and common roadblocks in technology implementation, and unpack strategies for demonstrating business value while stressing the importance of investing in employee well-being.

• (00:00) Welcome to the Safety Meeting
• (01:20) The Business Case for Safety Technology
• (02:51) Calculating ROI for Safety Tech
• (04:07) Hidden Costs and Benefits of Safety Tech
• (05:59) Effective Safety Technologies
• (07:19) Overcoming Implementation Challenges
• (08:33) Handling Pushback and Building Buy-In
• (12:20) Future Trends in Safety Technology
• (14:29) Final Thoughts

Please see the episode of the The Safety Lab, we talked about today.

Thanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.

Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

On this episode of The Safety Meeting’s Safety Lab, we look at a recently published study by the  Workers Compensation Research Institute, “The Impact of Excessive Heat on the Frequency of Work-related Injuries.” We unpack the study to see how increasing temperatures might be creating risks in the workplace that are often overlooked.

• (00:14) The Impact of Excessive Heat on Workplace Safety
• (01:04) Direct and Indirect Injuries
• (03:48) Temperature and Injury Rates
• (05:56) Regional Differences in Heat-Related Injuries
• (07:45) Industry-Specific Heat Impacts
• (10:29) Mitigating Heat Risks in the Workplace

Thanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting’s Safety Lab, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.

Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, Zach Pucillo, KPA’s EHS Regulatory Compliance Manager, joins us for a mid-year regulatory update. He covers the impact of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, state vs. federal regulatory dynamics, OSHA's proposed heat safety rule, and the regulatory implications of the Loper Bright case. He also explains the evolving landscape of emerging technologies in safety, data-driven programs, and how companies are adapting amidst regulatory uncertainty.

• (00:00) Welcome to the Safety Meeting
• (00:58) Impact of the New Department of Government Efficiency
• (06:36) Federal and State Regulatory Dynamics
• (12:34) Heat Safety Regulations and State-Level Activity
• (17:55) Impact of the Loper Bright Ruling
• (21:03) Impact of EPA Permit Changes
• (22:26) Technological Innovations in Safety
• (27:23) Adapting to Regulatory Shifts in Key Industries
• (32:30) The Role of Safety Professionals Amidst Deregulation
• (36:41) Final Thoughts

Thanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.

Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, we talk emerging technology with Mulango Akpo-Esambe, Creative Services Manager at KPA, and Jill Schaefer, KPA’s  Director of Content Management. We discuss the evolving impact of Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence technologies on safety training, specifically how AR can create interactive safety experiences and how AI can help personalize training. Mulango and Jill share practical examples of how new tech can complement and supplement proven hands-on methods. We also discuss possible concerns about adopting AI tech, but also share excitement about how these innovations can help safety professionals keep their workplaces and workers safer.

• (00:00) Welcome to The Safety Meeting
• (00:15) Meet Mulango Akpo-Esambe and Jill Schaefer
• (01:13) Innovations in Training: AI and AR
• (02:39) Augmented Reality in Safety Training
• (07:57) AI's Role in Future Training Programs
• (15:55) Measuring Training Effectiveness
• (22:56) Cost-Effective Safety Training Solutions
• (25:07) Embracing the Future of Safety Training
• (25:40) Final Thoughts

Thanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.

Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com