In this incredibly moving and vital episode of Incident Prevention's Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade is joined by Rob Duplain, a project superintendent, and Bill Martin, President of Think Tank LLC. The conversation centers on the critical issue of suicide, particularly within the utility and construction industries, sparked by a powerful LinkedIn post Rob wrote in honor of National Suicide Awareness Month. Rob shares his profound personal story of losing both his best friend and his mother to suicide, opening the door to a candid discussion on navigating grief and leveraging trauma to help others.

Together, they explore practical ways to foster genuine human connection and psychological safety in the workplace. The discussion covers simple but powerful actions like a "buddy check", the importance of authentic leadership, and how to create an environment where it's safe for employees to be vulnerable and support one another. This episode is more than a conversation; it's a model for how to talk about uncomfortable but necessary topics to build stronger, safer, and healthier teams.

Key Takeaways

The Power of the "Buddy Check": A simple, consistent text message like "buddy check" can be a powerful tool to let a coworker know you are thinking of them beyond the scope of work. It helps build a foundation of genuine care that makes it easier to notice when someone is struggling.

Proactive Connection Over Reactive Rituals: The industry often shows solidarity after a tragedy, such as with bucket trucks at a funeral, but fails to see the weak signals beforehand. The focus must shift to building foundational, day-to-day relationships to prevent tragedies before they happen, as there's "no party for the thing that doesn't happen".

Proactive Connection Over Reactive Rituals: The industry often shows solidarity after a tragedy, such as with bucket trucks at a funeral, but fails to see the weak signals beforehand. The focus must shift to building foundational, day-to-day relationships to prevent tragedies before they happen, as there's "no party for the thing that doesn't happen".

Question 1: What is a simple, actionable step someone can take to support a colleague's mental well-being?

Question 2: Why do traditional classroom-style trainings often fail to engage workers in the utility industry?

Question 3: What does it mean to be "above the line" vs. "below the line" when handling a problem at work?

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#MentalHealthInConstruction #SuicidePrevention #UtilitySafety #WorkplaceWellness #AuthenticLeadership #BuddyCheck

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This podcast is sponsored by T&D Powerskills. If you are looking for a comprehensive lineworker training solution, visit tdpowerskills.com today and use the exclusive podcast listener promo code IP2025 to receive a 5% discount!