In this episode, Dr. Travis Smith and Bobby Oberlechner of Columbia Southern University discuss the university's new maritime safety concentration—a program designed to equip safety professionals for one of the world's most complex and high-risk environments. They explore why maritime safety has historically lacked academic focus, how CSU's curriculum bridges that gap, and what students can expect to learn about global regulations, port operations, and systemic risk management. The conversation also highlights how this program helps shape the next generation of safety leaders both on land and at sea.

Sponsored by Columbia Southern University:

For more than 30 years, Columbia Southern University has been a leader in occupational safety and health education. Taught by experienced safety experts, CSU's bachelor's and master's degree programs in occupational safety and health are recognized by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals as Graduate Safety Practitioner® Qualified Academic Programs. Visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu/OHS to learn more.

Content Editor Stasia DeMarco speaks with Claire Bryant, Senior Program Manager of Workplace Safety Programs at the National Safety Council, about a new tool designed to help manage the opioid epidemic in the workplace. With overdoses now linked to nearly one in ten workplace deaths, NSC has launched a free Overdose Emergency Planning Tool to help employers prepare for opioid emergencies and determine how much naloxone to keep on hand. Bryant also highlights the importance of quick response and recovery-supportive workplace policies to save lives and prevent future crises.

Lars Wismer, Director of A+A at Messe Düsseldorf, joins Executive Editor David Kopf to discuss the upcoming A+A 2025 International Trade Fair and Congress for Safety and Health at Work, happening November 4–7 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Wismer shares insights on the theme People Matter and previews highlights including global exhibitors, PPE innovations, exoskeletons, smart technology, and congress sessions on climate, mental well-being, and AI. It's a truly global event, with the 2025 edition expected to attract roughly 65,000 visitors and 2,200 exhibitors.

Increasing attention is being placed on workers' mental health, as well as their physical health, but how do safety managers approach this challenge? Sean Egan, the Deputy Director of Labor for the State of Michigan, joins the OH&S Safety Pod to discuss Michigan's groundbreaking workplace mental health initiative. Launched through the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), the program aims to help businesses reduce stress, burnout, and stigma in high-risk, high-pressure industries like construction.

Drawing from both policy expertise and lived experience, Egan explains how the initiative blends neuroscience, trauma-informed training, and innovative resources, such as the Man Therapy campaign, to support workers' behavioral health. More than awareness, Michigan's program calls for systemic changes, including revisiting work design, hazard assessments, and access to care to make mental health a core part of safety culture.

This episode offers safety professionals a timely and practical roadmap for embedding mental well-being into their overall risk strategy, as well as redefining what it means to truly protect workers.

Larry Sloan, CEO of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), joins the OH&S Safety Pod to discuss the evolving risks of heat stress and how AIHA's newly updated Heat Stress App is helping organizations protect workers in both indoor and outdoor environments.

The app uses live weather data and user inputs to calculate wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), delivering personalized risk levels and clear, practical guidance. With multilingual support and a user-friendly interface, it empowers frontline workers, supervisors, and safety leaders to make smarter heat-related decisions.

Larry explains why heat stress is often underestimated, how app feedback shaped its latest features, and why real-time tools like this are essential for modern safety programs. He also outlines the app's global usability, practical applications, and the role of prevention in reducing costly, often avoidable incidents.

This episode offers timely insights for safety professionals preparing for peak heat season—and committed to keeping teams safe, alert, and productive.

Jennifer McNelly, CAE, CEO of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), discusses the Intersociety Forum (ISF) and a recent report calling for a shift in how safety is embedded in business strategy. Representing nearly 30 safety and health organizations, the ISF advocates moving beyond legal compliance toward risk-based, proactive safety management systems.

Jennifer explores why compliance alone hasn't lowered fatality rates and how industry consensus standards, predictive data insights, and integrated safety strategies can drive better outcomes -- not just for workers, but for business performance. She also highlights why now is the time for unity and how safety professionals can become influential change agents within their organizations.

This conversation is packed with actionable insights for safety leaders looking to align safety and strategic value -- and to help shape the future of workplace protection.

In this episode, Nick Brown, Senior Director of Ansell Services, explores why safety assessments are a foundational part of proactive hazard identification and facility safety. Every worksite presents its own risks, and Nick shares how a tailored, systematic approach to safety assessments helps EHS professionals identify hazards, ensure compliance with OSHA and industry standards, and take meaningful action. The discussion also highlights best practices for walkthroughs, common pitfalls to avoid, and how digital tools are helping organizations make smarter safety and PPE decisions.

Sponsored by Ansell

Sponsored By Ansell—because safety starts with identifying and understanding workplace risks. Thanks to Ansell for this discussion on the importance of safety walkthroughs and Ansell's complimentary service, AnsellGuardian® which helps businesses proactively assesses hazards, ensure compliance, and implement targeted safety solutions. Learn more at https://www.ansell.com/us/en/ansellguardian.

In this episode, Ethan Fight, Executive Director of Operations at Medcor Safety, joins the podcast to explore how strategic safety staffing can give high-risk industries such as construction a competitive advantage. Drawing on his 12 years of experience managing safety professionals across more than 100 construction accounts, Ethan shares insights into how investing in the right safety talent can reduce incidents, lower costs, and improve overall operational efficiency. The conversation covers how companies can approach staffing amid today's competitive labor market, the pros and cons of full-time versus on-call safety professionals, and why effective staffing can boost both compliance and employee morale.

Sponsored by Medcor

Medcor Safety provides experienced safety professionals to help businesses create safer job sites, reduce risks, and ensure compliance. Medcor's customized safety staffing solutions support projects of all sizes, keeping workers protected and operations running smoothly. With expert guidance and proven safety protocols, Medcor helps businesses build a culture of safety. Visit https://medcor.com/services/ to learn more.