Illusion of Safety

We're amazed at the work that people continue to do to help workers do their job safely, with workwear and personal protective equipment that works as hard as they do. That's why we have Svetlana Blancher, founder of Rugged Peach Workwear, to talk about a very special group of workers she's here to help: pregnant women. Svetlana shares how her own (unsuccessful) search for workwear while she was pregnant led to her creating a line of high-visibility clothing that is tailored for expectant moms. As Svetlana mentions, they may be a small percentage of the workforce, but that small percentage still comes out to a big number...and they need properly fitting PPE, too! Check it out at ruggedpeach.com! Also visit Build-Her.org, a group that Svetlana is partnering with to advocate for women in construction and other trades!

Often we think of firefighters and rescue personnel as the ones who help keep the public safe, but who helps them do their work safely? That's where safety pros like David Wenzel come in! With over 25 years in safety, David brings a high degree of expertise and a deep level of care and concern for the brave men and women in the fire service. He is fully immersed in the firefighter culture, which is important when he's helping to improve the work for everyone before, during, and after those calls. Even though fire safety has it's own unique culture, David clues us in on some safety lessons and practices that can apply to any industry, especially when working with teams of people.

Let's rock n' roll...it's part 2 of our LIVE, in-person recording at the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Safety 2026 conference in Anaheim, CA! We welcome Valerie Stakes, Herb Osborne (first-time attendee!) and Christina Roll to talk about expo hall strategies, making connections, and the fun/weird experiences of ASSP conferences that we've come to know and love! Again, a huge "thank you" to our guests and the ASSP events team for helping us put together this unique experience to connect with one another in-person and on location!

We had a unique chance to all record together in person at the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Safety 2026 conference in Anaheim, CA and it was a blast! On part 1 of this 2-part series we have Pam Walaski and Carly Baez sharing some background info on their safety conference experiences in the past and what makes the event so special for them. From connecting with familiar friends that they may not have seen for years to helping new safety professionals get connected, Pam and Carly share what makes each professional development conference special for them! Be sure to tune in for Part 2!

You're responsible for making sure work gets done (safely) in a place where the work is tough, the people are tougher, and you're literally the only safety professional for hundreds of miles in any direction. Welcome to the world of Kayla Quinnell (aka "The Feral Safety Lady") who helps rural businesses in the energy, construction, and agriculture sectors balance getting the work done and making sure it's done in the safest way possible. You know, like regular safety pros, but with much fewer resources and with workers who are used to doing anything necessary to get the work done, regardless of safety. It's tough work, but Kayla shows how lessons learned in the field (literally, there are massive fields) can translate for any safety pro in any environment.

We are deep into safety conference season but it isn't too late to figure out how to best prepare for these big events! Whether you're a seasoned conference attendee or it's your first time attending, there are some great ways to make the most of these events. Everyone has their own way of preparing but Allison and Gabe share some of their favorite conference hacks to help you prepare for, attend, and decompress from your safety conference of choice. Find the right pair of shoes, get ready to learn, and brace yourself for some of the best networking opportunities in the safety industry!

Confined spaces, heavy equipment, explosions…even to the layperson, it’s fairly obvious there are multiple hazards in the mining industry. Turns out there are other hazards that are more nuanced and possibly areas for growth in the mining profession…most of them involving people. It’s the connection with people that Monique Parker has found to be so fascinating in the mining profession, especially when the environment and the people you’re working with are changing all the time. Even more fascinating is how the lessons learned in mining has helped Monique in her involvement with the American Society of Safety Professionals, especially now as she moves into her new role as President of ASSP. From community involvement to career advancement, there’s a lot to uncover (unearth?) in this episode!

For some of us who have been in the safety profession for a while, it’s easy to forget what it was like to be new to the job. That’s why it’s great to hear from new safety pros like Olivia Rozenberg, who just started as a safety professional in the construction industry straight out of school! Her perspectives on what makes the safety profession both challenging and exciting are refreshing to hear and serve as a reminder that school does a great job preparing safety pros for a lot of things, but some aspects can only be learned on the job. Olivia shares some tips and tricks that will help any safety pro getting ready to jump into this amazing field, like connecting with seasoned professionals at your job and having a mentor, especially after graduation. We look forward to how Olivia will continue to bring her energy and passion to the safety field as she grows in her career!

If you're listening to this episode, there's a strong possibility it's housed in a data center and you can thank safety pros like our guest Bryce Griffler for making sure it's up and running without interruption. From the construction phase where there are thousands of people working as fast as they can to the moment it's up and running, safety professionals are creating new best practices to address the needs of this exciting field. Listen in as Bryce tells us about the approaches that "hyper-scalers" are taking with construction, the challenges of new equipment used for AI/ML and even where/what/who The Cloud is and where we might meet her. The ride is as wild as an AI generated video of a cat playing a banjo, so you might want to ask your GPT of choice for a summary.

Obviously we all want to be successful in our work. But determining whether you've "made it" can be tough to define, especially in the safety profession, where there are always new certifications to earn, job titles to aspire to, and money to make. And that's just the main job. There are endless "side quests" you can pursue as a safety professional, from volunteer leadership opportunities to speaking and consulting gigs. It can be exhausting and many professionals find themselves burned out chasing "just one more" all the time. Maybe it's time we take a deep breath and think about what success really means, especially in a job as people-focused and varied as safety.
Feeling overwhelmed by the demands of your safety-related projects? From training to site surveys this episode's sponsor, Vibe Environmental, can help! Check 'em out at www.vibeenvironmental.com!