FROM MEMIC
Safety Experts Podcast
The MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast is hosted by MEMIC's own Peter Koch, who interviews industry leaders on the trends, tools, and techniques that are tried, tested, or emerging in the world of workplace safety. What you learn could save your life or the life of a friend or coworker, or at least save everyone from a few unnecessary cuts, burns and bruises. Thank you for your joining us in our mission to make work, and the world, a safer place.
A Consolidation of Safety Subtleties: How to Build Resilient Safety Systems with Jake Mazulewicz
September 17
In Part One of this two-part episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, host Peter Koch sits down with human reliability consultant, educator, and author Jake Mazulewicz to explore the often-overlooked factors that influence human performance, workplace safety, and organizational reliability.
Saving Lives in the Trades: How the Practice of Leadership Creates Safer Workplaces with Jenn Ruggerio
July 27
In this episode, we explore how leaders influence workplace safety, shape company culture, and help prevent injuries before they happen. From mentoring new hires and addressing risky behaviors to building psychological safety and accountability, we discuss the leadership practices that keep workers safe and engaged.
The Confluence of Human Resources and Workplace Safety with Michelle Allen
July 13
Too often, HR and safety teams operate in silos—only collaborating after incidents occur. But what happens when these functions align? The result is a people-first culture that not only prevents injuries but also boosts employee engagement, strengthens leadership, and improves overall organizational performance.
Cybersecurity and Workplace Safety: Protecting People Operations and Culture with Jay Carter
April 21
Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern—it’s a core business issue that aligns with workplace safety.
Combustible Dust in the Workplace - What We’ve Learned and What’s Changing with James Burke
March 9
In this episode, we break down what combustible dust is, why deadly explosions continue to occur, and what’s changing in regulations and industry best practices.
The Winter Work Playbook: Ranger Lessons for the Everyday Jobsite with Matt McGuire and Rob Tice
February 5
Practical winter safety strategies for outdoor workers and supervisors, informed by the field experience of Maine’s Baxter State Park rangers.
The Safety Dividend: Leadership Lessons from WD-40 to Boeing with Randy Klatt
July 16
This episode unwraps two case studies: the remarkable journey of WD-40, guided by a CEO whose unwavering dedication to employee well-being has not only minimized incidents but also fueled innovation and profitability. Contrast this with the ongoing challenges at Boeing. Once a titan of engineering excellence, the aerospace giant continues to face significant scrutiny and setbacks due to a perceived erosion of its safety culture.
Slip Trip and Fall Prevention with Kim Block and Rose Wess
February 11
On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast I am joined by MEMIC safety consultant Rose Wess and former WGME 13 news anchor Kim Block to talk about the critical importance of slip, trip, and fall prevention.
Identifying Workplace Violence Exposures with Command Master Sergeant, 101st Airborne Retired, Bart Womack
January 27
Reports of violence in the workplace have escalated over the last 10 to 20 years, despite laws and rules that have been put in place to prevent these situations from happening. So, as a business owner, supervisor or manager, what can you do?
Safety Leadership and Leading Indicators with Shawn Galloway
November 15
Today on the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, Shawn Galloway, CEO of the global consultant agency, ProActSafety joins me to discuss his insights on how business leaders can create and nurture a safer workplace through targeted leadership and the strategic use of leading indicators.
AI: Our Future Friend or Foe with Lillith Chute
October 21
In this episode, we explore the fascinating realm of AI (artificial intelligence) with Lillith Chute, senior software engineer here at MEMIC. We will go from its basic concepts to its potential for revolutionizing industries. Join us as we navigate the exciting and complex world of AI, exploring its potential, its limitations, and its impact on our future.
2024 Summer Interns: Caitlin and Isaac
August 26
Every summer, MEMIC interns from across all departments dip their toes into the world of safety culture and Workers' Compensation insurance by working alongside industry professionals, both in the field and around the office. Join me as I chat with Isaac, our Loss Control intern, and Caitlin, our Communications intern.
Getting the most out of your pre-hiring process with Mark Walker and Luke Slabaugh from SaferHire
March 11
Having the right hiring practices is critical for building an effective, productive, and safe team that will attract other quality candidates. In this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I speak with Mark Walker and Luck Slabaugh of Safer Hire about using pre-hire surveys to identify applicants who best fit your company's needs and culture.
Slip Trip and Fall Prevention with Tim McCarty
January 15
Slip and fall exposures exist everywhere and can easily be overlooked in the workplace until someone is injured.
Workplace Athletes with Kelly Feldkamp
January 1
Work, no matter what the work can be physically taxing. That work can be at home in the yard or garden, working on the car or the place you live, or caring for kids and family. Or it can be in the workplace – in the office, on the factory floor, on the construction site, in the lab, or on the manufacturing line. No matter where it is, that work can be hard physically and mentally, the trades especially.
Bath Iron Works and VR Training - How Maine's Shipbuilders are Safely Learning the Trades with Glen Hilt
December 21
Many studies have been conducted to determine the efficacy of Virtual Reality (VR) as an educational tool. Results indicate that learning in a VR environment leads to higher rates of retention and recall when compared to computer-based learning. These engaging and controlled environments also allow tradespeople to gain experience in a safe, and cost-effective manner while simultaneously developing requisite skills and muscle memory.
Hearing Safely with Tyler Hadley
November 20
Noise in the workplace can be dangerous. A loud environment can cause problems ranging from difficulties concentrating and stress to hearing damage and poor decisions. Controlling noise through engineering controls such as dampening, absorption, or isolation and help reduce injuries and increase productivity.
My 5 Whys - Getting Safety Buy-In with Maryann Hoff
November 9
Maryann Hoff, MEMIC’s Vice President of Loss Control discusses how industry and safety professionals need to better understand the why behind a safe workplace and breaks it down into the Five Whys of Safety Commitment.
Do You Hear What I Hear? Hearing Loss Can be Prevented, but No One is Listening
October 23
According to the CDC, 22 million American workers are exposed to noise levels above 85 decibels at work every year and 30 million workers are exposed to chemicals that can be ototoxic. Add to that the 48 million Americans currently experiencing hearing loss to one degree or another and the stats paint a grim picture. Noise Mapping, Sound Level Meters, audiometric testing, PPE, and hearing conservation programs are tools to help identify and control workplace noise exposure.
The Future of Ergonomics with Maureen Anderson
October 9
Maureen Anderson, MEMIC’s Manager of Ergonomics discusses ergonomic risk factors and controls, body mechanics, assessment tools, and how future technology may shape our process for creating ergonomic solutions.
Young Worker Injury Prevention
September 25
A team from the Maine Department of Labor discusses the overall challenge of young worker safety, what might be driving the injuries, and strategies for business to prevent them.
Sept 11 - What We Have Learned About Emergency Preparedness
September 11
New techniques, evolving technologies, and collaboration at the federal level have created tools like the National Incident Command System for organizing collaborative responses across agencies to large scale emergencies from natural disasters to terrorist attacks (domestic and foreign).
PPE Must fit or else! With Allison Short
August 28
OSHA’s new proposed clarification for PPE in the Construction standard reinforces that PPE MUST FIT. Failure to follow this simple statement is one the reasons why workers are injured when they believe they are protected. PPE shouldn’t just be provided, it MUST fit the worker properly to function as it was designed!
Bee Safety - Safely Coexisting with Nature's Necessity
August 14
Bees can swarm around trash areas in the summer, but businesses should be able to eliminate or reduce the bee population around dumpsters through good waste and trash management practices, dumpster and trash area maintenance, and staff training.
Working Safely in Summer Heat
July 31
Heat stress occurs when environmental conditions, physical activity, and your own personal risk factors combine to cause your core temperature to rise in a manner where your body begins to struggle to compensate or regulate.
Know Before You Mow: Dangerous Plants
July 17
It’s the season for property maintenance. Workers behind mowers or with a string trimmer in hand are common sights across the nation. Training for staff assigned these jobs is usually weighted toward equipment operation and safety. However, knowing “what” you are “mowing” can be just as important.
The Workplace Injury Puzzle with Terry Dussault
July 3
Workplace Safety and Injury Prevention can be like trying to build a puzzle without the picture on the box. All the pieces connect together, but in order for it to be a seamless picture, they have to connect in a particular way and order. As a safety professional, you may have all the pieces but not the big picture on the box, or you have the picture but can make the pieces fit together.
MEMIC: 30 Years in the Making – The Intersection of Safety and Insurance Excellence with Mike Bourque
June 19
On this, our 100th episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I spend an hour with MEMIC President & CEO, Mike Bourque, as we talk about what has changed during our 30 years in business.
First Call: MEMIC's Injury Triage Tool with Lara Heal and Jared Payton
June 5
Injury management is a key part of the workplace safety equation and getting the injured employee the appropriate level of care quickly and seamlessly is at the heart of the process.
Lean Safety with Sean Fields
May 22
Continuous process improvement for your safety program can challenging. However, with the right perspective, it can be integrated effectively and create an environment where quality and productivity thrive over the long term.
Will we do the uninspected? How workplace inspections can help with Rod Stanley
May 8
For some, a workplace inspection can be associated with a visit from OSHA or another certifying agency. Others may find them tedious and disconnected from expectations. However, workplace inspections can be a useful tool to connect what a business expects to the reality of the work being done.
A Look into the OSHA VPP program with Bob Thompson
April 25
Did you know that the average OSHA Voluntary Protection Program worksite has a lost workday incidence rate at least 50 percent below the average of its industry? Curious about what it’s like to go through the VPP process?
A Day In The Life of a US Army Safety Officer with Tobi Bledsoe
April 10
Ever wonder what a Safety person does all day? Could be Training, or Safety by Walking Around, or completing a Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet, or even Relationship building. On today’s episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast Tobi Bledsoe, talks how his experience in the Navy prepared him to be the Safety Office for the US Army’s Pacific 10th Support Group.
Strategies for Workplace Violence Prevention with Corey Jones
March 27
Not all workplace violence happens with a weapon. Sometimes it can be verbal or even psychological abuse from a customer or a fellow employee. Regardless of the tool, violence at the workplace is on the rise. On today’s episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast Corey Jones, Owner of Safetyman Consulting and former shift commander of the SWAT team in Mount Laurel New Jersey joins me to discuss the problem of workplace violence and what you can do to prepare for and prevent it.
Rethinking Your Workplace Stretching Program with Clayton Cartwright: Part II
March 13
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that in 2020 there were nearly a quarter million work related musculoskeletal injuries that resulted in days away from work with the average number of days away being 14. Statistics also show that warming up properly can also increase performance and reduce the potential for injuries during physical activity.
Rethinking Your Workplace Stretching Program with Clayton Cartwright: Part I
February 27
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that in 2020 there were nearly a quarter million work related musculoskeletal injuries that resulted in days away from work with the average number of days away being 14 (1) . Statistics also show that warming up properly can also increase performance and reduce the potential for injuries during physical activity.
Safe Patient Handling and Its Role in Physical and Occupational Therapy with Susan Diffenderfer
February 13
90% of all Physical and Occupational Therapists will suffer an occupational injury in their career. One in every six will change jobs or careers as a result of a work-related musculoskeletal injury. There are tools available such as lift, slides, and slings, but they are not always used.
Wink, Wink, Nudge, Nudge: How to Effect Choice Architecture In Safety with Dr. Julie Sorenson Part II
February 2
Behavioral economics looks at how the decisions we make are influenced by our human cognitive processes. While there are many ways to impact choices, social marketing and nudging are two that can be implemented on the workplace safety front.
Wink, Wink, Nudge, Nudge: How to Effect Choice Architecture In Safety with Dr. Julie Sorenson
January 16
Behavioral economics looks at how the decisions we make are influenced by our human cognitive processes. While there are many ways to impact choices, social marketing and nudging are two that can be implemented on the workplace safety front.
OSHA Recordkeeping Updates with Stephen Badger
January 6
On today’s episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast I speak with Stephen Badger, CSP and Safety Management Consultant with MEMIC about the OSHA recordkeeping standard, what is required of business, different scenarios for recording injuries, and the changes to the electronic submission portion of the standard.
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