Advertise on podcast: The Safety Geek Podcast: Geeking Out About Workplace Safety

Ever feel like you know exactly what's wrong with your safety program... and still have no idea where to start?  You're buried in work that was never really yours. Leadership nods along, and nothing changes. And your to-do list is a mile long, with every item on it feeling urgent.  In this final episode of the series, I put the whole Safety Leadership Roadmap in one place. You'll see how every piece connects, the order to build your safety program in so it quietly changes how management sees safety...and why hiring more safety staff is the wrong move. When safety staff take on the work, management never has to...so their beliefs about safety never change.  Plus, you'll hear what happened when I asked my boss to hire me an assistant and got told no. And how long building all of this really takes...90 days at a time.   Full show notes: https://thesafetygeek.com/146   Links Mentioned:   Check out the Safety Leadership AcademyBook a free Safety Leadership Roadmap SessionEpisode 140: The Safety Leadership RoadmapEpisode 141: Why Everything You Were Taught Keeps You StuckEpisode 142: Stop Being a Department of OneEpisode 143: How to Get Leadership to Actually ListenEpisode 144: How to Sell Safety Like a MarketerEpisode 145: How to Build the Confidence to Step Up in Safety Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

You were really good at your job, somebody noticed, and you got promoted into safety. You learned as you went and got good at it... but somewhere along the way, you built a bubble around yourself. When the only way you know how to do safety is the way it's done in your building, it's really hard to see what's possible for you. Maybe the pay is low. Maybe the job stopped challenging you. Or maybe you already know it's time to move on, and you just don't have the confidence to take that next step. That confidence doesn't show up while you're inside the bubble. In this episode I walk you through the 4 C's of Confidence (and why "fake it till you make it" actually stalls you), how to build a braggable track record of results, how to get outside your bubble, and how to set your own bar. Plus how Rhett and Wesley stepped outside theirs and landed $35,000 and $50,000 raises.   Full show notes: https://thesafetygeek.com/145   Links Mentioned: Free Safety Career Journey QuizSafety Leadership Roadmap SessionEpisode 144: How to Sell Safety Like a MarketerEpisode 143: How to Get Leadership to Actually ListenEpisode 142: Stop Being a Department of One Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

You had the regulation AND the data. You explained it clearly... and a manager still looked at you and said, "We're not going to do that right now." So you explained it again. A little louder, with a few more citations. And nothing changed.   It took me years to figure out that people act on what they believe, and a citation rarely changes a belief. So whether you signed up for it or not, you're selling safety... to employees, supervisors, and your leadership team. In this episode I break down 3 strategies marketers use to shift a belief, including the 7-11-4 rule. And I'll show you how to use the 5 minutes you get in the management meeting to finally get the buy-in you've been asking for.   Full show notes: https://thesafetygeek.com/144   Links Mentioned:   Free SMIS GuideSafety Leadership Roadmap SessionEpisode 143: How to Get Leadership to Actually Listen Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

You walk into a management meeting with something that actually matters. A hazard, a training gap, a piece of equipment that's going to hurt somebody. And you watch their eyes glaze over. You get a nod, maybe a "we'll look at it," and then nothing happens. They do care about people getting hurt. They just don't believe it's going to happen this quarter, and the risk they can put a number on wins every time. In this episode I break down why leadership tunes safety out, and the 3 moves that get you heard in that room. Full show notes: https://thesafetygeek.com/143 LINKS MENTIONED Free SMIS GuideSafety Leadership Roadmap Session Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

Every inspection, every policy, every training, every near-miss follow-up routes back to you, and the to-do list never ends. You're the department of one. Being overwhelmed in safety isn't a time management problem. It's a design problem. In this episode I break down how you became the department of one, and the three moves that get you out. Full show notes: https://thesafetygeek.com/142 LINKS MENTIONED Free SMIS GuideSafety Leadership Roadmap Session Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

You were taught to know the regulations cold, enforce the rules, and catch what people are doing wrong — and that training is exactly what is capping your career. In this episode Brye names the safety cop trap, shows why compliance only ever buys you surface behavior instead of real buy-in, and tells the story of the wall she hit when her own team started hiding things from her. This is the belief shift the rest of the series is built on. Read the full show notes at: https://thesafetygeek.com/141 Links Mentioned: Download the free SMIS GuideBook a Safety Leadership Roadmap SessionEpisode 140: The Rockstar Safety Executive Roadmap Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

This episode lays out the complete roadmap from safety manager to safety executive, starting with why safety gets handed all the responsibility and none of the authority. It breaks down the three things every safety lead actually wants (money, status and job security), the three things standing in the way (overwhelm, being ignored and a lack of confidence), and the Safety Management Cycle and Safety Influencer System that close the gap. Listeners will learn why compliance-based safety can never reach zero, and why influence rather than enforcement is what builds a safety career.  Read the full show notes at: https://thesafetygeek.com/140    Links Mentioned: Download the free SMIS GuideSafety Leadership AcademyThe Artificial Authority Trap Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

This episode explores the critical importance of women's PPE safety and how properly fitting gear transforms workplace safety for women in the trades. It covers the risks of ill-fitting PPE, the true costs to organizations, and practical strategies to select and implement tailored safety solutions. Listeners will learn how to foster a safety culture that supports women and the future trends shaping women's workwear safety.  Read the full shownotes at: https://thesafetygeek.com/139    Links Mentioned: Red Wing Shoes  Time Stamps 00:00 Why Women’s PPE Fit Is a Safety Issue (Not Style)01:48 Meet Tito Warren & Why This Topic Matters03:06 Tito’s Global Safety Journey: Building Standards from the Ground Up04:36 Women Entering the Trades Worldwide: What Tito Sees Internationally07:32 The ‘Shrink It and Pink It’ Era—and Why It Had to End08:43 Designing PPE ‘For Her’: How Red Wing Builds Fit the Right Way10:19 Real-World Risks of Ill-Fitting PPE: Boots, Gloves, and Snag Hazards14:56 The Business Case: Cost, Comfort, Productivity, and Compliance20:46 Safety Culture Wins: Companies That Invest in the Best Gear22:47 Getting Leadership Buy-In: Red Wing as a Partner, Not Just a Vendor24:05 Leverage Suppliers as Safety Partners (Standards, Labs & Credibility)26:06 Building a Safety Culture in Any Industry (Oil & Gas Lessons)27:45 Align PPE to Hazard Assessments: Fit, Form, Function28:55 The Future of PPE: Everyday Wear, More Comfort, More Compliance33:11 Stop Buying Cheap PPE: Value, Risk, and Making Educated Choices36:24 Fit Matters: Get Properly Fitted & Test PPE Before the Jobsite39:31 Footwear as a Foundation: Long-Term Body Health & Injury Prevention41:34 Respect & Inclusion: Why Women’s PPE Matters for Morale and Safety42:45 Final Wrap-Up: How to Connect with Red Wing & Partner Up Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

This podcast explores the challenges with traditional safety goal setting and presents ethical strategies that focus on controllable actions. Learn how reframing safety goals with a data-driven, action-oriented approach can improve safety culture and reduce workplace injuries. Gain insights into best practices for setting measurable safety goals and fostering accountability at all organizational levels.   Links Mentioned:  Safety Leadership AcademyAtomic Habits by James Clear  Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Safety Goals01:11 Reflecting on the Past Year02:55 The Problem with Traditional Safety Goals04:53 Ethical and Control Issues in Safety Goals11:31 Actionable Steps for Effective Safety Goals16:51 Setting Personal and Organizational Goals25:40 Conclusion and Looking Forward Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

This episode explores how traditional safety program structures limit engagement and offers a step-by-step guide to redesign roles and processes. Discover strategies to redistribute responsibilities, strengthen supervisor safety capabilities, and create meaningful employee participation. Learn why building influence over authority leads to sustainable safety improvements and how to measure continuous progress.   Read the full show notes at https://thesafetygeek.com/137   Links Mentioned: Artificial Authority TrapSolving the Leadership Accountability Problem  Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Supervisor Involvement in Safety00:57 Greeting and Personal Anecdote01:23 Defining the Role of Frontline Supervisors in Safety03:06 Challenges Faced by Supervisors03:52 Tip 1: Integrate Safety into Daily Tasks06:14 Tip 2: Combine Safety with Quality and Operations08:32 Tip 3: Shadow Supervisors Regularly09:51 Tip 4: Empower Employees13:25 Tip 5: Conduct Regular Supervisor Meetings17:27 Conclusion and Call to ActionThank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

This post shares five practical strategies to enhance supervisor accountability in safety management without overwhelming them. Learn how to integrate safety into existing workflows, engage employees in safety tasks, and use regular safety huddles to foster a culture of safety excellence. These tips help reduce incidents, improve productivity, and build sustainable safety practices from the frontline up.  See the full show notes at https://thesafetygeek.com/136   Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Supervisor Involvement in Safety00:57 Personal Greeting and Seasonal Remarks01:23 Defining the Role of Supervisors in Safety03:06 Challenges Supervisors Face with Safety Tasks03:52 Tip 1: Integrate Safety into Daily Tasks06:14 Tip 2: Combine Safety with Quality and Operations08:32 Tip 3: Shadow Supervisors Regularly09:51 Tip 4: Empower Employees to Lead13:25 Tip 5: Conduct Regular Supervisor Meetings17:27 Conclusion and Call to ActionThank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

This episode explores the crucial role of mental health in safety management, highlighting resources for employees, navigating mental health claims, and fostering psychological safety. It also addresses the challenges faced by safety professionals themselves and offers actionable steps to improve mental well-being at work. Learn how supporting mental health directly contributes to creating safer, more resilient workplaces. Read the full show notes at https://thesafetygeek.com/135   Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to the Dark Side of Safety Management01:35 Thanksgiving Reflections and Gratitude02:35 Mental Health in Safety Management04:30 Supporting Employees Through Mental Health Challenges21:02 Addressing Mental Health Claims and Psychological Safety25:25 The Mental Health of Safety Professionals34:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

In this episode, we explore the critical importance of safety in new business acquisitions. Discover best practices for effective safety program evaluations, onboarding strategies, and hazard assessments to protect your investment and ensure compliance. Join us as we delve into practical steps for integrating safety during the acquisition process.   Read the full show notes at https://thesafetygeek.com/134   Links Mentioned: Hazard Assessment Workshop  Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Business Growth and Safety Challenges00:41 Personal Update and Context02:25 The Prevalence of Business Acquisitions04:02 Lessons from Early Acquisition Experiences06:42 Effective Strategies for New Acquisitions07:17 Understanding the Acquisition Transition Period12:18 Setting the Right Tone and Expectations19:01 Prioritizing Safety Issues26:14 Ongoing Management and Review29:48 Creating a Repeatable Onboarding Process31:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

In this episode of the Safety Geek Podcast, we dive into the top safety issues faced in the workplace, sharing five real-world challenges from firsthand experience. Gain insights into blocked exits, CDL driver regulations, high-hazard controls, chemical exposure management, and the importance of effective supervisory training. Learn practical steps to mitigate risks and foster a safety-first culture in your organization. Read the full show notes at https://thesafetygeek.com/133 Timestamps:  00:00 Introduction to Safety Challenges00:36 Top Safety Issues Overview03:03 Blocked Exits and Eyewash Stations10:15 CDL Drivers and Dual Logs15:45 High Hazard Compliance Issues21:13 CO2 Leak Incident26:27 Ammonia Refrigeration Incident33:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/

In this episode, I answer the question, "What were the worst safety issues I've experienced?" Learn valuable lessons from real-world incidents and discover practical strategies to improve safety management while addressing employee concerns. Join us as we explore how to transform safety challenges into actionable solutions. Links Mentioned: Weekly masterclass: https://thesafetygeek.com/smis Email your podcast topics to [email protected]:  00:00 Introduction and Personal Update01:44 Family Loss and Lessons Learned07:10 Masterclass and Q&A Introduction10:17 Worst Case Scenario in Safety Management15:06 Top 10 Safety Issues: Part 115:40 Issue #220:16 Issue #225:51 Issue #329:10 Issue #433:24 Issue #538:27 Conclusion and Upcoming Topics Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. If you liked it, be sure to share it with your best safety friend. It's a goal of The Safety Geek to elevate the role of the safety manager, and that is why I share tips and resources on how you can manage your safety program more effectively. Visit the website at https://TheSafetyGeek.com  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/safetygeek  Sign up for the Safety Leadership Newsletter, where I share exclusive tips, content, forms, and templates at https://TheSafetyGeek.com/Newsletter  Follow me @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSafetyGeek  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brye-sargent/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_brye/  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesafetygeek/