SIFs, HECA, and ROI, oh my! In this episode, we welcome Dr. Elif Erkal, the Associate Director of Research and Strategy at the Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA) at the University of Colorado Boulder. With an extensive background in civil engineering, consulting, construction management, and academic research, Dr. Erkal specializes in safety, performance measurement, predictive analytics, and project risk management. She shares insights into CSRA's unique collaborative efforts between academia and industry to advance serious injury and fatality (SIF) prevention, and explains the development of High Energy Control Assessments (HECA). She details how HECA approaches safety performance measurement, which identifies high energy hazards and assesses direct controls, offering a more actionable safety performance assessment than traditional metrics. Dr. Erkal also touches on CSRA's other research initiatives, including decluttering safety management systems and demonstrating the ROI of safety programs, emphasizing the need for data-driven solutions in safety management.

Power to Prevent SIF [https://www.eei.org/issues-and-policy/power-to-prevent-sif]

Communities of Practice [https://www.csra.colorado.edu/csracop]

Knowledge Center | Construction Safety Research Alliance [https://www.csra.colorado.edu/knowledge-center]

CSRA Safety in the Boardroom EFILE_EE.pdf [https://www.csra.colorado.edu/_files/ugd/2a9917_9a2691d5335c4428a077c0490982d9da.pdf]

Matt Hallowell wrote a book on workplace safety. Industry made it a bestseller. | Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering | University of Colorado Boulder [https://www.colorado.edu/ceae/matt-hallowell-wrote-book-workplace-safety-industry-made-it-best-seller]

Energy wheel [https://aeasseincludes.assp.org/professionalsafety/pastissues/066/12/F2Hallowell_1221.pdf]

HECA [https://www.assp.org/docs/default-source/psj-articles/f1hallowell_0523.pdf?sfvrsn=45416846_0]

Safety classification and Learning Model [https://www.assp.org/docs/default-source/psj-articles/f1hallowellspencer_0224.pdf]

134: SIF Prevention and High Energy Control Assessments

At this year’s NSC Safety Congress, Jill partnered with three other women in EHS to present “Female EHS Leaders: Leveraging Your Superpowers.” The conference room was full of women and allies, and the topic was so well received, the presenters decided to continue the conversation! In this episode, Jill and Monique Parker, Chief Sustainability Officer and ASSP Board Member, further expand on communication strategies, setting boundaries, salary negotiation, and understanding your value, while also sharing personal experiences and examples from their own journey’s to leadership positions. Take charge of your career growth and salary expectations with the provided worksheets linked in the show notes, and discover how to advocate for yourself and your future in EHS.

Resources for Female EHS Professionals, including the Salary and Career Map worksheets. [https://goto.hsi.com/female-ehs-leaders-leveraging-superpowers]

133: Female EHS Leaders: Leveraging Your Superpowers Conversation Continued from NSC 2025

With over 20 years of experience at industry giants like Caterpillar, Dow Chemical, and Merck, Dana Dawsey's career has been anything but comfortable—by design! Dana is currently the Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety at Pentair, but like most guests, she didn't see safety as her future when becoming an industrial engineering student. Since then, she has implemented life-saving ergonomic improvements and spearheaded global EHS strategies. Dana's story is one of resilience, continuous learning, and a people-centric leadership style, enriched by her certification as a John Maxwell leadership coach. Whether you're an EHS professional or someone interested in leadership and organizational culture, Dana’s insights on embedding safety and well-being as core values will leave you motivated and inspired.

132: Being Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

For the third year in a row, Jill sat down with EHS professionals who were attending this year's ASSP’s Safety Conference and Expo in Orlando, FL. Jill had the pleasure of asking short form questions to EHS professionals who shared their thoughts on the future of EHS, attending conferences and making connections, how they found the profession, their favorite parts of the job, and more! Thank you to all who participated in this year's episode. We'll see you again soon at the NSC Safety Congress & Expo, September 15 - 17 in Denver, Colorado. Be sure to stop by the HSI booth, #3549, and say hi to Jill and others from HSI.

131: Live From ASSP Safety 2025

Initially aspiring to be a hip-hop music producer, PJ Gillam instead found his career in EHS through early experiences working in chemical and laboratory safety roles. With the encouragement of mentors, PJ continued down the path of EHS and transitioned to a leadership position in manufacturing, adapting as a one-person safety team and creating the "Safety After Dark" program for night shift workers. He advocates for using AI and data analytics to enhance safety and encourages EHS professionals to “find their hook,” have conviction, and adopt new technologies. PJ stresses the importance of relationships, empathy, and prioritizing the well-being of others while sharing insights on overcoming challenges and making a meaningful impact in the safety field.

130: What's My Hook?

Ryan Word's journey began as a firefighter in Georgia, where a fire truck accident prompted his shift to working for his family’s construction company. He eventually moved to a major construction corporation in Orlando, climbed the ladder to superintendent, and started taking notice of safety more while working on theme park jobsites. He played a crucial role in developing a safety plan for a BROWZ certification, and decided that would be his next career move. Ryan is now a Safety Manager at FTI and is active in the local ASSP chapter, currently serving as chapter president. He is passionate about discovering individuals' motivations for safety and advocates for human and organizational performance principles. Ryan also contributes to the ASSP Professional Safety Journal, sharing insights on various safety topics.

129: 16 Broken Bones, Finding Your Why, and Human and Organizational Performance

In today's ever-changing landscape, health and safety professionals need to practice resilience more than ever. For this special 7th anniversary episode, previous guest, Chip Hughes, discusses significant challenges in the industry, focusing on the evolving recognition of mental health's impact on workplaces, and the changes to critical government agencies like NIOSH. Jill and Chip share resilience practices, discuss the importance of resilience for safety professionals, and hit on the need to improve communication of complex health and safety information effectively.

128: Resilience, Repair, and Finding Balance

Tune in to hear how the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is shaping the future of occupational health and safety. CEO, Larry Sloan, shares with us AIHA's innovative initiatives, such as their heat stress monitoring app, collaboration with NIOSH on the Total Worker Health program, and AIHA's commitment to research, resource development, and training to elevate industrial hygiene practices. Larry and Jill discuss how AIHA is dedicated to advancing the health and safety of workers everywhere, making a difference through its membership of over 7,000 professionals. Find out how you can get involved in this mission to eliminate workplace injury and illness.

AIHA [https://www.aiha.org/]

Larry Sloan's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-sloan-mba-cae-fasae-bb88a6/]

AIHA Heat Stress App [https://www.aiha.org/public-resources/healthierworkplaces/healthier-community-resources/thermal-heat-stress-resources-oehs-professionals]

AIHA Total Worker Health Advisory Group [https://www.aiha.org/get-involved/volunteer-groups/advisory-groups-and-other-project-teams/advancing-the-science-and-practice/total-worker-health-advisory-group]

127: The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)

Does your EHS program have a negative reputation within your organization? Are you tired of always just being associated with regulations, instead of being seen as an integral business driver? Welcome back Subena Colligan, a seasoned industrial hygienist and safety professional, who leads EHS professionals towards becoming strategic business partners. Her approach focuses on developing elite EHS programs by aligning them with business outcomes and risk tolerance. She advises on how to engage with C-suite executives by understanding company priorities and building trust. Subena employs an audit-strategize-resolve model to gather data, create strategic plans, and implement quick wins, facilitating transformation over an 18-month period. She also emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and concentrating on controllable factors during periods of change and uncertainty.

Subena Colligan's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scolligancoaching/]

Ernst & Young EHS Maturity Model [https://www.ey.com/en_us/services/assurance/ehs-maturity-model]

McKinsey & Company [https://www.mckinsey.com/]

The Changing World Order by Ray Dalio [https://www.amazon.com/Changing-World-Order-Nations-Succeed/dp/1982160276/ref=asc_df_1982160276?mcid=d734f90756b7340a8bf52732aade2618&hvocijid=8544190473519060932-1982160276-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8544190473519060932&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9026757&hvtargid=pla-2281435180538&psc=1]

Wall Street Journal Article: It’s Called a Premortem—and It’s the Most Productive Thing You’ll Do All Year [https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/new-years-resolutions-ron-shaich-cava-panera-c0fb7922]

The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace [https://5lovelanguages.com/store/the-5-languages-of-appreciation-in-the-workplace]

126: Transforming EHS Professionals into Strategic Business Partners

Dr. Fran Scott-Diehl, who embarked on her journey in the safety profession in the mid-1990s, initially intended to study architecture but was steered towards occupational safety and health by encouraging female professors. Her career began in claims processing, a role she found emotionally taxing, prompting her to transition to the utility industry and private sector positions, including at Sysco Foods and PODS. Dr. Fran underscores the necessity of establishing a robust safety framework, particularly when integrating new safety professionals lacking traditional backgrounds, emphasizing that effective safety leaders require strong interpersonal skills, curiosity, and a commitment to hard work. As an educator, she encourages upcoming safety professionals to be independent thinkers who challenge authority and innovate, while also highlighting the importance of self-reflection and self-care to prevent burnout. She advises safety professionals to prioritize nurturing themselves to enhance their leadership in the new year.

Dr. Francene Scott-Diehl, PhD, MPH,CSP, CIT, CDS [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-francene-scott-diehl-phd-mph-csp-cit-cds-3a760915/]

Franny the Safety Nanny Books [https://www.amazon.com/Franny-Safety-Nanny-Francene-Scott/dp/1737834502]

125: OSHA Isn't Driving the Safety Pro's Future

HSI's Chief Safety Officer, Jill James, chats with other safety professionals about how they came into their role as a safety professional, what they've learned along the way, as well as some of the highs and lows that come with job.

The Accidental Safety Pro