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

The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates of any occupation, with 6,000 workers dying by suicide in 2022. Sondra Lavoie knows how difficult it is to have "THE" conversation around mental health, but emphasizes the importance of building trust, using the right language, and providing resources to support workers' wellbeing. Sondra is an assistant vice president risk control specialist with Sompo, but started her journey as a construction company receptionist. She earned her degrees and certifications later in life, including a CHST and CSP, and has since produced award-winning work in the safety and mental health spaces. Sondra is passionate about mental health and suicide prevention in the construction industry, and she shares strategies for having difficult conversations with workers and company leadership to address these issues. She also discusses the value of public speaking skills and mentorship for safety professionals to improve their communication abilities.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, reach out for help immediately by calling or texting the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. This service provides 24/7 confidential support for anyone experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts.

Episode links:

Sondra's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sondra-lavoie-csp-arm-asp-chst-b3593110/]

Sondra Lavoie - How to have "THE" Conversation - Suicide Prevention [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XF0a88Lxf4]

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
About NAMI | NAMI [https://www.nami.org/about-nami/?msclkid=f40f256c9cf411b6679042e9a520c958&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=REV%20Evergreen%20Donate%202025&utm_term=NAMI&utm_content=2025&utm_source=globalNav&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=DonationTracking&c_src=25ED]

988- Using the 988 Lifeline is free. When you call, text, or chat the 988 Lifeline, your conversation is confidential. The 988 Lifeline provides you judgment-free care. Talking with someone can help save your life.
Get Help - 988 Lifeline [https://988lifeline.org/get-help/]

Mental Health First Aid - Identify. Understand. Respond. Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based, early-intervention course that teaches participants about mental health and substance use challenges.
Mental Health First Aid [https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/]

124: Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Support in Construction

Many find OSHA inspectors to be intimidating, but this week's guest credits them for inspiring his true passion. Jill chats with Randy Milliron, safety manager for the city of Gillette, Wyoming, about starting his career in quality control before moving into a safety role. He talks about receiving mentorship from OSHA inspectors early on (to which he credits his success and longevity) and discusses the new types of challenges he faced when he joined the government sector, including salary negotiations and the daunting task of managing a tight budget. Plus, tune in to get a sneak peek into the book Randy is writing about his insights after 27 years in the safety industry. Enjoy this early dropped episode while traveling during the holiday week. Wishing all of our listeners a safe and happy holiday!

123: Salary and Safety Budgets with a City Safety Manager

**EARLY DROP ALERT!** Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels to our listeners who celebrate the holiday.

Are your employees in a physically demanding occupation? This episode is for you! Jill is joined by Jason Bacigalupo, a human performance coach at Vimocity. Jason discusses his role in helping utility workers, manufacturing employees, and others reduce musculoskeletal injuries. He describes how diaphragmatic breathing, dynamic joint mobility, and other strategies help workers feel better and perform their jobs more safely. In fact, Jason shares success stories of reducing injury rates by over 40% and helping workers regain mobility and reduce daily pain! Tune in now to learn how doing the little things every day add up to big health and safety gains in the long run.

Jason's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-bacigalupo/]

Vimocity [https://www.vimocity.com/]

122: Reducing Musculoskeletal Injuries With a Human Performance Coach

Meet Dr. Jan Handwerk, Associate Professor of Occupational Safety at the University of Central Oklahoma. Dr. Handwerk discusses the challenges she faced throughout her diverse career in male-dominated industries, from teaching physical education to working as a utility substation mechanic, including issues with properly fitting PPE. She emphasizes the importance of effective communication skills for safety professionals and shares insights on the evolving safety landscape, noting the shift from reactive to more preventive approaches. Dr. Handwerk also discusses the "Safety Olympics" she helped establish, which allows safety students from various universities to compete and network. Listen now to hear about the experiences and perspectives of a seasoned safety professional dedicated to educating the next generation of EHS leaders.

University of Central Oklahoma Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety [https://www.uco.edu/programs/ceps/adult-ed-safety-sci/occupational-safety]

NSC Student Membership [https://www.nsc.org/nsc-membership-teaser-pages/student-membership]

Improve your communication skills with the HSI Communications Cafe [https://goto.hsi.com/ehs-professional-communications-cafe]

121: From School Teacher to Associate Professor of Occupational Safety

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