PreAccident Investigation Podcast

Safety Moment - Why is Trust Like Shampoo?

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Best Safety Podcast, Safety Program, Safety Storytelling, Investigations, Human Performance, Safety Differently, Operational Excellence, Resilience Engineering, Safety and Resilience Incentives...
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PAPod 509 - Unveiling Leadership and Safety Capacity with Martha Acosta

Join Todd Conklin on the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast for an insightful discussion with the fabulous Martha Acosta. This episode delves into Martha's fascination with the liberal arts and her recent seminar on "2001: A Space Odyssey." They explore Kubrick's central theme of evolution and its relevance to leadership and organizational development.
Martha shares her journey of writing a book focused on building safety capacity within organizations. She emphasizes the critical role of leadership in creating and shaping meaning within a system. Through engaging case studies, such as the Columbia disaster and the Chilean mining disaster, Martha illustrates how leadership practices can significantly impact an organization's ability to recover from failures.
The conversation touches on the paradoxical nature of leadership, the importance of developing external perspectives, and the systemic nature of soft skills like influence and psychological safety. Martha introduces the CHIP tool (Consequences, Habits, Identity, Power) as a method to uncover underlying issues in organizational behavior.
Tune in to discover how leaders can develop emotional resilience, create capacity, and foster environments where innovation and safety thrive. Whether you're a formal leader or an informal influencer, this episode offers valuable insights for anyone looking to enhance their leadership capabilities.

Safety Moment - The Power of Weak Signals in Safety Management

Welcome to the Pre-Accident Investigation Safety Moment with your host, Todd Conklin. In this episode, Todd explores the concept of signal strength and its impact on workplace safety. Using the example of crossing a street and encountering poorly timed crosswalk signals, he illustrates how weak signals can indicate underlying issues in a system.
Todd emphasizes the importance of identifying and addressing these weak signals to enhance safety. He encourages leaders and managers to listen to their workers and diagnose problems before they escalate into significant events. By improving signal strength, we can create stronger, safer systems.
Tune in to learn how to spot weak signals and make your organization safer. Remember, your role is to listen, identify, and act to ensure a secure working environment. Have fun, stay curious, and be safe!

PAPod 508 - Leadership and Capacity: A Deep Dive into Modern Management

In this engaging episode of the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast, host Todd Conklin teams up with leadership expert Jennifer Long for a thought-provoking conversation on leadership and capacity in today's complex organizational environments. Together, they explore how leaders can build confidence and capacity within their teams to foster innovation and resilience.Jennifer shares insights from her recent leadership development program, while Todd delves into the importance of monitoring capacity rather than just measuring it. They discuss the balance between efficiency and thoroughness, and how leaders can shift their focus from simply solving problems to understanding and analyzing them deeply.Tune in for an enlightening discussion on how modern leadership can adapt to ever-changing challenges, the significance of creating safe-to-fail environments, and the critical role of curiosity and learning in effective management.

Safety Moment - The Power of Context: Free Will vs. Predeterminism in Workplace Safety

Welcome to the Pre-Accident Podcast Safety Moment! In this episode, we delve into the age-old debate of free will versus predeterminism, exploring how individual behavior is influenced by organizational systems, processes, and culture.Our host challenges the notion of free choice in the workplace, arguing that context plays a significant role in shaping our decisions. From the clothes we wear to the products we use, many of our choices are influenced by the environment around us.Join us as we discuss the powerful impact of context on workplace safety and the importance of understanding these influences. Learn something new, have fun, and stay safe!

Remembering Jim Howe: A Safety Pioneer

So we lost a good friend this weekend, and I wanted to take a moment and just celebrate the life of Jim Howe.  This is just a little special podcast. I hope you take a minute and listen to it just because Jim Howe is somebody really special that if you don't know, I wish you did know him. And if you do know him, you totally know why I had to say a few words.
Jim's a remarkable force. I guess maybe it's more accurate to say Jim was a remarkable force. That's hard. But Jim, I think, carried more than his fair share of the weight of moving safety into more contemporary thinking. And he did it in such interesting ways. You know, he was on all these international standards committees, and he helped write a lot of the international standards for safety and for investigatory work and for certification and audits and assessments. And he did that because he knew it would matter, because he knew in essence that was his legacy, is if you want to change a bureaucratic function, you have to change the bureaucratic function. And his belief was, because he told it to me many times, that his voice in the room was often the only voice that was speaking for looking at these problems differently than we have before. And Jim was amazing at that.
Jim spent years in safety. I know for certain he was at the United Auto Workers as the assistant director of safety, and he was at UAW for 20 years, maybe even a little longer. And he ended up at that assistant director spot, and he really led a lot of the more significant efforts that UAW did throughout North America. He's done many, many, many serious critical investigations, fatality investigations. And he was quite amazing at that work, which you have to just be thoughtful that that's an area that I'm not sure how much you want to be amazing at, but he was. He was incredibly good at it. But what I think he liked even more was going out and doing site visits because he did hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of site visits. And I think he liked most of all talking to the people. At least that's certainly my impression.
I've known Jim for a lot of years, certainly more than 10 years. And I have lots of stories about Jim and funny things that happened and how easy it was to get him to laugh and how much he enjoyed the laughter. But I think what most comes to my mind is how thoughtful Jim was about the people and how much he cared about the people and how much he cared about providing, really, an opportunity for the world to be a better place. So, you know, I talk all the time about what is meaningful work. Well, the answer is good work done well for the right reasons. And if I had to pick somebody that exemplified that, it would be Jim. Good work, done well, for the right reasons. Jim's remarkable, and he will be missed.
And after a four-year struggle with prostate cancer, he lost it gallantly this weekend. And our thoughts are with him and certainly with his family, but even more importantly, with everybody he touched. changed throughout the globe, but certainly specifically throughout North America. Jim, we'll miss you, my friend. It was good to know you. You made the light of the world a little bit brighter, and that's amazing. So to our friend Jim Howe, what a great life you lived, and what a significant contribution you gave, not just to us who do this work, work but to everybody who has to work jim we'll miss you.

PAPod 507 - Proactive Safety in Pediatric Healthcare: A Conversation with Jenna Merandi and James Won

Welcome to the latest episode of the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast, hosted by Todd Conklin. In this enlightening discussion, Todd is joined by Jenna Miranda and James Wan, two extraordinary professionals making significant strides in the field of pediatric healthcare.
Jenna Merandi, a medication safety officer at Nationwide Children's Hospital, shares her journey in reducing adverse drug events and implementing proactive safety measures. Learn about the innovative approaches and collaborative efforts that have helped her team break through safety plateaus and improve patient outcomes.
James Won, a human factors expert from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, delves into the importance of designing systems that fit human capabilities. Discover how pediatric hospitals are leading the way in embracing human factors and proactive safety, setting a benchmark for healthcare innovation.
This episode is a deep dive into the evolving landscape of healthcare safety, the challenges of measuring proactive efforts, and the fearless, patient-first mentality driving these advancements. Don't miss this engaging conversation that highlights the power of proactive safety and the impact of collaboration across industries.

Safety Moment - Risk is Fluid

PAPod 506 - Santa Fe Conference: Pre-Accident Insights from Santa Fe

Welcome to the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast! Join our host and special guests, Jay Allen and Jennifer Long, as they dive into the upcoming meeting in Santa Fe from September 10th to 12th. This episode is filled with excitement as we discuss the venue, the Drury Inn Plaza Hotel, and its unique history.
Our main focus is on the critical topic of accountability in safety practices. Jennifer Long sheds light on implementing accountability strategically and culturally within organizations. We also touch upon the intriguing connection between mental health and safety, particularly in high-risk industries like construction.
Get a sneak peek into the workshop layout, designed to build language and fluency in managing reliable and resilient operations. Whether you're a beginner or bringing along decision-makers, this conference offers valuable insights for everyone. Plus, discover the culinary delights and biking opportunities that Santa Fe has to offer during the Wine and Chili festival.
Don't miss out on this enriching experience! For more information and to secure your spot, visit safetyfm.io. Join us in Santa Fe for an event that's sure to enhance your understanding of safety and accountability. Learn, enjoy, and stay safe!

Safety Moment - Summer Safety Tips and Embracing Imperfect Knowledge

Welcome to another episode of Todd Conklin's Pre-Accident Investigation Safety Moment. In this brief yet insightful segment, Todd shares two essential tips for the summer season.First, he emphasizes the importance of staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Dehydration is a common issue, and ensuring you consume enough water can significantly impact your well-being.Second, Todd delves into the concept of imperfect knowledge. When faced with situations where you lack complete understanding or information, he advises seeking out differing opinions and perspectives. This approach helps to bridge knowledge gaps and fosters continuous learning.Tune in to discover how embracing diverse viewpoints can lead to better problem-solving and organizational growth. Remember to stay curious, have fun, and prioritize safety.