Join us for this 2024 worker safety trend wrap-up, where we're discussing the top worker safety gaps and opportunities we personally saw ourselves in the field as safety experts. Is this reviewing OSHA's list from Sept 2024? No. Is what we're listing possibly some of the root causes for why OSHA issued the citations they did? Maybe. Stick with us until the end to see the actionable, budget conscious safety strategies for 2025 and let us know if we missed any that you saw! Full episode description below:

Key Points:
OSHA 2024 Most-Cited Issues- this video isn't covering that list released in Sept 2024 due to that can be looked up, but the gaps we saw likely contributed to system breakdowns that resulting in the citations they ended up issuing.

1. Significant Procedure gaps were seen in confined space assessments, lock out tag out procedures, PPE assessments, SOPs, task procedures etc.

2. Stakeholder Involvement and Documentation- Importance of engaging qualified stakeholders for accurate hazard evaluation, program and procedure development, and overall program engagement.

3. Critical Technical Experience-Based Knowledge Was Lost to Turn Over & Retirement- Addressing the loss of knowledge due to retirements and high turnover rates.

4. Risks in Non-Routine Tasks, Team Members in Support Roles, and Multi-Employer Worksites-
Identifying overlooked hazards in tasks performed during off-hours or by contractors and support roles at the facility.

5. Technological Advances and Safety Challenges- Integrating robotics, AI, and advanced systems into safety protocols- implementation of new technology prior to the development of safety protocols and program updates.

Resources:
Visit AllenSafety.com for in-depth audits, evaluations, and training.
Explore AllenSafetyCoaching.com for over 100 videos, free email coaching, and step-by-step safety guidance.

This video is intended for educational purposes. Solutions offered are not designed to take the place of an attorney or medical professional, and should not be taken as legal or medical advice. It is recommended that viewers consult a safety consultant, medical provider or an occupational safety legal team as applicable to help navigate their specific circumstances.

This video is intended for educational purposes. Solutions offered are not designed to take the place of an attorney, career advisor, or medical professional, and should not be taken as legal, career, or medical advice. It is recommended that viewers consult a safety consultant, career advisor, medical provider or an occupational safety legal team as applicable to help navigate their specific circumstances.

It seems like there are people claiming to be "experts" everywhere- so how do you spot the true experts among all the noise? This video helps you identify exactly that with some red flags and key questions to ask then next time you hire a third party for PSM or Safety audits or training.
This video is intended for educational purposes. Solutions offered are not designed to take the place of an attorney or medical professional, and should not be taken as legal advice. It is recommended that viewers consult an occupational safety legal team as applicable to help navigate their specific circumstances.

Could something as simple as a microwave be driving up injuries at your manufacturing facility? We think it very well could be, but it goes deeper than that. It goes all the way to the culture and environment your employees are working in. Does your facility have any of these top risks that can drive up stress, and in turn risk of injury? Join us with special guest George Mazzuca this week where we break it all down, and talk about our experiences working in the plants, along with what stressed us out! Full episode summary below:

Key Discussion Points:

1. Smoking Areas:

Smoking areas can inadvertently increase stress when they are too far from workstations or in poor weather conditions.

Solutions: Install additional smoking areas closer to key work areas or provide sheltered, weatherproof spaces to reduce break-time inconvenience.

2. Guard Shack Delays:

Long lines at guard shacks during shift changes create delays and anxiety about clocking in on time.

Solutions: Increase the number of lanes during peak times, streamline inspections with clear bag policies, and optimize staffing for guard duties.

3. Parking Lot Challenges:

Large parking lots often mean lengthy walks to entrances, exacerbated by weather conditions.

Solutions: Designate closer parking spots for different shifts or implement shuttle services to ensure timely access.

4. Cafeteria Microwave Shortages:

A lack of microwaves leads to long lines and rushed meals during short break periods.

Solutions: Invest in additional microwaves to accommodate all employees or stagger break times to minimize congestion.

5. Wet Floors:

Wet floors during pre-op and sanitation increase the risk of slips and add to morning stress.

Solutions: Use squeegee teams to quickly dry floors, lay down anti-slip mats, and clearly mark safe walkways.

6. Leaving Work on Time:

Employees often leave a few minutes early to avoid parking lot traffic, creating coverage gaps and added stress for remaining staff.

Solutions: Stagger end times to reduce bottlenecks and improve parking lot flow.

7. Pre-Op Stress:

Pre-op sanitation and equipment setup delays affect the entire production schedule, increasing stress levels for all involved.

Solutions: Build buffer times into the schedule, ensure communication between teams, and prioritize efficient setups.

8. Lockout Accessibility:

Hard-to-reach lockout points deter proper compliance and increase frustration.

Solutions: Relocate lockout points to more accessible locations and provide practical solutions for elevated equipment.

9. Holiday Season Stress:

The holidays bring additional pressures with altered schedules, family obligations, and increased travel.

Solutions: Encourage flexibility, stagger schedules, and prioritize employee well-being during this busy time.

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Workplace safety stress, employee morale, guard shack delays, wet floors safety, parking lot management, lockout safety tips, cafeteria solutions, pre-op sanitation stress, holiday workplace stress, Allen Safety podcast, safety protocols improvement.

This video is intended for educational purposes. Solutions offered are not designed to take the place of an attorney or medical professional, and should not be taken as legal or medical advice. It is recommended that viewers consult a safety consultant, medical provider or an occupational safety legal team as applicable to help navigate their specific circumstances.

Its the holiday season, a dinner topic that may be brought up at a lot of tables centers around job and career changes. For safety managers, a driving force for contemplating a job starts with if they feel the company they work for doesn't have safety values that align with their own. Is it the company, or is it how the manager is presenting the concept of safety? Listen to this episode to learn more!
This video is intended for educational purposes. Solutions offered are not designed to take the place of an attorney, career coach, or medical professional, and should not be taken or acted upon as legal, career, or medical advice. It is recommended that viewers consult a safety consultant, career advisor, medical provider, and/ or an occupational safety legal team as applicable to help navigate their specific circumstances.

In this episode, Joe and Jen dive deep into the world of training costs and provide practical insights on how to manage your facility’s training budget without sacrificing quality or compliance. From in-house vs. third-party training to hidden fees and travel expenses, they break down the key factors that can make or break your training program.

As a plant manager or safety leader, it's essential to ask the right questions when evaluating training vendors. The episode touches on everything from the true cost of training (including travel and overtime) to how to ensure your team receives effective, hands-on learning that directly applies to your operations. Jen shares real-world examples of the challenges that arise when hiring external trainers and the surprising additional costs, like billing for travel time or the risk of not getting full value from PowerPoint-heavy sessions.

They also discuss the importance of customizing training to your specific needs, whether it’s for confined space entry, lockout/tagout, or specialized equipment, and how to ensure your team is actually getting the skills they need—not just a certification. Joe emphasizes the importance of hands-on training and competency verification, while Jen explains how management can be more involved in the training process to ensure it delivers real value.

Ultimately, the episode gives a no-nonsense approach to managing training costs, understanding bids, and evaluating whether the training you're paying for meets your facility’s needs. With tips on how to get the most out of your training investment, this episode is a must-listen for anyone responsible for safety and compliance training at their facility.

The episode walks through key questions you should ask when selecting a training provider, including:

In-house vs. Third-Party Training: Should you keep it internal or bring in external experts? How do you evaluate the expertise of external trainers?

Customization of Training: Is the training tailored to your specific industry, plant, and job functions, or is it generic and broad?

Understanding the True Costs: Get clarity on whether you're paying for travel time, overtime for your employees, and potential hidden fees.

Hands-On vs. PowerPoint Training: Is the training interactive and relevant to your team's daily tasks, or are you getting a generic, one-size-fits-all presentation?

Managing Competency and Verification: What does competency verification look like, and how do you ensure your team actually learns and applies the training?


For more details, check out their website at Allen-Safety.com or connect with Joe and Jen on LinkedIn.

SEO Keywords: training costs, safety training, in-house vs external training, plant training budget, safety training budget, training vendors, hands-on training, competency verification, safety compliance, industrial training, industrial safety training, confined space training, lockout/tagout training, arc flash training, maintenance team training, training customization, hot work, welding, liability, risk mitigation, risk reduction, safety manager, safety budget

This podcast is intended for educational purposes. Solutions offered are not designed to take the place of an attorney or medical professional, and should not be taken as legal or medical advice. It is recommended that viewers consult a safety consultant, medical provider or an occupational safety legal team as applicable to help navigate their specific circumstances.

In this episode, Joe and Jen cover all of the tangible costs of an injury, but dive deep into the intangible costs that injuries bring that are typically not calculated. These underlying costs can cause the start of a cycle that can end up repeating for years to come. Is your business in one of these cycles? Episode summary below:

Cost of Workplace Injuries:

This episode focuses on the cost of workplace injuries, highlighting both tangible and intangible expenses such as medical bills, management time, lost productivity, and knowledge gaps.
Management Time:

Injuries lead to additional management responsibilities, including investigations, retraining, and compensating for absent employees, which disrupts regular workflows.
Loss of Productivity:

When injuries occur, productivity is impacted. Managers often spend 100% of their time running the business rather than improving it, and the absence of skilled workers further affects operations.
Employee Morale and Retention:

Extended work hours and the stress of compensating for injured colleagues cause employee fatigue, reducing morale, increasing turnover, and lowering engagement.
Knowledge Gaps:

Injured workers often possess critical skills that cannot be easily replaced. Their absence creates knowledge gaps, especially in specialized areas like maintenance, which can lead to further risks and inefficiencies.
Fatigue and Mental Health:

Fatigue due to extended work periods and increased workloads without recovery time heightens the risk of injuries and affects employees' mental health.
Customer and Public Relations:

Injuries can lead to bad PR and strain customer relations, adding pressure to the business to maintain productivity while addressing safety concerns.
Regulatory and Legal Costs:

Managing workers' compensation claims, regulatory compliance, and potential legal fees adds to the financial burden caused by injuries.
Proactive Prevention:

The podcast emphasizes the importance of preventing injuries by improving communication, addressing risks early, and ensuring employees feel heard to avoid burnout and maintain safety.
Closing Remarks:

Hosts Joe and Jen Allen remind listeners to assess all costs (tangible and intangible) associated with workplace injuries, encouraging businesses to prioritize safety not only for moral reasons but also to maintain control over their operations.

This video is intended for educational purposes. Solutions offered are not designed to take the place of an attorney or medical professional, and should not be taken as legal or medical advice. It is recommended that viewers consult a safety consultant, medical provider or an occupational safety legal team as applicable to help navigate their specific circumstances.

In this episode, Joe and Jen debate if making changes based on ergonomic evaluations are worth the money, and how to get a return on any ergo projects. If you're wondering if JHAs, JSAs, and Ergo assessments are worth the time and effort, this one is for you!

Key Takeaways:

Ergonomics Is Often Overlooked: When businesses are under pressure, ergonomic improvements are frequently postponed, yet neglecting them leads to higher injury rates and long-term costs.

New Hires at Risk: In physically demanding industries like poultry processing, new hires are particularly vulnerable to ergonomic injuries, especially if proper work hardening and ramp-up processes are not followed.

Broaden Ergonomic Understanding: Ergonomics isn't just about repetitive tasks; it involves the entire work environment, including awkward movements, environmental factors, and poorly designed equipment.

PPE and Ergonomics: Ill-fitting PPE can cause significant ergonomic problems, especially for women or other employees whose body types differ from the "standard" sizing used for most PPE.

ROI of Ergonomic Solutions: Investing in ergonomic solutions can deliver a solid ROI by reducing injuries, improving productivity, and even lowering turnover in high-risk roles.

Work Design Matters: Ergonomic assessments should include the broader context of the worker’s environment, not just isolated tasks.

Fatigue Increases Risks: Ergonomic risks increase toward the end of a shift when workers are fatigued, making tasks like lifting heavy hoses more dangerous.