In this episode of the Inside the Aisle Podcast, I talk about why experience can sometimes make people uncomfortable in the workplace.

Organizations often say they value experience, but when experienced people start asking questions, pointing out hazards, or challenging broken processes, the reaction is not always positive. Inspired by a LinkedIn post from safety professional James Shultz, this episode looks at workplace culture, accountability, leadership, and why identifying problems should be seen as part of the solution — not as a threat.

I also connect this conversation to the history of workplace safety, the creation of OSHA, and the importance of building a culture where people feel safe speaking up.

At the end of the day, safety is not about protecting egos. It is about protecting people.

In this episode of Safe in the Aisle, we break down one of the most important concepts in workplace safety: the Hierarchy of Controls. While many people think safety starts and ends with personal protective equipment (PPE), OSHA and safety professionals know that the most effective way to prevent injuries is to control hazards at their source. We'll explore the five levels of the Hierarchy of Controls—Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Controls, Administrative Controls, and PPE—and discuss why some controls provide far greater protection than others. Through real-world examples from warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and construction sites, you'll learn how organizations can reduce risk, prevent injuries, and create safer workplaces by applying this proven safety framework.

Whether you're a supervisor, safety professional, or frontline worker, this episode will help you understand how to think beyond PPE and build a stronger safety culture through hazard prevention and risk reduction. Tune in and discover why the best injury is the one that never has a chance to happen.

Think safety is just common sense? Think again.

In this episode of Inside the Aisle, I break down 10 of the most common safety questions workers, supervisors, and job applicants should know. We’ll talk about the difference between a hazard and a risk, what a risk assessment actually means, why the hierarchy of controls matters, and how things like PPE, toolbox talks, near misses, and incident investigations fit into real workplace safety.

I also connect the conversation to OSHA training requirements, including Hazard Communication, Powered Industrial Trucks, Lockout/Tagout, Respiratory Protection, and Fall Protection.

This episode is not just about memorizing answers for an interview. It’s about understanding the safety concepts that help prevent injuries, improve communication, and build a stronger safety culture on the job.

Topics Covered:
Hazard vs. Risk
Risk Assessments
Hierarchy of Controls
Permit to Work
Personal Protective Equipment
Toolbox Talks
Incident Reporting
Incident Investigation
Near Misses
OSHA Training Requirements

Because safety is not about having the right words ready. It’s about making the right decisions before someone gets hurt.

#InsideTheAisle #WorkplaceSafety #OSHA #SafetyTraining #WarehouseSafety #ForkliftSafety #RiskAssessment #IncidentInvestigation #NearMissReporting #SafetyCulture