The Accidental Safety Pro

Do you struggle getting purchases approved? Jill and Jon Liesmaki, Sr. Director of EHS at Apogee Enterprises, tackle one of the most overlooked skills in the EHS profession: budgeting. Drawing on real-world experiences and audience questions from their recent EHS Budget Playbook webinar, they discuss how safety professionals can make a stronger business case for funding, build relationships with finance and operations leaders, demonstrate ROI, navigate rejected requests, and find creative ways to secure resources for safety initiatives. Whether you're managing a large budget or trying to get your first safety project approved, this conversation offers practical strategies for turning safety needs into budget wins. The EHS Budget Playbook on-demand webinar, presentation slides, EHS Investment Justification Toolkit, Accounting 101 Terms, and more FREE resources. [https://goto.hsi.com/safety-budget-webinar]

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.

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.

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]

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/]

**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/]

This week, Jill sits down with a truly accidental safety professional. Catherine West now serves as senior director of global health and safety for a business consulting company, but she never intended to get into this industry. After deciding to leave her sales role, she quickly discovered an unexpected love for safety, where she gets to work closely with employees to better their experience and the workplace. Tune in to hear her discuss the four key pillars of employee wellbeing, learn about some of the programs she has implemented to support those needs, and find out why she thinks a "culture of caring" is crucial to workplace safety. Also discover some advice she has for safety professionals on tying personal factors into employee health and safety!