MEMIC Safety Experts
Business & Finance
About
Because safety is more than just a policy, practice, or personal protective equipment, the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast hosted by Peter Koch will interview industry leaders every two weeks on the trends, tools, and techniques that are tried, tested, or emerging in the world of workplace safety. What you learn could save your life or the life of a friend or coworker, or at least save everyone from a few unnecessary cuts, burns and bruises. Make your work, and world, a safer place.
Episodes
- Cybersecurity and Workplace Safety: Protecting People, Operations, and Culture with Jay Carter
Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern—it's a core business issue that aligns with workplace safety. With cyber and phishing attacks becoming more frequent, more sophisticated, and increasingly focused on people, even small gaps in…
- Combustible Dust in the Workplace What Weve Learned and Whats Changing with James Burke
Combustible dust remains a major—but often overlooked—industrial hazard. In this episode, we break down what combustible dust is, why deadly explosions continue to occur, and what's changing in regulations and industry best practices. We a…
- The Winter Work Playbook: Ranger Lessons for the Everyday Jobsite with Matt McGuire and Rob Tice
Practical winter safety strategies for outdoor workers and supervisors, informed by the field experience of Maine's Baxter State Park rangers. Rob Tice - Baxter State Park District Ranger. He began his career in Baxter State Park in 2001 a…
- The Safety Dividend: Leadership Lessons from WD-40 to Boeing with Randy Klatt
In today's competitive landscape, workplace safety isn't just about compliance – it's a critical driver of success, deeply intertwined with an organization's culture and leadership. This episode unwraps two case studies: the remarkable jou…
- Slip Trip and Fall Prevention with Kim Block and Rose Wess
On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast I am joined by MEMIC safety consultant Rose Wess and former WGME 13 news anchor Kim Block to talk about the critical importance of slip, trip, and fall prevention. Learn how these acciden…
- Identifying Workplace Violence Exposures with Command Master Sergeant, 101st Airborne Retired, Bart Womack
Reports of violence in the workplace have escalated over the last 10 to 20 years, despite laws and rules that have been put in place to prevent these situations from happening. So, as a business owner, supervisor or manager, what can you d…
- Safety Leadership and Leading Indicators with Shawn Galloway
Workplace safety isn't just about compliance; it's a reflection of leadership and a commitment to employee well-being. Leadership in the workplace plays a crucial role in fostering a culture of safety using leading indicators to identify p…
- AI: Our Future Friend or Foe with Lillith Chute
In this episode, we explore the fascinating realm of AI (artificial intelligence) with Lillith Chute, senior software engineer here at MEMIC. We will go from its basic concepts to its potential for revolutionizing industries. Join us as we…
- 2024 Summer Interns: Caitlin and Isaac
Every summer, MEMIC interns from across all departments dip their toes into the world of safety culture and Workers' Compensation insurance by working alongside industry professionals, both in the field and around the office. Join me as I…
- Getting the most out of your pre-hiring process with Mark Walker and Luke Slabaugh from SaferHire
Having the right hiring practices is critical for building an effective, productive, and safe team that will attract other quality candidates. In this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I speak with Mark Walker and Luck Slabaugh…
- Slip Trip and Fall Prevention with Tim McCarty
Slip and fall exposures exist everywhere and can easily be overlooked in the workplace until someone is injured. Today on the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I have Tim McCarty, MSc, Senior Vice President – Safety & Risk Consulting for Clark…
- Workplace Athletes with Kelly Feldkamp
Work, no matter what the work can be physically taxing. That work can be at home in the yard or garden, working on the car or the place you live, or caring for kids and family. Or it can be in the workplace – in the office, on the factory…
- Bath Iron Works and VR Training - How Maine's Shipbuilders are Safely Learning the Trades with Glen Hilt
Many studies have been conducted to determine the efficacy of Virtual Reality (VR) as an educational tool. Results indicate that learning in a VR environment leads to higher rates of retention and recall when compared to computer-based lea…
- Hearing Safely with Tyler Hadley
Noise in the workplace can be dangerous. A loud environment can cause problems ranging from difficulties concentrating and stress to hearing damage and poor decisions. Controlling noise through engineering controls such as dampening, absor…
- My 5 Whys - Getting Safety Buy-In with Maryann Hoff
Maryann Hoff, MEMIC's Vice President of Loss Control discusses how industry and safety professionals need to better understand the why behind a safe workplace and breaks it down into the Five Whys of Safety Commitment.
- Do You Hear What I Hear? Hearing Loss Can be Prevented, but No One is Listening
According to the CDC, 22 million American workers are exposed to noise levels above 85 decibels at work every year, and 30 million workers are exposed to chemicals that can be ototoxic. Add to that the 48 million Americans currently experi…
- The future of ergonomics with Maureen Anderson
Maureen Anderson, MEMIC's Manager of Ergonomics discusses ergonomic risk factors and controls, body mechanics, assessment tools, and how future technology may shape our process for creating ergonomic solutions.
- Slip Trip Fall PSA
- Young Worker Injury Prevention
A team from the Maine Department of Labor discusses the overall challenge of young worker safety, what might be driving the injuries, and strategies for business to prevent them. Episode Resources: Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor: Prohibi…
- Sept 11 - What We Have Learned About Emergency Preparedness
New techniques, evolving technologies, and collaboration at the federal level have created tools like the National Incident Command System for organizing collaborative responses across agencies to large scale emergencies from natural disas…
- PPE Must fit or else! with Allison Short
OSHA's new proposed clarification for PPE in the Construction standard reinforces that PPE MUST FIT. Failure to follow this simple statement is one the reasons why workers are injured when they believe they are protected. PPE shouldn't jus…
- Bee Safety - Safely Coexisting with Nature's Necessity
Bees can swarm around trash areas in the summer, but businesses should be able to eliminate or reduce the bee population around dumpsters through good waste and trash management practices, dumpster and trash area maintenance, and staff tra…
- Working Safely in Summer Heat
Heat stress occurs when environmental conditions, physical activity, and your own personal risk factors combine to cause your core temperature to rise in a manner where your body begins to struggle to compensate or regulate.
- Know Before You Mow – Dangerous Plants
It's the season for property maintenance. Workers behind mowers or with a string trimmer in hand are common sights across the nation. Training for staff assigned these jobs is usually weighted toward equipment operation and safety. However…
- The Workplace Injury Puzzle with Terry Dussault
Workplace Safety and Injury Prevention can be like trying to build a puzzle without the picture on the box. All the pieces connect together, but in order for it to be a seamless picture, they have to connect in a particular way and order.…
- MEMIC - 30 Years in the Making – The Intersection of Safety and Insurance Excellence
On this, our 100th episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I spend an hour with MEMIC President & CEO, Mike Bourque, as we talk about what has changed during our 30 years in business, how MEMIC continues to innovate around workplace s…
- First Call, MEMIC's Injury Triage Tool with Lara Heal and Jared Payton
Injury management is a key part of the workplace safety equation and getting the injured employee the appropriate level of care quickly and seamlessly is at the heart of the process. On today's episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Lara Heal…
- Lean Safety with Sean Fields
Continuous process improvement for your safety program can challenging. However, with the right perspective, it can be integrated effectively and create an environment where quality and productivity thrive over the long term. To help provi…
- Will we do the uninspected? – How workplace inspections can help with Rod Stanley
For some, a workplace inspection can be associated with a visit from OSHA or another certifying agency. Others may find them tedious and disconnected from expectations. However, workplace inspections can be a useful tool to connect what a…
- A Look into the OSHA VPP program with Bob Thompson
Did you know that the average OSHA Voluntary Protection Program worksite has a lost workday incidence rate at least 50 percent below the average of its industry? Curious about what it's like to go through the VPP process? On today's episod…
- A Day In The Life of a US Army Safety Officer with Tobi Bledsoe
Ever wonder what a Safety person does all day? Could be Training, or Safety by Walking Around, or completing a Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet, or even Relationship building. On today's episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast Tobi…
- Workplace Violence – Strategies for Prevention with Corey Jones
Not all workplace violence happens with a weapon. Sometimes it can be verbal or even psychological abuse from a customer or a fellow employee. Regardless of the tool, violence at the workplace is on the rise. On today's episode of the MEMI…
- Rethinking Your Workplace Stretching Program with Clayton Cartwright - Part 2
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that in 2020 there were nearly a quarter million work related musculoskeletal injuries that resulted in days away from work with the average number of days away being 14 (1) . Statistics also sho…
- Rethinking Your Workplace Stretching Program with Clayton Cartwright - Part 1
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that in 2020 there were nearly a quarter million work related musculoskeletal injuries that resulted in days away from work with the average number of days away being 14 (1) . Statistics also sho…
- Safe Patient Handling and Its Role in Physical and Occupational Therapy with Susan Diffenderfer
90% of all Physical and Occupational Therapists will suffer an occupational injury in their career. One in every six will change jobs or careers as a result of a work-related musculoskeletal injury. There are tools available such as lift,…
- Wink, Wink, Nudge, Nudge - How to Effect Choice Architecture In Safety with Dr. Julie Sorenson Part II
Behavioral economics looks at how the decisions we make are influenced by our human cognitive processes. While there are many ways to impact choices, social marketing and nudging are two that can be implemented on the workplace safety fron…
- Wink, Wink, Nudge, Nudge - How to effect choice architecture in safety with Dr. Julie Sorenson
Behavioral economics looks at how the decisions we make are influenced by our human cognitive processes. While there are many ways to impact choices, social marketing and nudging are two that can be implemented on the workplace safety fron…
- OSHA Recordkeeping Updates with Stephen Badger
The year is coming to a close and if you haven't already, you, or someone at your company should be preparing to update your OSHA log and generate your OSHA 300a summary to post at your establishments. On today's episode of the MEMIC Safet…
- Patterns of Movement for the Industrial Athlete with Dr. Trent Nessler Part II
Non-impact musculoskeletal injuries from overexertion cost billions of dollars each year. New data is showing that better core activation and pelvic stability increases performance and reduces knee, back, and shoulder pain in firefighters.…
- Patterns of Movement for the Industrial Athlete with Dr. Trent Nessler Part I
Non-impact musculoskeletal injuries from overexertion cost billions of dollars each year. New data is showing that better core activation and pelvic stability increases performance and reduces knee, back, and shoulder pain in firefighters.…
- The Future of Respiratory Protection with Chad Wedding
Choosing the right respirator is not simple as the act of taking a breath, but it will make breathing easier if you do it right. On today's episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast I get to talk to Chad Wedding PhD, from Bullard about t…
- Data Driven Safety Leadership with Gary Bonnet
On this episode, I sit down with Gary Bonnet, Head of Customer Engagement at SafetyCulture, and chat about how data can help identify leading indicators that could lead to proactive and effective safety solutions around the workplace.
- Spooky Safety and Killer Causes
Inattentive blindness, complacency, and the OSHA's Fatality Inspection Data. What could make a Halloween episode more scary? On today's Fractional Safety episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast killer causes and how to avoid them are t…
- Send in the Drones - How Drones are Used to Keep Workers Safe - Part 2
Many companies have state of the art solutions for communications, productivity, and financial process. As safety professionals or as managers and supervisors, it's time push the boundaries of our safety solutions bag of tricks and conside…
- Send in the Drones - How Drones are Used to Keep Workers Safe - Part 1
Many companies have state of the art solutions for communications, productivity, and As safety professionals or as managers and supervisors, it's time push the boundaries of our safety solutions bag of tricks and consider the feasibility a…
- Logging Safety - The Hazards are Closer than you Think with Erika Scott
Trees, terrain, weather, equipment, you name it. Any combination of these can conspire to put the logger in harm's way. There is some new evidence that these traditional hazards might not be the only things killing loggers today and the re…
- Labor Day and Workplace Safety
Most people consider Labor Day as the official last hurrah before kids return to school full time. However, the history of Labor Day in the US and is tied to workplace safety past, present, and future. On today's episode of the MEMIC Safet…
- OSHA 10-Hour Video Conference Training with Laurie Nolt, Justin Banks, and Randy Morehouse
Need a refresher on the OSHA standards? Or maybe your company is starting a initiative around workplace safety inspections. Or are the supervisors in your company required by the contractor you are working for to have a an OSHA 10hr Outrea…
- Heat Stress Prevention with Tom Bernard (re-air)
Due to the current heatwave sweeping the nation, we have decided to re-air our episode on heat stress and exhaustion with Tom Bernard. Heat stress is no joke. Exposure to excessive heat and working in hot environments can cause Heat Exhaus…
- OSHA 10-Hour Training with Stephen Badger and Richard Berthiaume
Whether it is required by your state or a contractor you're working with, or because want to expand your team's knowledge of workplace safety and how to identify and control hazards, an OSHA 10hr class just might fit the bill. On today's e…