In this episode, Apolonia and her guest, Allison Short, a safety professional and trainer, explore the evolution of safety training, the challenges faced by safety professionals, and the vital role of leadership buy-in in promoting safety culture Today’s topics include: * Allison's experience as a safety consultant. * How Rachel Housman and Ally Safety make safety interesting and fun. * Buy-in from management and employees. * Companies changing their safety culture. * Fostering a growing safety ...
Jun 13, 2024•48 min•Ep. 92
In this episode, Apolonia is joined by Dr. I. David Daniels. David is a safety expert, podcaster, consultant, thought leader, culture warrior, and CEO of ID2 Solutions, a workplace safety solutions provider. The banner image on his LinkedIn sums up his approach rather nicely: “Safety isn’t everything. It’s the only thing!” Today’s topics include: * How David's unique perspective on safety was influenced by losing 30 colleagues to workplace injuries or deaths. * How society conditions people to a...
May 30, 2024•53 min•Ep. 91
In this episode, Apolonia is joined by James A. Junkin, the CEO of a risk management and occupational safety and health consulting firm in Louisiana. James is also an advisory board chair of Veriforce, which provides supply chain risk management solutions. Today’s topics include: * James shares his background in the Navy and how it led him to the oil and gas industry. * How James was part of the response to the BP oil spill (Deepwater Horizon oil spill) in the Gulf of Mexico. * Training oil spil...
May 16, 2024•58 min•Ep. 90
In this episode, Apolonia is joined by Anthony Campbell. Tony is a certified workplace violence and threat specialist and the founder of Workplace Violence Prevention Consultants, which trains people and organizations in mental health first-aid and helps them implement workplace violence prevention programs and investigations. Today’s topics include: * Mental health first aid in blue-collar industries, such as the construction, oil, and gas industries * Tony’s background in the military and tran...
May 02, 2024•45 min•Ep. 89
In this episode, Apolonia is joined by Bryce Griffler, a co-founder of Safety is for Everyone, an organization that believes everyone deserves a safe, inclusive workplace and community. Apolonia and Bryce explore: * How bringing your full authentic self to work means higher productivity, deeper engagement, and more innovation. * Bryce’s journey from engineer to safety practitioner. * Being empowered by diversity and inclusion. * Creating a safe and comfortable environment for employees to speak ...
Apr 18, 2024•35 min•Ep. 88
In this episode, Apolonia is joined by Felix Nater, president and owner of Nater Associates. Felix and his security management consulting firm work with clients to implement workplace security strategy with an emphasis on workplace violence prevention. Today’s topics include: * Workplace safety and violence prevention. * Felix’s approach to safety training, which emphasizes empathy and emotional intelligence. * The importance of practical and common-sense approaches to OSHA compliance, rather th...
Apr 04, 2024•41 min•Ep. 87
In this episode, Apolonia is joined by Andrew Boyd, a former cybersecurity consultant who ditched his desk job, strapped on a helmet and a harness, and found a more fulfilling career in the trees. What can safety professionals learn from a man who prunes trees, chops down trees, removes deadwood and trees, and grinds tree stumps? A lot, apparently! Listen to this episode to find out! Today’s topics include: * Andrew started in software engineering but found the desk job isolating, leading him to...
Mar 21, 2024•35 min
In this episode, Apolonia is joined by Gary Bonnett, a Motivational Speaker and the Principal Consultant at G2 Safety Solutions. With over 30 years of safety experience, Gary dedicates his days to helping leaders and organizations take their culture and safety performance to the next level. He’s here to share the key to understanding frontline workers and creating a safe work environment without sacrificing the needs of the business. Today’s topics include: * Providing a roadmap for blue-collar ...
Apr 20, 2023•28 min
In this episode, Apolonia is joined by Tyler Traweek, the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager at Conco Services LLC. Tyler is passionate about the mental and psychological side of safety and creating a safety culture that protects workers' bodies and minds. He wants to eliminate the blame of human error and encourage safety professionals to look at their systems and how they can account for the inevitable mistakes humans make. Today’s topics include: * How standards for safety culture h...
Mar 23, 2023•28 min
In this episode, Apolonia is joined by Daniel Yates, who owns his own video production and media company dedicated to blue-collar workers- especially in construction. He is passionate about highlighting the experience of the blue-collar worker, and making them feel seen, valued, and heard. Today’s topics include: * Making sure safety professionals truly understand who they’re serving * The brotherhood and connection between blue-collar workers * What an outsider can learn from being on a job sit...
Mar 09, 2023•37 min
In this episode, Apolonia is joined by Russ Kane, the fire chief of True Safety’s local Galeton Fire Protection District who also happens to have a background in safety management. Russ is passionate about advocating for employees and working with them to build up trust and create a successful safety culture. Today’s topics include: * How Russ sees safety is his day-to-day life * Learning about safety from past generations of workers * Having a practical perspective on safety * Understanding how...
Feb 23, 2023•41 min
In this first episode under the new name, Dangerous Jobs, Apolonia is joined by Rory Mele, a field safety professional and the Director of Environmental Health and Safety at BHI who is especially passionate about suicide prevention and mental health in the workplace. Today’s topics include: * How the holiday season can bring a sense of sadness and bring down mental health for some * Why working in health and safety is very personal * Creating healthy and safe company cultures and supporting the ...
Feb 02, 2023•42 min
In this episode, Apolonia is once again joined by Chris Cameron, the Director of the Occupational Health Program at Makovicka Physical Therapy, to continue their conversation on preventative safety measures. Today’s topics include: * Recent stories of workplace incidents and what went wrong * How employers can be more proactive with preventative safety measures * The effectiveness of a pre-shift stretch program * How pre-screening your employees can identify possible injuries before they happen ...
Jan 19, 2023•39 min
In this episode, Apolonia is joined by Chris Cameron, the Director of the Occupational Health Program at Makovicka Physical Therapy, for a conversation on: * The tragedy and collateral damage that comes with workplace accidents * How companies can be proactive about preventing injuries * Makovicka’s screening process in evaluating injury trends and creating early injury intervention plans * Listening to employee’s concerns and getting them better prepared before an injury even happens * Staying ...
Jan 05, 2023•38 min
In this week’s episode, we’re switching things up to bring you a recent interview that Apolonia did with fellow safety podcaster, Dr. Jay Allen on Safety FM. Listen in for a new perspective on Apolonia’s journey into the safety industry, and get more insight into the state of the industry today. Check out Jay Allen and Safety FM: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjayallen/ Website: https://safetyfm.com/ The Jay Allen Show: https://jayallenshow.com/episodes Apolonia Rockwell is the Founder ...
Sep 22, 2022•40 min
In this week’s episode, Apolonia is joined by Paul Henczel, a TEDx speaker and author of Crushed Alive, where he tells the tragic story of a horrific workplace accident that he barely escaped with his life. Paul didn’t let this accident stop him, and instead took his story to the world to inspire and motivate others to change the way they think about and practice safety. You’ll get to hear a little bit of Paul’s story today as well as a great conversation on how to recover from a workplace accid...
Sep 08, 2022•39 min
On this week’s episode, Apolonia and Seth talk about some exciting new things happening with True Safety, and why they are important to the safety industry right now. One of the newest True Safety projects has been opening a brand new Commercial Driver’s License school for operators in the Northern Colorado area. Listen in for details on the new school and other great contributions True Safety is making to the safety industry. Apolonia Rockwell is the Founder and CEO of True Safety Services and ...
Aug 25, 2022•14 min
On this week’s episode, Apolonia dives into a topic that is present every day in her life and career as a safety professional. As a woman and as a minority leading a safety company in a historically male-dominated industry, she understands that they are challenges she has to face, but she also doesn’t see them as a disadvantage and always lets her uniqueness work for her. There are so many women who are doing amazing things in the world of safety, and as more and more women join the field, it is...
Aug 11, 2022•22 min
In this episode, Apolonia talks with Shain Abdoelrahman, CEO and co-owner of Heavy Construction Academy, in Suriname (which is a country on the north coast of South America). Apolonia and Shain explore: * How as a young girl Shain grew up around heavy construction equipment * How safety regulations weren’t enforced much in Suriname when Shain started working in safety, and she had to create her own safety procedures and training from scratch. * The challenge of teaching people safety. * Changing...
Jul 28, 2022•35 min
In this episode, Apolonia talks with Justin Ganschow from Caterpillar Safety Services about: * Justin’s story from growing up working on a farm to entering the safety industry. * How safety evaluations are done. * How to improve the safety score of your company. * Why good safety leaders listen to their frontline team. * Measuring safety on a personal and group level. * Workplace culture and its impact on safety. * Having a real passion for safety. Thanks so much to Justin Ganschow for being a g...
Jul 14, 2022•33 min
This week on the True Safety Podcast, Gary Bonnett, a safety professional at Safety Culture with over 20 years of experience, joins Apolonia for a great conversation on: * Gary’s journey into the safety industry * Why people go into safety * Building trust and understanding in the workplace * Safety Culture and what it offers * What safety looks like for Gary today Thanks so much to Gary Bonnett for being a guest! Connect with Gary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-bonnett-4901818...
Jun 30, 2022•30 min
Rachel Walla, a Safety and Industrial Hygiene Consultant with Ally Safety, comes back onto the show to talk with Apolonia. In this episode, Rachel and Apolonia explore: * How women in the safety industry are often overqualified, yet we still feel we have to prove ourselves to our colleagues (who happen to be mostly men). * Rachel’s plans to film more safety videos, including ones where she tests (and destroys!) personal protective equipment (PPE). * Rachel’s memories about filming her first (and...
Jun 16, 2022•36 min
In this week’s episode, Apolonia is joined by Claire V. Beich, a seasoned safety professional who recently started her own business in safety consulting. She is dedicated to providing customized advice and assistance to raise the standards for a healthy and safe work environment at every company she works with. Together, Apolonia and Claire get into Claire’s journey into the safety industry, her experience as a woman in safety, her unique take on safety, and her unwavering passion for people tha...
Jun 02, 2022•30 min
On this week’s episode, Apolonia is joined by Michael Kleinpeter, a Safety Director with over 20 years of experience and the author of The Right Way. In his book, Michael breaks down his theories and beliefs on safety and details the establishment of roles and responsibilities for safety in an organization. The methods described in The Right Way have been successfully introduced into multiple organizations, and more companies are still reaching out to Michael to have them implemented in their ow...
May 19, 2022•26 min
In this week’s episode, Apolonia is joined by Kim Williams. Kim is the Vice President of EH&S at Ovintiv, a leading North American energy producer. Together, Apolonia and Kim dive into Kim’s journey to leadership in the safety field, the values and practices that make a good safety leader, and the roles that everyone in the company plays in safety. Apolonia Rockwell is the Founder and CEO of True Safety Services and True Safety University. Learn more about “The True Safety Podcast with Apolo...
May 05, 2022•38 min
In this week’s episode, Apolonia is joined by a very special guest, Lisa Hallsworth. Lisa is the CEO and Chief Vision Officer at Rillea Technologies and was named one of the top women in safety in 2021. At Rillea Technologies, Lisa pursues her vision of enabling people and the planet to prosper by enjoying the benefits of chemicals while avoiding harm to workers and the environment. Together, Apolonia and Lisa discuss chemical safety and why chemicals need to be monitored and regulated, as well ...
Apr 21, 2022•39 min
In this week’s episode, Apolonia is joined by Rachel Walla, a Safety and Industrial Hygiene Consultant with Ally Safety. Rachel’s mission is to create innovative, engaging solutions for businesses through consulting, custom safety videos, and materials that interest employees and make safety accessible. She believes that fostering a healthy and safe workplace is the key to any business’s growth and stability. Together, Apolonia and Rachel dive into Rachel’s journey to working in health and safet...
Apr 07, 2022•40 min
In this week’s episode, Apolonia and Seth talk about the human element of safety. Topics that Apolonia and Seth discuss in this episode: * Why safety is more than just the right training * How safety managers can have a stronger and more authentic relationship with their workers * Why it’s necessary to put a more human and caring element into safety vs the “rough and tough” reputation field workers have Apolonia Rockwell is the Founder and CEO of True Safety Services and True Safety University. ...
Mar 31, 2022•19 min
On this week’s episode, Apolonia is joined by Brandon Schroeder, an electrician with over 20 years of experience. August 24, 2011 was just another day on the job – until Brandon experienced an arc flash explosion that should’ve killed him. Brandon’s mission is to tell the story of that survival and the sheer grit behind his recovery so others can learn from his mistakes. Together we dive into Brandon’s life changing workplace accident, the mistakes that led to it and how that accident has led in...
Mar 24, 2022•57 min
In this week’s episode, Apolonia is joined by Rosa Carrillo of Carrillo and Associates Safety Leadership Consulting. Rosa is the author of The Relationship Factor in Safety Leadership, whose core message is that full employee engagement is built through relationship building. Topics that Apolonia and Rosa discuss in this episode: * Rosa’s safety experience * Her book, The Relationship Factor in Safety Leadership * The psychology of safety * Everyone has a sense of belonging, how are we rewarding...
Mar 17, 2022•47 min
