The Safety Leadership Collective

Optimizing Fleet Safety: Leveraging Technology and Leadership to Reduce Distracted Driving

Episode 311: In this episode, Nicholas Coia and Tim Brewster examine the growing crisis of distracted driving. They break down the visual, cognitive, and manual causes and share striking statistics and real-world examples that highlight how dangerous even brief distractions can be.

They also explore practical solutions for fleets. These include hiring standards, clear policies, targeted training, telematics, video-based cameras, and AI alerts. The discussion emphasizes the importance of coaching, leadership commitment, and building a safety-focused culture to reduce crashes and protect both drivers and the public.

Listeners will leave with actionable steps to improve driver safety. The episode also provides resources for Distracted Driving Month and practical tips for using data to coach drivers, support accountability, and reinforce safe driving habits.

Resources for Distracted Driving Awareness Month:

• Distracted Driving Awareness Month - National Safety Council: https://www.nsc.org/road/distracted-driving-awareness-month
• Distracted Driving Dangers and Statistics | NHTSA: https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
• Distracted Driving for Employers- National Safety Council: https://www.nsc.org/road/safety-topics/distracted-driving/distracted-driving-for-employers 

Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-brewster-mba-arm-23233379/

For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

Applying Systems Thinking to Safety

Episode 310: In this episode, host Nichloas Coia talks with Lori Fisher of the Systems Thinking Standard Institute about applying systems thinking (DSRP) to safety and health management. They explain the four core elements of systems thinking and the six practical moves organizations can use to uncover hidden structures, align perspectives, and turn broad safety statements into measurable systems.

The conversation includes real-world examples, implementation tips (like the is/is-not list), and resources for getting started, including the SCSI Basecamp and Lori’s contact information for workshops and further guidance.

Connect with Lori on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorigfisher/

To learn more about the Systems Thinking Standard Institute, check out their website at: https://www.stsi.pro/

To learn more about PLS Management Consulting, check out their website at: https://www.purposeleapsurge.com/

For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

Cut the Safety Noise: Keep It Simple

Episode 309: When leaders prioritize safety over production and speed, employees follow procedures and report hazards. This episode emphasizes the "tone from the top" and the importance of clear, consistent leadership to drive real safety culture.

Justin DeFlumeri, CEO of Optimal Safety Inspections, joined us to discuss keeping safety simple, engaging frontline workers with practical activities like "find it, fix it," and using measurable actions to turn employee feedback into faster, lasting safety improvements. 

Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-deflumeri-ms-5271a7b8/

To learn more about Optimal Safety Inspections, check out their website at: https://www.optimalsafetyinspections.com/

For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

 

Beyond Tired: Recognizing Burnout and Fatigue Before Safety Suffers

Episode 308: Fatigue and burnout aren’t just personal challenges—they’re workplace safety risks. Dr. Michael Atta and Dr. Xuan-Lan Griffith of Summa Health break down the key differences between the two and explain how each can quietly undermine safety, decision-making, and productivity.

Through real workplace examples, they highlight what happens when warning signs are missed.

This episode delivers practical steps for employees, leaders, and organizations to recognize risks early, improve communication, strengthen culture, and implement policies that safeguard both people and performance.

To learn more about Summa Health, please visit their website at: https://www.summahealth.org/

For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

 

Servant Leadership in High-Risk Roles: Building Trust Not Orders

Episode 307: In this episode of the Safety Leadership Collective Podcast, Nic Coia, Mike Thompson, and Ralph Suppa from Cervitas Solutions explore servant leadership in safety roles. They discuss how trust, vulnerability, and leading by example strengthens teams, prevent incidents, and create value within organizations.

Listeners will hear real stories from fire and special operations experience, practical steps for middle managers and frontline leaders, and a clear call to build trust as the foundation of effective safety leadership.

To learn more about Cervitas, please visit their website at: https://www.cervitas.com/

For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

 

Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn: How Trauma Shapes Behavior at Work

Episode 306: Clinical therapist and Mental Wealth Consultant, Kelly Younkins, explains how trauma and stress responses—fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—show up at work, why these reactions depend on individual capacity more than the event itself, and how they drive burnout and disengagement.

The episode offers simple, practical guidance for leaders and coworkers: be curious and compassionate, invest time in regular check-ins and mental health checkups, use EAPs proactively, and adopt language and behaviors that create psychological safety and improve performance.

To learn more about Kelly, please visit her website at: https://www.kellyyounkinsclinicalconsultant.com/

For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

Mastering Impairment: Protecting Workers from Marijuana, Psychedelics, and More

Episode 305: In this episode, Chuck Marting, author of Mastering the Impairment Code, discusses how legalization of marijuana and psychedelics, increasing medical treatments like ketamine, and evolving workplace policies affect safety and impairment. He shares real examples from law enforcement and employers to show why testing, supervisor training, and compassionate intervention can prevent accidents and help employees get treatment.

To learn more about Chuck, please visit his website at: https://www.chuckmarting.com/

For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

 

Introducing The Safety Leadership Collective: Our Podcast Relaunch and Rebrand

Episode 304: Join the Portage County Safety Council as they relaunch the podcast under the new Safety Leadership Collective brand. After humble beginnings in 2017 and 2018, the show has grown to 303 episodes, 141 experts, over 87 hours of content, and listeners in more than 81 nations.

This episode outlines the relaunch goals for 2026, the focus on safety, leadership, and well-being, and invites safety professionals and listeners to join the collective and share expertise.

For more information, please visit our podcast webpage at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/podcasts/

For more information on the Portage County Safety Council, please visit our website at: https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

 

From Prisons to Boardrooms: Values That Transform Organizations

Episode 303: Bernie Torrance, the International Director of the La Red Business Network and Founder of Global Priority Solutions, joined us to talk about values-based leadership and the roundtable model that transformed prisons, courts, and workplaces across Latin America and the U.S., cutting violence and turnover dramatically.

Bernie explains how short, weekly roundtables build trust, create measurable behavior change with simple action steps, and deliver real business results — including a documented $1 million improvement in one year.

Check out some of the organizations that Bernie mentioned in the interview:

• Global Priority Solutions
• The Global Entrepreneur's Institute  
• LaRed Business Network

For more information about the PCSC, visit their website at:  https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/

2025 NE Ohio Safety Expo Preview

Episode 302: Ruth Bowdish of On Demand Occupational Medicine and Dave Constantino joined us to chat about the 2025 NE Ohio Safety Expo! This event will take place on Thursday, September 25, 2025, 9am-4pm, at the Holiday Inn in Boardman, OH.

Now available on your favorite podcast app!

For more info on the 2025 NE Ohio Safety Epo, visit the website at: https://ondemandoccupationalmedicine.com/neo-ohio-safety-expo/

For more information about the PCSC, visit their website at:  https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/