In this episode of the Leading and Learning Through Safety podcast, Dr. Mark French explores the critical link between psychological safety, rest, and physical safety in the workplace. Traditionally, safety professionals begin with physical safety as a foundation, but Mark challenges that order by highlighting emerging research suggesting psychological safety—particularly the ability to truly rest—is foundational to overall well-being.

Referencing a meta-analysis from the Journal of Occupational Psychology, Mark discusses how earlier studies indicated vacations often fail to provide adequate rest. However, newer research shows a positive trend: people are learning how to rest more effectively, leading to improved psychological safety. Mark emphasizes that true rest looks different for everyone—some recharge through activity, others through solitude—and it's essential to identify what genuinely replenishes your energy.

He also reflects on how organizational culture plays a significant role in whether employees can actually disconnect. Toxic or unsupportive environments can sabotage recovery and lead to burnout, which not only harms individuals but amplifies risk in physical safety. Fatigue and disengagement at work can be precursors to unsafe behaviors, especially when employees are merely surviving rather than thriving.

Ultimately, Dr. French urges leaders to consider safety as holistic—encompassing physical, mental, and emotional well-being. He reminds listeners that burnout and apathy are the enemies of engagement and safety, and that promoting genuine rest is a vital, often overlooked component of a strong safety culture.

The episode concludes with a personal invitation to the Kentucky Governor’s Safety Conference, where Mark will be speaking on culture and safety.

In this episode of the Leading and Learning Through Safety podcast, Dr. Mark French explores the contrast between managing people the easy way versus the right way. Sparked by a discussion with a fellow safety professional and the media’s coverage of the Texas floods, Mark reflects on how safety failures are often sensationalized, leading to blame instead of meaningful solutions. He argues that while it’s easy to point fingers and assign fault, true leadership requires deeper examination of systemic causes and cultural influences.

Drawing on insights from How to Win Friends and Influence People, he criticizes the common "blame, shame, retrain" method as ineffective, favoring instead adult learning and genuine engagement. The podcast underscores the importance of avoiding the toxic cycle of criticizing, condemning, and complaining—especially within safety committees—and instead encourages empowering those most critical of safety programs to become part of the solution.

Mark emphasizes that understanding the “why” behind unsafe behavior is key: Why don’t people follow procedures? Why is noncompliance easier? By asking these questions and involving workers in problem-solving, leaders can drive lasting change. He reflects on his own growth from being a “safety cop” to someone focused on enabling others to choose safe behaviors. The right way isn’t easy, he concludes, but it leads to real improvement in safety culture.

He ends by promoting his upcoming talk on safety culture at the Kentucky Governor’s Safety Conference and encourages listeners to keep pushing for authentic progress.

In this episode of the Leading and Learning Through Safety podcast, Dr. Mark French highlights the urgent need for proactive summer safety measures. As temperatures across the U.S. reach dangerous highs, several tragic workplace fatalities have occurred—many directly linked to extreme heat. Dr. French emphasizes that summer comes every year and should never catch companies unprepared. He cites multiple real-life cases, including the death of a postal worker in Texas, a softball umpire in South Carolina, and a 17-year-old tree trimmer in Michigan—each underscoring the devastating consequences of poor safety planning and lack of supervision.

Beyond heat, the episode reviews a slew of additional summer-related hazards: electrocutions, falls, overturned machinery, and road accidents. Dr. French expresses deep frustration with organizations that continue to neglect basic safety protocols such as lockout/tagout and fall protection. He reiterates that safety is not just about compliance—it’s a moral imperative tied to leadership.

To promote a safer work environment, Dr. French encourages leaders to engage their teams in conversations about seasonal risks. He suggests a simple but powerful safety activity: ask workers what new or increased hazards arise during summer—like roadwork, fatigue, distractions from children at home, or more farm equipment on the roads. By discussing these factors, organizations can raise awareness and take action.

Ultimately, the episode calls on leaders to do something—anything—because even a small effort can prevent harm. As Dr. French says, “One is greater than zero.” His message is clear: safety starts with awareness, leadership, and action

The episode of the Leading and Learning Through Safety podcast, hosted by Dr. Mark French, centers on the pressing issue of summer safety, particularly heat stress and seasonal workplace hazards. Dr. French emphasizes the growing concern over heat-related illnesses due to rising temperatures across the U.S. He highlights ongoing OSHA hearings aiming to implement enforceable standards around heat stress, including rest breaks, hydration, acclimatization, and emergency response plans. While some argue the proposed rules are a one-size-fits-all approach, French stresses that many companies already exceed these baseline protections—and that the real issue is often a lack of enforcement or awareness.

He shares a personal anecdote about carnival workers suffering from heat exhaustion due to delayed safety measures, underlining the human cost of inaction. Beyond heat, the episode discusses summertime hazards such as roadwork risks, fall protection for tree-trimmers and landscapers, and trenching dangers in construction. French calls on both employers and the public to take proactive steps: employers must ensure PPE is appropriate for hot weather, provide thorough safety training for seasonal workers, and prepare for increased workloads; the public must stay alert around roadside workers to prevent accidents.

Ultimately, French urges leaders to anticipate seasonal risks, bolster training and supplies, and foster a safety culture where early warning signs are recognized and acted upon. His message is clear: summer brings recurring hazards, and preparation—not surprise—is key to preventing injuries and saving lives.

In this episode, Dr. Mark French explores the importance of onboarding new safety professionals through a leadership-focused lens. Reflecting on his experience guiding a newly hired safety team member, he emphasizes that onboarding should go beyond teaching technical safety skills. The real value lies in mentoring new professionals on how to apply their knowledge through effective leadership and influence, rather than relying on authority.

Mark shares his personal leadership development journey and underscores that true leadership success is realized when one can help develop others into capable leaders. He explains that his approach centers around influence, empathy, and understanding workplace culture before initiating action. Central to his onboarding philosophy is the 30-60-90 day framework: in the first 30 days, get to know the people; by 60 days, understand the risks; and by 90 days, begin crafting a risk-reduction plan.

He argues that these early days are critical for building trust and gathering context, not solving everything immediately. Leadership starts with listening, being present, and learning about the organization and its people before implementing change. Mark notes that even seasoned professionals typically require six months to a year to reach full effectiveness in a new role. By encouraging authentic relationship-building and observation early on, leaders set the stage for sustainable influence and long-term impact.

The episode closes with a reminder that leadership onboarding should be intentional, people-centered, and focused on developing both trust and strategic insight.

This episode of the Leading and Learning Through Safety podcast, hosted by Dr. Mark French, explores the use of euphemisms in leadership communication. Inspired by a recent article from the Journal of Applied Psychology, Dr. French discusses how euphemistic language—used to soften or reframe harsh realities—can diminish the perceived severity of serious issues like fraud, negligence, or safety violations. While euphemisms can serve a respectful purpose, overuse may lead to reduced accountability and weaker corrective actions.

Dr. French warns against leaders defaulting to either extreme: being overly blunt and personal, or excessively soft and indirect. Both styles, when misapplied, result in ineffective leadership. Instead, he advocates for balanced communication—one that names problems clearly while preserving respect and engagement. Using real-life safety and leadership examples, he emphasizes the importance of addressing problems, not people, and adapting communication to the audience and context. The ultimate goal is to foster constructive conversations that solve problems and improve safety without degrading team members.

The episode concludes with a reminder: effective leadership communication is situational. Sometimes, softening helps understanding. Other times, urgency demands clarity. Either way, always target the issue—not the individual.

In this episode, Dr. Mark French dives deeper into the psychology of listening, reflecting on how powerful it is to be truly heard—and the responsibility that comes with listening effectively. He explores how our personal biases, distractions, and assumptions can distort communication, and stresses the value of active listening, including recapping and confirming understanding to ensure clarity.

French highlights the importance of meeting people "where they are" in conversations, especially when emotions or urgency are involved. Drawing from a tragic safety incident in North Carolina, he shifts focus to organizational listening—questioning whether warning signs or complaints were previously overlooked and whether leaders truly listen to feedback from internal and external sources. He emphasizes that listening must be paired with action and closure—even if the action is simply acknowledging the concern.

The episode continues with a candid story about a minor workplace complaint (a fish oil smell) to underscore the need to validate all feedback, even if the issue doesn’t warrant major change. French reflects on the importance of closure—not just acting on feedback, but following up to ensure people feel heard and see results. He admits personal missteps in communication follow-through and discusses rebuilding trust.

Ultimately, the episode encourages leaders to view listening as a two-way commitment: hearing, understanding, taking appropriate action, and looping back to ensure closure—all while striving to improve through imperfection and empathy.

In this episode of the Leading and Learning Through Safety podcast, Dr. Mark French explores the critical role of listening in leadership, particularly within safety-focused environments. The episode opens with a reflection on how genuine listening is often overlooked yet essential to inclusive and effective leadership. Dr. French emphasizes that active listening fosters open communication, trust, and ultimately, safer workplaces.

He shares a personal story about his child’s long-standing eye issues, which were finally addressed when a provider truly listened—leading to a proper diagnosis and treatment. This moment sparked deeper reflection on how often concerns are voiced but dismissed or inadequately addressed, especially in professional settings. He recounts a safety leadership debrief where communication gaps became apparent, reinforcing the idea that hearing without action is not truly listening.

French discusses a tragic incident where a worker voiced feeling unsafe, only to be ignored by a supervisor—resulting in a fatality. This example underscores the moral and operational importance of responsive listening in safety leadership.

He introduces the concept of "closing the communication loop," where leaders acknowledge concerns, clarify understanding, and take visible action—even if the outcome isn’t perfect. Through humorous and humble examples, he illustrates both successful and failed listening efforts from his own career.

The episode concludes with a call to action: leaders must intentionally listen without bias, verify understanding, and engage meaningfully. True leadership begins with making others feel heard and safe, creating a foundation for trust and organizational growth.