Safety Chats are 5-30 minute interviews or round-table discussions with local professionals in order to provide more insight and commentary into various safety related topics. The goal of every Safety Chat is to broaden the understanding of the listener in every topic covered.

To listen to any of the following Safety Chats simply click on the title of each episode below.

• Episode 96 – Drugs in the Workplace. Dr. Amanda Burke, Prevention Specialist at Townhall II, stayed over with us after her presentation to chat about drugs in the workplace! (15:27) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
• Episode 95 – Interview with Dr. Don Maple. We caught up with Dr. Don Maple of Corporate Health Testing at the Portage County Workplace Health & Safety Expo to chat about safety issues he commonly sees at facilities across the state! (4:38) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
• Episode 94 – Confined Space Rescue Plan. Is 911 your only confined space rescue plan? If so, this episode is a must for you! Pat McCon joins Nic to talk about the importance of having a confined spaces rescue plan! Pat advises companies not to assume your local fire dept can help in the case of a confined space emergency. For more insight, listen today! (9:11) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
• Episode 92 – Confined Spaces. We caught up with Glenn McGinley before his presentation at the Northeast Ohio Safety Expo to chat about confined spaces! Glenn is the Director of the Public Employment Risk Reduction Program (PERRP) at The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. (14:32) Listen/Download via Google Drive
• Episode 90. Using Virtual Reality to Improve Safety. Can virtual reality help improve workplace safety? Eric Irwin, Founder of Speculr thinks so! We caught up with him at the 2019 Ohio Safety Congress in Columbus to discuss how he’s using virtual reality technology to help companies improve their safety performance! (11:52) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
• Episode 89 – Exoskeletons & Ergonomic Risk Reduction. Is Sci-Fi coming to life to help improve workplace safety? We caught up with Jason Gillette, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Iowa State University, at the 2019 Ohio Safety Congress in Columbus to discuss how exoskeletons can help reduce ergonomic risks at work! (9:10) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
• Episode 88 – Silica Standard Overview. We caught up with Dianne Grote Adams & the Safex superhero team at the 2019 Ohio Safety Congress in Columbus, OH! She sat down with Nic to share steps companies can take to ensure full compliance with OSHA’s silica standard update that went into effect last year. (8:35) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
• Episode 85 – Employee Engagement Best Practices. We caught up with Stephen Francis, President & Lead Strategist at Franchise D & I Solutions, before his presentation at the 2019 Ohio Safety Congress on how we can better engage employees through inclusion, involvement & investment! (13:43) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
• Episode 83 – The Real Cost of Safety with Rich McElhaney. Health & Safety Keynote Speaker, Rich McElhaney, stayed over with us at our monthly safety luncheon to give our listeners a quick recap of his presentation titled The Real Cost of Safety in this follow-up interview! (14:15) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
• Episode 81 – Crisis Communications: Interview with Thom Fladung. Thom Fladung, Managing Partner at Hennes Communications, stayed over with us to recap his presentation on Crisis Communications at our monthly safety luncheon! (12:03) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
• Episode 80 – LEPC Chemical Reporting. The Portage County EMA Director, Ryan Shackelford, stayed over with us after his presentation at our monthly safety luncheon to share about the LEPC and required chemical reporting! (5:51) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
• Episode 71 – Training Common Sense to Improve Winter Safety. Cari Gray, Safety Consultant for the Ohio BWC, shares why it’s important to train workers in what appears to be common sense during the winter weather season! (7:10) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 69 – OSHA Recordkeeping 2019 Update. Cari Gray, Safety Consultant for the Ohio BWC, provides some up-to-date OSHA recordkeeping advice! (8:07) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 67 – 5 Ways to Use Podcasts to Improve Safety. Nic & Mike chat about podcasting and share 5 ways you can use them to improve safety at your facility or organization! (15:54) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 64 – Fork Lift Safety. Victor Rossi, Owner & Lead Trainer at Job Safety First, joins us after his presentation at the Northeast Ohio Safety Expo to discuss fork lift safety! (10:39) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 63 – Emergency Preparedness Plans. Marianne Kitakis, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the Portage County Combined Health District, stayed over after her expo presentation to recap 4 steps to developing an emergency preparedness plan. Click here to view her power point. (5:24) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 62 -Ohio BWC has expanded their “Better You, Better Ohio!” Workplace Wellness Program. The Ohio BWC has expanded their Better You, Better Ohio! workplace wellness program to include employers up to 150 employees! In this interview replay, Mark Clendenin, Ohio BWC Regional Business Development Manager for Northeastern Ohio, sits down with us to talk about the ins & outs of this program aimed at helping employers promote health & wellness at their workplaces. (14:07) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
• Episode 57 – Ladder Safety. Dave Dennison, Safety Specialist at Flaherty Sales (Werner Co), joins us after his presentation at the Northeast Ohio Safety Expo to discuss ladder safety! (13:42) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 55 – Site Security Interview. David DiRocco, Security Subject Matter Expert at Johnson Controls, stayed over with us to recap his presentation on Site Security & Vulnerability Assessments! (9:54) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 52 – The Hawthorne Effect: How it Affects Your Safety Culture & Performance. Pat McCon joins Nic & Mike to talk about The Hawthorne Effect and how it affects both your company’s safety culture and safety performance! (16:39) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 49 – Mental Health First Aid. Ashley Baden, certified Mental Health First Aid Trainer at Coleman Professional Services, gives us a snapshot of the internationally recognized Mental Health First Aid training! (12:45) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 48 – 2018 Portage County Mosquito Update. Theodore Russell, BSPH, Vector Control Seasonal Worker at the Portage County Health District, updates us on local West Nile reports and all things mosquitoes! (10:17) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 46 – The Dangers of High Blood Pressure. After completing free health screenings at a couple of our events, Mindy Gusz, Community Outreach Coordinator at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center, noticed that many of our members had high blood pressure. As a result, Mindy sat down with us to get the word out about the dangers of high blood pressure! (11:16). Click here to view reference materials mentioned in this episode. Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 45 – Safety Training with Innovation Technology. Donald Elswick, EHSS Trainer & Specialist at ELSMART Associates and Assistant Professor at the University of Findlay, stayed over with us to recap his presentation on how to better engage employees during safety training by using innovation technology! (11:06) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 44 – Health Code Food Inspections.  Justin Rechichar, Program Supervisor from the Portage County Health District walks us through a typical food inspection and shares what his team is looking for when they arrive at your company. (10:09) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 42 – OSHA Working-Walking Surfaces Update. Cari Gray, Safety Consultant Specialist for the Ohio BWC, stayed over after her presentation at our 2018 expo to discuss the top 3 changes to OSHA’s walking-working surfaces standards! (8:58) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 41 – First Aid Kits. Shelly McCullough of Swift First Aid gives us some tips on what to stock in your facility’s first aid kit! (4:05) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 40 – A Closer Look at Better You, Better Ohio! Mark Clendenin, the Ohio BWC’s Regional Business Development Manager for Northeastern Ohio, sits down with us to talk about the ins & outs of the new Better You, Better Ohio! program aimed at helping employers with 50 or less employees promote health & wellness at their workplaces. (14:07) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 39 – The Evolving Workforce with Steve Ludwig. Steve Ludwig, Safety Programs Manger for Rockwell Automation, sits down with us to discuss the evolving workforce and the most effective measures that will improve safety across generational lines! (12:32) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 37 – Heat Stress: Warning Signs & Prevention. Joe Barney, Compliance & Training Officer from The Great Lakes Construction Co. stayed over with us to recap his presentation on how to prevent heat related illnesses & injuries at work! (7:23) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 35 – Interview with Portage Safe Communities. Lynette Blasimen, Project Director, sits down with us to discuss safe driving and the Portage Safe Communities Coalition! (7:20) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 34 -Interview with Tony DeAscentis, Founder of Ving! Tony DeAscentis, Founder & CEO of Ving! sat down with us to share how technology & “microbursts of safety training” that he calls vings can help improve your safety performance! (22:18) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 31 – Interview with Brad Hurtig. Our May keynote speaker Brad Hurtig stayed over with us to share his inspirational comeback story after a devastating workplace injury that changed his life! He gives us some key principles to stay safe at work and to “find a way” through any adversity! (7:54) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 29 – Fall Protection Interview. Nic Coia interviews Eric White, Construction Safety Consultant for the Ohio BWC, for an in-depth conversation on fall protection! (15:09) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 25 – Silica Standard Interview. Rick Maj, Industrial Hygienist from the Ohio BWC stayed over last week to give our listeners a quick snapshot of his presention and a brief overview of OSHA’s new silica standard. (8:30) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 23 – Trench Safety Interview. Nic Coia interviews Eric White, Safety Consultant for the Ohio BWC, for an in-depth conversation on trench safety! (11:54) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 17 – How Understanding the Stages of Change Can Improve Your Safety Program. Struggling to get your employees onboard with your safety policy? Undertsanding the 5 stages of change may help! (14:42) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 16 – Social & Emotional Aspects of Workplace Safety. Is there more to safety than policy & education? Do social & emotional variables influence the level of compliance by employees? (17:08) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 14 – 2018 Flu Update Interview. In this interview, Susan Forgacs, Public Health Nurse from the Portage County Combined Health District answers questions regarding local flu stats and vaccination information. (7:19) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 12 – Rig it Right: Interview with Al Abel. After his excellent presentation at our monthly luncheon, Lifting Specialist Al Abel from Mazzella Lifting Technologies stayed over to give us a recap. (24:16) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 11 – How to Stay Safe Driving in the Winter. In this interview, Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO joins us to discuss how to stay safe driving in winter weather. (11:39) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 9 – How to Prepare Your Vehicle for the Winter. Vince Stropko and Lori Cook of AAA East Central NEO join us on this Safety Chat to discuss how to prepare your vehicle(s) for the winter. (11:02) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 7 – PERRP Update. Glenn McGinley, the Director of PERRP for the Ohio BWC, sat down with us after his presentation at Maplewood Career Center on December 21, 2017. (12:51) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 5 – The Costs of Improper Handwashing at Work. In this interview, Justin Rechichar of the Portage County Health District shares that according to CDC statistics, employers lose an average of $1,685 in production per employee every year. Something he says that can be significantly reduced by proper handwashing. (14:21) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  
• Episode 3 – How to Reduce the Risks of Slips, Trips, & Falls at Work. PCSC Manager Mike Thompson interviews BWC Industrial Safety Consultant Nicholas Coia on how to reduce the risks of slips, trips, & falls at work. (8:00) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  

Disclaimer: Views expressed in the podcasts may not reflect the views of any affiliated or sponsoring individuals or organizations. Listeners should carefully weigh information provided and seek advice from an appropriate professional before implementing. Listener discretion is advised.