Episode 152: Choosing Words Wisely

Leading and Learning Through Safety

French, delves into the theme of safety in the media, focusing on its portrayal and the importance of accurate reporting. Dr. French shares his background in journalism and expresses his frustration with the media's handling of workplace safety incidents. He highlights a specific example of a misleading news headline about a fatal machinery accident, emphasizing that the term "mishap" downplays the severity of such incidents. Dr. French stresses the need for proper safety measures, like lockout/tagout procedures, to prevent accidents.

In the second half of the podcast, Dr. French contrasts poor journalism with a well-researched article from the Wall Street Journal about a BP refinery explosion. He criticizes the handling of safety alarms at the refinery and the inadequate penalties imposed by OSHA, illustrating how companies prioritize profit over employee safety. He applauds managers who prioritize shutting down operations to address safety issues but laments that safety is still often compromised for economic reasons. Dr. French concludes by advocating for transparency and better safety practices to protect workers.