Sponsored by Avetta

In today’s risk and safety landscape, a pressing inquiry emerges: “Why focus on the psychological dynamics of workplaces when workers still jeopardize themselves by reaching into moving machinery?” Although the conventional approach has often fixated on the tangible mechanics of the workplace, dismissing psychological aspects underscores a fundamental misunderstanding of how social elements compound risks.

Our modern workforce, spanning five distinct generations, presents a tapestry of communication styles. Moreover, the increasing reliance on contingent labor further complicates matters, introducing gaps in critical safety communication. Thus, there’s an urgent imperative to delineate the parameters necessary for effective and healthy workplace communication.

Even after the COVID-19 pandemic, business ecosystems endure strains from technological advancements, disrupted supply chains and erratic schedules. Traditional transactional methods for ensuring psychological safety falter in managing risks at the front line, where employee engagement matters most. These methods have failed to cultivate supportive networks within employee communities, prioritizing relationships and fostering the interpersonal bonds crucial for fostering positive risk communication.

This presentation is aimed at equipping professionals with the tools to integrate socially transformative elements of psychological safety into our work systems, mitigating risks and errors in the workplace.

Speaker

Nicole Osborn, Manager of QHSE Operational Excellence, Avetta

Nicole is the manager of QHSE operational excellence at Avetta, an industry leader in third-party risk management. She has more than 10 years of global experience in multi-industry QHSE contractor management, supporting roles focused on compliance, safety, quality and process optimization. Nicole, a Dallas-based Certified Safety Professional and Certified Quality Auditor, holds a bachelor’s in health science from the University of West Florida and a master’s in public health – focusing on occupational safety and health – from Texas A&M University.

Alan Ferguson
Associate Editor, Safety+Health magazine

Alan is associate editor of Safety+Health and serves as co-host of the magazine’s “On the Safe Side” podcast.