local rationality

Todd Conklin hosts a candid conversation about mental health, substance abuse, and suicide in construction and mining, featuring peers who lead workplace support programs. They discuss startling statistics, the stigma that prevents help, and real peer-based solutions like the MATES and Brassfield-Gore programs. The episode highlights practical steps employers can take: empower peers, provide resources, […]

Todd Conklin explores how safety programs, despite good intentions, often degrade over time: leading metrics turn lagging, bureaucracy self-reinforces (the "iron law"), and helpful tools can become weaponized in hindsight. He illustrates with examples like restrictive approval rules for breathing apparatus and reliance on machine safeguards that can encourage risky behaviour. The episode urges organizations […]

Dr. Todd Conklin interviews Dr. Sidney Decker about his work on safety, accountability, and just culture. They discuss the Safety Differently approach: viewing people as solutions, addressing work conditions rather than behavior, and shifting from retributive to restorative justice. Decker also covers cultural differences in safety practices across regions, the rise of compliance, and offers […]

Host Todd Conklin visits Golden Gate National Recreation Area with safety specialists Rik Hansen and Leo Shea to explore a shift in safety thinking — from focusing on risk to supporting mission performance. They discuss visits to Alcatraz, Ocean Rescue teams, and Trail Crews, highlighting how listening to frontline workers reveals practical, predictive knowledge. The […]