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Safety Unleashed Podcast

Safety Unleashed Podcast

By: Andrew Collins and Chris Maise
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About this listen

 Industry professional podcast discussing the occupational workforce culture from construction, oil and gas, railroad, amusement parks and more.2025 Economics Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Workplace Safety Biography Of The Co-Hosts - Episode 18

    Workplace Safety Biography Of The Co-Hosts - Episode 18
    Apr 14 2026
    What happens when two safety professionals with very different backgrounds sit down and compare the paths that brought them into the industry? In this episode of Safety Unleashed, Chris and Drew step away from procedures and regulations to talk about something just as important: the real journeys that shape safety professionals. From growing up in the swamps of South Louisiana to working NASCAR pit crews, railroads, refineries, and heavy construction, both hosts share the experiences that ultimately led them into the world of health, safety, and environmental leadership. Chris reflects on a childhood built around hard work in commercial fishing, construction, and the industrial sector. Along the way, he moved through inspection work, quality control, rail operations, environmental response, and radiation safety before eventually becoming a safety director. Each step gave him a deeper understanding of how safety, quality, and production must work together. Drew shares a very different path that started along the beaches of North Carolina. From cleaning fish at the docks and cooking in restaurants to traveling with NASCAR teams and working pit road during races, his career eventually transitioned into industrial hygiene, safety training, and leadership roles across industrial and petrochemical environments. Throughout the conversation, the hosts explain why they created Safety Unleashed in the first place. The goal is simple: give people in the trades, construction, and industrial industries a place to learn about safety in a way that feels real, practical, and grounded in experience. You will learn how to: • Understand how different career paths lead into the safety profession • See how hands on industry experience shapes better safety leadership • Recognize the connection between safety, quality, and production • Appreciate the value of learning from multiple industries and environments • Build a mindset that supports safety culture across teams and organizations This episode sets the stage for the conversations to come. Chris and Drew make it clear that Safety Unleashed will not just focus on rules and compliance. It will highlight real stories, lessons learned, and the shared responsibility everyone has in building stronger safety cultures. Whether you work in construction, rail, petrochemical, environmental response, or another high risk industry, this podcast is about understanding the realities of the job and helping people go home safe at the end of the day. Show Tags Safety Unleashed podcast, workplace safety, safety culture, HSE professionals, industrial safety, construction safety, occupational health and safety, safety leadership, safety careers, environmental health and safety, refinery safety, railroad safety, safety management, industrial hygiene, safety training
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    29 mins
  • Workplace Safety Maritime and Shipping - Episode 17

    Workplace Safety Maritime and Shipping - Episode 17
    Apr 7 2026
    What does it take to safely operate one of the busiest transportation highways in the world — the Mississippi River? In this episode of Safety Unleashed, Drew and Chris dive into the demanding world of maritime and waterfront operations, covering barge work, shipbuilding, dock operations, and vessel traffic along major waterways. Drawing from their own experiences working around marine environments, they explore the hazards many people never see — from powerful river currents and moving vessels to confined cargo spaces and mooring lines under extreme tension. The conversation breaks down the complex safety challenges involved in working around ships, barges, docks, and ports where heavy equipment, elevated work surfaces, hot work, and environmental hazards all intersect. Chris shares firsthand stories of boarding vessels in motion, inspecting cargo holds deep inside ships, and navigating the unpredictable conditions workers face when operating along the Mississippi River. From snapback zones and line-of-fire hazards to personal flotation devices, rescue planning, and Coast Guard oversight, this discussion highlights how maritime safety requires constant situational awareness and preparation. The hosts also explore how ports move massive volumes of grain, fuel, steel, and petrochemicals every day — making river traffic one of the most important supply chains in North America. If you've ever wondered how ships safely move cargo through powerful river currents, tie off at busy ports, or undergo repairs in dry dock — this episode will give you a deeper appreciation for the safety systems required to make it all possible. You'll learn how to: Understand the unique safety hazards involved in barge operations, dock work, and shipbuilding Recognize the dangers of mooring line snapback zones and line-of-fire hazards See how confined spaces, cargo holds, and ballast tanks create complex safety challenges Identify why personal flotation devices, lighting, and communication are critical when working over water Understand how weather, river current, and vessel movement change working conditions in real time From ship inspections and confined space entry to port operations and maritime rescue planning, Drew and Chris explore how safety professionals approach one of the most dynamic and high-risk environments in industry.
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    38 mins
  • Workplace Safety Amusement and Entertainment Venues - Episode 16

    Workplace Safety Amusement and Entertainment Venues - Episode 16
    Mar 31 2026

    What really happens behind the scenes before a roller coaster launches, a ride opens, or thousands of guests walk through the gates of an amusement park?

    In this episode of Safety Unleashed, Drew and Chris step outside the traditional jobsite and explore an industry built entirely around experience, entertainment, and massive public safety responsibility: amusement parks. As Chris prepares for a trip to Florida, the conversation quickly shifts into how safety professionals view rides, maintenance, inspections, and guest management very differently than the average visitor.

    From ride restraint checks and mechanical integrity to maintenance schedules, operator authority, and emergency communication, this discussion breaks down the systems required to safely manage thousands of guests every single day. The hosts compare large parks like Disney and Universal to smaller fairs and traveling rides, exploring how engineering, inspections, and training influence risk management.

    If you've ever stood in line for a roller coaster and wondered what happens behind the curtain — this episode will make you look at amusement parks through a completely different safety lens.

    You'll learn how to:

    • Understand the layers of maintenance, inspections, and engineering behind major amusement park rides
    • Recognize why ride operators must have the authority to deny access for safety reasons
    • See how communication systems and safety announcements protect guests during ride shutdowns
    • Identify how mechanical integrity, training, and inspections mirror industrial safety programs
    • Appreciate the safety planning required to manage heat stress, medical emergencies, and large crowds

    From roller coaster restraints and ride shutdown protocols to guest communication and emergency response, Drew and Chris explore how amusement parks rely on structured safety systems to protect millions of visitors while still delivering the thrill people came for.
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    41 mins
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