Justin Ganschow

Session Synopsis: From Enforcer to Ally - Understanding how humans work to build a culture of learning and care

There is a spectrum of how safety is managed within organizations - from reactive to relentless - and everyone plays a role in shaping that culture. The traditional method of managing safety has been to design systems and processes for people to operate flawlessly every time. When someone deviates from the plan or makes a mistake, an investigation commences, often blaming or punishing them in an effort to improve safety. The organization’s reaction to the error makes other people less likely to report mistakes so they fail to learn and improve the system, weakening the safety culture and resulting in a higher potential for future serious incidents to occur. But we aren’t robots. Even in ideal circumstances, our biology prevents us from performing perfectly hour after hour, day after day, even when risk is involved. Participants will discover that by providing a new understanding of human behavior, they can create an environment where employees feel safe speaking up, sharing their ideas, struggles and mistakes so the organization learns and improves the system continuously – making improvements in morale, retention, efficiency, profitability and safety.

Biography

With 20 years of experience in public health and private industry, Justin Ganschow is a sought-after international keynote speaker and writer on the impact of leadership and human biology on workplace safety and culture. His thought-provoking, science-based content and emotion-stirring real-world experiences engage dozens of audiences around the world each year. From growing up on a farm to working as an EHS professional in the heavy equipment manufacturing industry and serving as a consultant to a variety of industries, Justin focuses on the “why” behind the “what” – inspiring frontline employees, leaders, executives and safety professionals alike to think and perform at a higher level. Currently he serves as Business Development Manager with Caterpillar Safety Services in Peoria, Illinois. Justin is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP) with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Master of Science in Biology from Bradley University.