The Risk Matrix

Veriforce
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The Risk Matrix is your premier destination for insightful discussions on risk management and health and safety, with captivating topics, insightful strategies, and more. Hosted by James Junkin MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO Chief Executive Officer at Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, Veriforce Master Trainer, and Chairman of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board and Dr. L.F. Martin, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, a Technical Expert in Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Risk, Auditing/Inspection, and ESG.

  1. Detecting Impairment, Not History: How Safety Leaders Navigate Legalization 

    1 DAY AGO

    Detecting Impairment, Not History: How Safety Leaders Navigate Legalization 

    "Your drug test came back positive, but that doesn't tell you if your worker is impaired right now." This week Dr. Martin and James sit down with Ken Fichtler, CEO at Gaize.ai, to discuss the critical gap between detecting past drug use and identifying actual impairment in safety-sensitive environments. Drawing from real-world cases where traditional drug tests created false positives and unnecessary terminations, they reveal why your current impairment detection strategy might be leaving workers exposed. From cannabis legalization reshaping workplace policy to proactive screening creating deterrent effects, impairment detection has become a challenge in occupational safety that impacts companies' compliance status and worker safety. Inside the Episode: Why traditional drug tests measure past use, not impairment, and what this means for your liabilityThe critical difference between detecting what's in someone's system and whether they're actually impaired on the jobHow cannabis legalization laws like CA AB 2188 are reshaping workplace policy and what you need to do nowHow Gaize's ocular technology achieves 98% accuracy in detecting real-time impairment in six minutes About Our Guest: Ken Fichtler, CEO and founder of Gaize.ai, is a regulatory compliance and impairment detection expert with a technology and entrepreneurship background that evolved into decades of work understanding how cannabis and other drugs impact the body differently than alcohol. His focus on how detection technology impacts workplace safety brings a uniquely informed perspective on where impairment testing protects or compromises workplace safety. The Risk Matrix Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Weekly masterclass in risk management from industry titans ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. L.F. Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (32-year veteran, Board of Global EHS Credentialing Impact Award winner) and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Junkin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (trainer of 40,000+ safety professionals, ASSP's 2024 Safety Professional of the Year). Every Tuesday: The tough conversations safety managers need to have. Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions. The Risk Matrix Podcast is powered by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Veriforce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs.

    38 min
  2. The H2S Training Standard: What Safety Professionals Must Know

    4 NOV

    The H2S Training Standard: What Safety Professionals Must Know

    "A gas monitor is not PPE." This week Dr. Martin and James discuss critical misconceptions about H2S training and workplace safety. James sits on the ANSI Z390.1 committee and brings direct expertise on the 2024 updated standard. Over the past decade, 60 workers have lost their lives in hydrogen sulfide incidents. Drawing from real incidents and field experience, they reveal what separates training that protects workers from programs that just check boxes. Inside the Episode: Why a gas monitor is essential but NOT personal protective equipmentThe respiratory protection standard paragraph that has prevented or could have prevented 60 deathsHow to test if your workers are actually trained: the "gas, gas, gas" drill most people failOSHA's regulatory blind spot: why there's no vertical standard for H2SThe deposition question every safety pro needs to be ready to answer Resources mentioned: OSHA: https://www.osha.gov/Letters of Interpretation: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/interpretationsFederal Register: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/federalregister/publicationdate/currentyearNIOSH Pocket Guide: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/ANSI Safety Standards: https://webstore.ansi.org/industry/safety-standardsHydrogen Sulfide: The Silent Assassin (Veriforce Article): https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hydrogen-sulfide-silent-assassin-oil-gas-operations-veriforce-llc-ordde/?trackingId=jMaCu9ApT3mzaHlChVmTfg%3D%3D The Risk Matrix Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Weekly masterclass in risk management from industry titans ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. L.F. Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (32-year veteran, Board of Global EHS Credentialing Impact Award winner) and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Junkin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (trainer of 40,000+ safety professionals, ASSP's 2024 Safety Professional of the Year). Every Tuesday: The tough conversations safety managers need to have. Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions. The Risk Matrix Podcast is powered by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Veriforce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs.

    41 min
  3. From Piracy to Participation: Why Standards in the Training Industry Matter

    28 OCT

    From Piracy to Participation: Why Standards in the Training Industry Matter

    "He took it for the rest of his crew. Two of those workers were badly burned over the majority of their body after the explosion happened." This week Dr. Martin and James sit down with Robert Day, Managing Director at Cognisense, to discuss critical vulnerabilities in how we verify and validate workplace safety training. Drawing from this tragic hydrocarbon loading case where four workers had training certificates but only one actually completed the training, they reveal why your training documentation might not prove what you think it does. From legacy system vulnerabilities to technology gaps, training integrity has become a challenge in occupational safety that impacts companies' compliance status and worker safety. Inside the Episode: Why someone taking training for your employees happens more often than you think and what it means for your liabilityThe critical difference between having a training certificate and ensuring actual training happenedHow the ANSI 490 standard is reshaping verification requirements and what you need to do nowLow-cost solutions to strengthen training fraud prevention without implementing complex systems About Our Guest:Robert Day, Managing Director at Cognisense, is a regulatory compliance and training standards expert with a military firefighter background that evolved into decades of hazardous materials response, risk assessments for major insurers, and advisory work shaping legislation and industry standards. His focus on how technology impacts training integrity brings a uniquely informed perspective on where online assessment tools protect or compromise workplace safety. The Risk Matrix Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Weekly masterclass in risk management from industry titans ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. L.F. Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (32-year veteran, Board of Global EHS Credentialing Impact Award winner) and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠James Junkin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (trainer of 40,000+ safety professionals, ASSP's 2024 Safety Professional of the Year). Every Tuesday: The tough conversations safety managers need to have. Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions. The Risk Matrix Podcast is powered by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Veriforce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs.

    39 min
  4. More Than Orientation: Building Effective Safety Onboarding Programs

    21 OCT

    More Than Orientation: Building Effective Safety Onboarding Programs

    "Onboarding is not a one-and-done. Onboarding is a process." James and Dr. Martin address the critical vulnerability window that keeps safety directors up at night: the first 90 days. They've seen too many companies bring workers on with four-hour orientations, then struggle to defend their program to OSHA or a jury after an incident. The reality? Most injuries happen in those first 90 days when workers are learning the job, adapting to company culture, and figuring out how things really work. James shares a stark example: a midstream contractor that scaled from 50 to 500 employees in 60 days with a 10-minute onboarding video - six minutes on admin, four on safety. His question cuts to the heart of it: "How would you defend that to a compliance officer or to 12 members of a jury?" In this episode, they reveal what separates checkbox orientation from systematic onboarding that actually prepares workers for high-hazard jobs. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Most injuries happen in the first 90 days when workers are learning the job and company culture Standardized training (OSHA 10, SafeLands) is necessary but not sufficient without company-specific onboarding Effective onboarding includes mentorship programs, documented competency milestones, and systematic processes that extend beyond the first day Track injury data by worker tenure (60, 90, 180 days) to identify gaps in your onboarding effectiveness The Risk Matrix Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠: Weekly masterclass in risk management from industry titans ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. L.F. Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠ (32-year veteran, Board of Global EHS Credentialing Impact Award winner) and ⁠⁠⁠⁠James Junkin⁠⁠⁠⁠ (trainer of 40,000+ safety professionals, ASSP's 2024 Safety Professional of the Year). Every Tuesday: The tough conversations safety managers need to have. Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions. The Risk Matrix Podcast is powered by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Veriforce⁠⁠⁠⁠: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs.

    27 min

  5. 14 OCT

    The Documentation Defense: What OSHA Actually Wants to See

    "If you don't document it, it didn't happen." James and Dr. Martin tackle the documentation paradox every safety professional faces. They've always said paper safety isn't real safety - but when OSHA shows up or litigation starts, documentation is how you prove you protected your workers. In this episode, they reveal what separates meaningless paperwork from documentation that actually matters. KEY TAKEAWAYS: If you don't document it, it didn't happen - documentation proves you did your jobThe 5 elements of UEM defense require specific documentation at every stepTraining, inspections, and discipline all need proper documentation to hold up The Risk Matrix Podcast⁠⁠⁠: Weekly masterclass in risk management from industry titans ⁠⁠⁠Dr. L.F. Martin⁠⁠⁠ (32-year veteran, Board of Global EHS Credentialing Impact Award winner) and ⁠⁠⁠James Junkin⁠⁠⁠ (trainer of 40,000+ safety professionals, ASSP's 2024 Safety Professional of the Year). Every Tuesday: The tough conversations safety managers need to have. Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions. The Risk Matrix Podcast is powered by ⁠⁠⁠Veriforce⁠⁠⁠: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs.

    33 min

  6. 7 OCT

    Beyond the Checkmark: Can You Defend Your Training When It Matters Most?

    This week Dr. Martin and James tackle the uncomfortable question most safety pros avoid: can you actually defend your training program when OSHA shows up? Drawing from thousands of field assessments where only 5% of contractors meet OSHA training standards, they reveal the critical gaps between checkbox compliance and programs that hold up under scrutiny. From the OSHA 10/30 misconception costing companies six figures to the 2 minutes 56 seconds of lockout/tagout training that won't survive an inspection, these are the training failures putting your workers and company at risk right now. Inside the Episode: Why OSHA 10/30 cards don't satisfy a single OSHA standard requirement (and what actually counts as training)The three components of competency-based training most online courses miss: classroom + hands-on + performance evaluationHow to conduct a training needs assessment using OSHA Publication 2254 that actually protects your workers The Risk Matrix Podcast⁠⁠: Weekly masterclass in risk management from industry titans ⁠⁠Dr. L.F. Martin⁠⁠ (32-year veteran, Board of Global EHS Credentialing Impact Award winner) and ⁠⁠James Junkin⁠⁠ (trainer of 40,000+ safety professionals, ASSP's 2024 Safety Professional of the Year). Every Tuesday: The tough conversations safety managers need to have. Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions. The Risk Matrix Podcast is powered by ⁠⁠Veriforce⁠⁠: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs.

    33 min

  7. 30 SEPT

    OSHA's Top 10 Violations: What Safety Pros Are Missing in 2025

    This week Dr. Martin and James dive into OSHA's most cited violations for 2025, revealing the "low-hanging fruit" citations that are costing companies thousands and putting workers at risk. Fresh from the National Safety Council conference in Denver, they break down each of the Top 10 with field-tested insights you won't find in the regulations. From fall protection failures to training gaps that erlook Inside the Episode: Why fall protection remains #1 with 5,914 violationsThe free fall distance mistake that keeps getting workers hurtSecondary container violations and the MEK ingestion problemWhy your lockout/tagout periodic inspections probably aren't compliantThe difference between training compliance and actual worker competencyRespiratory protection and medical surveillance gapsHow to use the Top 10 list for your 2026 safety improvement plan The Risk Matrix Podcast⁠: Weekly masterclass in risk management from industry titans ⁠Dr. L.F. Martin⁠ (32-year veteran, Board of Global EHS Credentialing Impact Award winner) and ⁠James Junkin⁠ (trainer of 40,000+ safety professionals, ASSP's 2024 Safety Professional of the Year). Every Tuesday: The tough conversations safety managers need to have. Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions. The Risk Matrix Podcast is powered by ⁠Veriforce⁠: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs.

    53 min

  8. 23 SEPT

    Top 10 Ethical Dilemmas for Safety Professionals

    This week Dr. Martin and James channel David Letterman's classic countdown format to tackle the ethical challenges that define modern safety practice. From the Friday 4:30 PM confined space scenario to whistleblowing decisions, these aren't theoretical problems—they're the real-world situations that test your professional integrity and could determine whether workers make it home safely. Drawing from decades of field experience, our hosts break down the most common ethical conflicts safety professionals face: production pressure versus safety standards, training compliance versus real competency, and the gray areas where professional codes of conduct meet workplace reality. Whether you're a seasoned CSP or new to the field, these scenarios will challenge how you think about doing the right thing when it's not the easy thing. Inside the Episode: Production pressure versus safety standardsWhen to blow the whistle on unsafe practicesTraining compliance versus real competencyPersonal relationships versus professional integrityCultural sensitivity versus safety enforcement The Risk Matrix Podcast: Weekly masterclass in risk management from industry titans Dr. L.F. Martin (32-year veteran, Board of Global EHS Credentialing Impact Award winner) and James Junkin (trainer of 40,000+ safety professionals, ASSP's 2024 Safety Professional of the Year). Every Tuesday: The tough conversations safety managers need to have. Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions. The Risk Matrix Podcast is powered by Veriforce: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs.

    1 hr
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About

The Risk Matrix is your premier destination for insightful discussions on risk management and health and safety, with captivating topics, insightful strategies, and more. Hosted by James Junkin MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO Chief Executive Officer at Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, Veriforce Master Trainer, and Chairman of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board and Dr. L.F. Martin, PhD, MBA, PMP, CIH, CSP, a Technical Expert in Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Risk, Auditing/Inspection, and ESG.

Information

  • Creator
    Veriforce
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Veriforce
  • Show Website
    The Risk Matrix