Safety Wars

James Poesl
  • 5.0 (5)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Safety from a point of view that you didn't see coming.

  1. Safety Wars — May 21, 2026 Stop Blaming, Start Laughing

    4D AGO

    Safety Wars — May 21, 2026 Stop Blaming, Start Laughing

    Overview: Jim Poesl hosts this episode of Safety Wars, a safety industry podcast/videocast with a satirical bent. Key segments: Ancient Safety Professionals launch — Jim announces a new short-form web series parodying workplace safety culture, framed as a future archaeological discovery of "safety professionals." The trailer and Episode 1 are previewed, focusing on the ritual of the sign-in sheet as a form of "safety theater."Reality Shift Symposium promo — Jim plugs a live in-person event on July 13th in Orlando, FL featuring Todd Conklin, Nick Weatherly (PhD), and Jay Allen (PhD), exploring HOP, behavioral safety, and the Signal Trilogy.Blame culture vs. restorative justice — Jim goes on an extended commentary arguing against blame-based safety culture, tying it to broader societal trends: social credit scores, wellness surveillance, COVID-era finger-pointing, and the erosion of worker support systems. He advocates using humor and sarcasm to challenge entrenched thinking.Government press releases roundup:DOL/OIG action to freeze funds tied to pandemic unemployment fraudFormer union treasurer sentenced for embezzling $74K+ from NALC Branch 533Weekly unemployment claims (stable)EPA beach water quality grants (IL, AK, and others)EPA rolling back Biden-era HFC refrigerant rules (~$2.4B in projected savings)EPA investing $103M to replace lead service lines in NJ, part of a broader national lead pipe replacement effortClosing — Jim reminds listeners Memorial Day honors fallen veterans, plugs safetywars.com, and signs off. For all your health and safety needs, visit us at our website safetywars.com, contact us at Jim@safetywars.com or 845-269-5772. We have a regular broadcast on Safety FM, listen to us on your favorite Podcast platform and video network as Safety Wars. Tune into Safety Wars on your favorite podcast and video network for this and other safety stories. visit us at safetywars.com. like and share us on social media.  If we run overtime our preferred network for video is Rumble :https://rumble.com/user/SafetyWars and you can see us there. Hour 2 will be uploaded to the regular podcast network. ALL MUSIC IS EITHER ROYALTY FREE, Copyright FREE, OPEN SOURCE OR WE OWN IT.

    54 min
  2. Safety Wars 5-20-2026 Blame vs. Solutions, NY Construction Deaths & WHO Update

    4D AGO

    Safety Wars 5-20-2026 Blame vs. Solutions, NY Construction Deaths & WHO Update

    Safety Wars 5/20/26 Blame vs. Solutions,  NY Construction Deaths & WHO Update In this May 20, 2026 episode of Safety Wars, host Jim Poesl opens with a discussion on the ineffectiveness of employee-blaming in accident investigations, advocating instead for systemic fixes rooted in HOP (Human and Organizational Performance) principles. He illustrates this with a practical story about ladder label compliance — showing how education and pragmatic problem-solving beat antagonism and job shutdowns. Jim then covers breaking news, including OSHA's investigation into a worker fatality at SpaceX's Starbase launch site in South Texas, noting that a full report is expected by November 2026. He critiques the lack of context in media coverage of SpaceX's safety record. The episode also highlights the NYCOSH Deadly Skyline report on 2024 New York State construction fatalities, noting 55 deaths statewide, disproportionate impact on Latinx and non-union workers, declining OSHA fines, and inspection levels still below pre-pandemic numbers — all under the prior Democratic administration. Jim addresses the WHO Director General's open letter to Alex Jones about the Ebola/"Hunter Virus" situation, praising its tone as a model for better public health communication. He closes with a call for worker empowerment, genuine leadership, and contact information for Safety Wars consulting services. For all your health and safety needs, visit us at our website safetywars.com, contact us at Jim@safetywars.com or 845-269-5772. We have a regular broadcast on Safety FM, listen to us on your favorite Podcast platform and video network as Safety Wars. Tune into Safety Wars on your favorite podcast and video network for this and other safety stories. visit us at safetywars.com. like and share us on social media.  If we run overtime our preferred network for video is Rumble :https://rumble.com/user/SafetyWars and you can see us there. Hour 2 will be uploaded to the regular podcast network. ALL MUSIC IS EITHER ROYALTY FREE, Copyright FREE, OPEN SOURCE OR WE OWN IT.

    55 min

  3. 6D AGO

    Safety Wars 5-19-2026 Part 1 Interview with Jennifer Coffey President, NJ School of Conservation

    Safety Wars  5-19-2026  Part 1 Interview with Jennifer Coffey President, NJ School of Conservation This is part of our ongoing mission to educate, inform and motivate our supporters. Today Jim welcomes Jennifer Coffey, Executive Director of ANJEC and board president of the Friends of the New Jersey School of Conservation, joins host Jim to discuss the proposed elimination of the NJ School of Conservation from Governor Cheryl's budget. Located in Stokes State Forest, the 77-year-old facility serves 5,000 students annually — 50% from Title I schools — offering outdoor environmental education, teacher continuing education, and climate curriculum. The Friends have restored the historically neglected campus from near-disrepair. Coffey urges New Jersey residents to contact their state legislators and support a $3 million budget allocation (~33 cents per resident) to keep the school open past July. Websites Message to lawmakers https://action.njlcv.org/a/njsoc-26 Article on the issue. https://www.pressreader.com/usa/asbury-park-press/20260510/281913074735533 Friends of NJ School of Conservation https://friendsofnjsoc.org/friends-of-the-new-jersey-school-of-conservation/ The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions  https://anjec.org/ For all your health and safety needs, visit us at our website safetywars.com, contact us at Jim@safetywars.com or 845-269-5772. We have a regular broadcast on Safety FM, listen to us on your favorite Podcast platform and video network as Safety Wars. Tune into Safety Wars on your favorite podcast and video network for this and other safety stories. visit us at safetywars.com. like and share us on social media.  If we run overtime our preferred network for video is Rumble :https://rumble.com/user/SafetyWars and you can see us there. Hour 2 will be uploaded to the regular podcast network. ALL MUSIC IS EITHER ROYALTY FREE, Copyright FREE, OPEN SOURCE OR WE OWN IT.

    32 min

  4. 6D AGO

    Safety Wars 5-19-2026 Part 1 Interview with Jennifer Coffey President, NJ School of Conservation

    Safety Wars  5-19-2026  Part 1 Interview with Jennifer Coffey President, NJ School of Conservation This is part of our ongoing mission to educate, inform and motivate our supporters. Today Jim welcomes Jennifer Coffey, Executive Director of ANJEC and board president of the Friends of the New Jersey School of Conservation, joins host Jim to discuss the proposed elimination of the NJ School of Conservation from Governor Cheryl's budget. Located in Stokes State Forest, the 77-year-old facility serves 5,000 students annually — 50% from Title I schools — offering outdoor environmental education, teacher continuing education, and climate curriculum. The Friends have restored the historically neglected campus from near-disrepair. Coffey urges New Jersey residents to contact their state legislators and support a $3 million budget allocation (~33 cents per resident) to keep the school open past July. Websites Message to lawmakers https://action.njlcv.org/a/njsoc-26 Article on the issue. https://www.pressreader.com/usa/asbury-park-press/20260510/281913074735533 Friends of NJ School of Conservation https://friendsofnjsoc.org/friends-of-the-new-jersey-school-of-conservation/ The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions  https://anjec.org/ For all your health and safety needs, visit us at our website safetywars.com, contact us at Jim@safetywars.com or 845-269-5772. We have a regular broadcast on Safety FM, listen to us on your favorite Podcast platform and video network as Safety Wars. Tune into Safety Wars on your favorite podcast and video network for this and other safety stories. visit us at safetywars.com. like and share us on social media.  If we run overtime our preferred network for video is Rumble :https://rumble.com/user/SafetyWars and you can see us there. Hour 2 will be uploaded to the regular podcast network. ALL MUSIC IS EITHER ROYALTY FREE, Copyright FREE, OPEN SOURCE OR WE OWN IT.

    32 min
  5. Safety Wars 5-14-2026 English Proficiency Rules, Wage Classifications, and Workforce Safety

    MAY 15

    Safety Wars 5-14-2026 English Proficiency Rules, Wage Classifications, and Workforce Safety

    In this episode of Safety Wars, host Jim covers a wide range of regulatory, safety, and current events topics. Jim opens with personal health reflections, advocating for seeking proper medical care for chronic conditions like high blood pressure rather than relying on home remedies. The show features an FSN Radio News segment covering UK political turmoil, US-China trade talks between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping, and rising European airfare costs tied to Strait of Hormuz disruptions. On the regulatory front, Jim breaks down the Department of Labor's new guidance requiring English language proficiency for foreign workers operating commercial motor vehicles, drawing on firsthand job site experiences. He also covers a technical amendment restoring 2019 overtime exemption salary thresholds under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and discusses the distinctions between independent contractor and employee classification. Jim wraps up with unemployment claims data, US Census Bureau population trends showing urban decline and suburban growth — particularly around New York City — a slow rebuilding update on Lahaina, Hawaii following the 2023 wildfires, and a hantavirus outbreak update with 41 potential cases being monitored across 12 states.  For all your health and safety needs, visit us at our website safetywars.com, contact us at Jim@safetywars.com or 845-269-5772. We have a regular broadcast on Safety FM, listen to us on your favorite Podcast platform and video network as Safety Wars. Tune into Safety Wars on your favorite podcast and video network for this and other safety stories. visit us at safetywars.com. like and share us on social media.  If we run overtime our preferred network for video is Rumble :https://rumble.com/user/SafetyWars and you can see us there. Hour 2 will be uploaded to the regular podcast network. ALL MUSIC IS EITHER ROYALTY FREE, Copyright FREE, OPEN SOURCE OR WE OWN IT.

    48 min

  6. MAY 14

    Safety Wars May 13, 2026 Hantavirus, Key Bridge Indictments, DOL News

    Host Jim covers breaking news across safety, health, and current events. Top stories include Trump's trade summit with China's Xi Jinping, the U.S. potentially renaming the Iran conflict "Operation Sledgehammer," and the South Carolina Supreme Court overturning Alex Murdaugh's double murder conviction and ordering a retrial. The main focus is a Hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondias, with three deaths and cases monitored in nearly two dozen countries. Jim warns that despite expert reassurances, a single school case could trigger union-invoked OSHA General Duty Clause actions and force widespread school closures — and questions whether the CDC is prepared to manage another outbreak after COVID. On labor: the DOL proposed expanding employer fertility benefits; enforced action against a company for illegally favoring foreign workers; and flagged six states (including NY and NJ) for over $2.6 billion in improper unemployment payments. Finally, the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse received new attention via a federal criminal indictment alleging a cover-up over jury-rigged backup fuel pumps. Jim's takeaway: never improvise critical safety systems. Tune into Safety Wars on your favorite podcast and video network for this and other safety stories. visit us at safetywars.com. like and share us on social media.  If we run overtime our preferred network for video is Rumble :https://rumble.com/user/SafetyWars and you can see us there. Hour 2 will be uploaded to the regular podcast network. ALL MUSIC IS EITHER ROYALTY FREE, Copyright FREE, OPEN SOURCE OR WE OWN IT.   ALL MUSIC IS EITHER ROYALTY FREE, Copyright FREE, OPEN SOURCE OR WE OWN IT.   All videos, content, and music other than mine are used under fair use doctrine. We comment on all different kinds of stuff.

    1h 3m

  7. MAY 13

    Safety Wars 5-12-2026 Hantavirus Discussion

    In this episode of Safety Wars (episode 544, May 12, 2026), host Jim Poesl. Hantavirus Outbreak: Eleven cases have been confirmed linked to the cruise ship MV Hondias. Jim discusses Dutch hospital workers quarantined for six weeks after failing PPE protocols, criticizing media coverage for "blaming the worker" rather than examining systemic failures. Jim emphasizes that hantavirus already exists in the U.S. (890 cases since 1993, ~40% fatality rate), urges proper PPE precautions during rodent cleanup, and calls on states and municipalities to establish clear public health protocols before emergencies escalate — rather than reacting after the fact. Tune into Safety Wars on your favorite podcast and video network for this and other safety stories. visit us at safetywars.com. like and share us on social media.  If we run overtime our preferred network for video is Rumble :https://rumble.com/user/SafetyWars and you can see us there. Hour 2 will be uploaded to the regular podcast network. ALL MUSIC IS EITHER ROYALTY FREE, Copyright FREE, OPEN SOURCE OR WE OWN IT.   ALL MUSIC IS EITHER ROYALTY FREE, Copyright FREE, OPEN SOURCE OR WE OWN IT.   All videos, content, and music other than mine are used under fair use doctrine. We comment on all different kinds of stuff.

    36 min

  8. MAY 8

    Safety Wars May 7, 2026 AI, Aliens, Hantavirus, and the Human Factor

    In this episode of Safety Wars, host Jim Posel covers a wide range of topics connecting workplace safety, current events, and broader cultural commentary. He opens by revisiting a previous discussion on AI's limitations in reading safety hazards from photos, arguing that context — something AI lacks — is critical. He then raises concerns about proposed in-vehicle "fitness to drive" technology, questioning whether it infringes on privacy and whether the debate has been adequately revisited post-COVID. Jim transitions to an unusual but thoughtful segment on UFO disclosure and Christianity, specifically through a Lutheran lens, arguing that the existence of extraterrestrial life would not necessarily threaten Christian theology, and drawing parallels to the safety profession's tendency toward false certainty. The episode also covers a Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship near the Canary Islands, with Jim providing practical guidance on rodent-related hazards and PPE. Additional segments include Department of Labor wage recovery actions, an EPA Superfund cleanup in Paterson, NJ, Iran-U.S. military tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, and a new satirical web series called Ancient Safety Professionals lampooning outdated safety practices like sign-in sheets. Tune into Safety Wars on your favorite podcast and video network for this and other safety stories. visit us at safetywars.com. like and share us on social media.  If we run overtime our preferred network for video is Rumble :https://rumble.com/user/SafetyWars and you can see us there. Hour 2 will be uploaded to the regular podcast network. ALL MUSIC IS EITHER ROYALTY FREE, Copyright FREE, OPEN SOURCE OR WE OWN IT.   ALL MUSIC IS EITHER ROYALTY FREE, Copyright FREE, OPEN SOURCE OR WE OWN IT.   All videos, content, and music other than mine are used under fair use doctrine. We comment on all different kinds of stuff.

    1h 1m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Safety from a point of view that you didn't see coming.

Information

  • Creator
    James Poesl
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    459
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © (c) James Poesl
  • Show Website
    Safety Wars