Dr. Ayers urges safety professionals to get out from behind their desks and spend more time engaging directly with the workforce. Real safety leadership happens in the field — not in the comfort of an office chair.
The episode emphasizes that hazards aren’t found in spreadsheets or emails — they’re found:
On the floor
In work areas
Around equipment
In day‑to‑day tasks
You can’t influence what you don’t see.
Dr. Ayers stresses the importance of:
Asking workers what challenges they face
Listening to their concerns
Understanding the real conditions of the job
Building trust through presence and conversation
Employees often know the hazards long before leadership does.
The episode reinforces that:
You can’t eliminate hazards from your desk
You need to see the work, tools, and environment firsthand
Field presence leads to better decisions and faster corrections
This is where credibility is built.
Staying at your desk feels productive — but it’s deceptive. Safety leaders must intentionally break the habit of:
Hiding behind paperwork
Relying solely on reports
Assuming they know what’s happening in the field
Real insight comes from being present.
Presence is a safety control.
Your desk is the least important place you work.
Talk to employees — they’re your best hazard detectors.
