Shawn Galloway — one of the most respected voices in safety leadership and the author of STEPS to Safety Culture Excellence — joins Dr. Ayers for a focused conversation on what truly defines a safety professional and how leaders can drive meaningful, lasting change.
This episode is the first in a multi‑part series because the discussion is rich, practical, and packed with leadership insights.
Galloway challenges the traditional view of safety roles. A safety professional isn’t just a compliance enforcer — they are:
A strategic partner
A culture influencer
A coach who helps people make better decisions
A leader, regardless of title
He emphasizes that safety excellence is built on relationships, not rules.
The conversation digs into what accountability should look like in a healthy safety culture:
Accountability is not punishment
It’s about clear expectations, support, and follow‑through
Leaders must model the behaviors they expect from others
Galloway stresses that accountability must be fair, consistent, and human‑centered.
Shawn and Dr. Ayers share real‑world examples of:
Coaching conversations that shift behavior
How leaders can influence without authority
Ways to build trust with frontline employees
Moving from reactive to proactive safety leadership
These examples make the episode especially useful for supervisors and new safety pros.
Safety leadership is about influence, not position.
Accountability works only when it’s rooted in respect and clarity.
Culture improves when leaders focus on behaviors, not just outcomes.
The best safety professionals are relationship builders.
