Kristin VanSoest joins Robin on this episode of the Innovation of Work podcast.
A graduate of Indiana University with a B.S. in Occupational Health and Safety Management and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, Kristin is a certified OSHA Outreach Instructor for General Industry as well as a Certified Slip and Fall Accident Prevention Specialist. Kristin now serves as the President of Safety Resources. Safety Resources is a Certified Woman-Owned Business (WBE) with the City of Indianapolis, a Certified Woman-Owned Business (WBE) with the State of Indiana, A Certified Woman-Owned Business with the National Council (WBENC), and a Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) through the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), in addition to DBE Certification in the following states: Ohio, Florida, West Virginia, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, Nevada, California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Kentucky.
Kristin teaches ‘Safety Program Management’ as an adjunct professor at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, within the IU School of Public Health. She is a board member (Membership Chair) of the Central Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). Kristin also sits on the board for Kids Chance of Indiana and is the Chair for the Golf Outing Committee for that organization. She is also Chairwoman for the Educational Outreach Committee with the Coalition for Construction Safety (CCS). She is an active participant in Association of General Contractors of Indiana (AGCI) and a member of the AGCI Safety Leadership Task Force and the Safety Committee. She is a professional member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), the National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) and the International Contact Group for Slips, Trips and Falls. Kristin heavily involved with NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), Indiana Construction Roundtable (ICR) and the Indiana Subcontractors Association (ISA).
Specializing in General Industry, with a focus on the measurement of coefficient of friction on walking/working surfaces, Kristin’s article on Slips, Trips and Falls was recently published in the trade magazine Sealant, Waterproofing and Restoration. Kristin’s article titled “Lead SAFE, Think SAFE, Act SAFE” was recently published in Building Excellence magazine. Kristin has been a recurring speaker for Business and Legal Reports audioconferences, casing Slips and Falls Management as well as OSHA 300 Recordkeeping Laws. She has also been invited as a guest speaker from several local associations discussing Accident Investigation Strategies, Leadership and Coaching as well as Creating a Pathway to a Successful Safety Program. Kristin’s professional focus encompasses creative ways to ensure employee ownership and a commitment to a positive safety culture by developing organizational trust.
Content Timeline
0:16 – Introducing Kristin
2:20– Safety Resources start
4:32 – Consulting and site services provided by Safety Resources
9:45 – Trends seen through pandemic – “We were creating the programs… the CDC guidelines have been changing constantly throughout this”
13:08 – Commonalities and unique portions of safety programs –
16:32 – Construction has consistently seen higher workplace risks – Topping the list from real life experiences: “Trenching accidents are absolutely… catastrophic”
19:28 – There will always be an element of “it’s not going to happen to me.” That will always exist
20:22 – Kristin’s main item for frontline workers to remember for positive safety results: awareness
26:55 – Leading and learning while growing a company
32:30 – Opportunities for improvement and innovation within safety – “it’s taken far too long for the industry…”
36:12 – Coaching customers on leveraging data and opportunities to innovate
39:06 – Innovation in the future – data at a the touch of a button
