Paul Balmert, Author at Balmert Consulting

Leadership

What’s The Problem?

This month Paul discusses problem solving when things go wrong at work that rise to the level of an investigation. He calls on his experience and expertise doing “Root Cause of Root Cause Investigations” to examine the quality and usefulness of the investigation findings. More importantly he discusses the critical importance of finding the truth about what really happened and why. His findings are very important whether the investigations you are responsible for are for little things or rise to the level of a full-scale root cause analysis.

September 30, 2024 No Comments

Safety Meeting Topics

Hazard Recognized?

In this month’s Flash we take a look at a tragic case, and the official findings, to help better understand why this happened and how it could have been avoided.

September 13, 2024 No Comments

Execution

Your Job

This month Paul discusses the difference between “what’s your job” and “how do you do your job?” In examining a “a day in the life of a leader” he focuses on front-line leaders and their role of making sure everyone goes home alive and well at the end of each and every shift. He talks about the critical difference between “checking the box” and successfully and effectively executing the activities that are critical to sending people home safe. He makes the case that doing those activities well takes training and repetition to make the common practice that makes a difference.

August 29, 2024 No Comments

Safety Meeting Topics

Observe

In this month’s Flash we take a look at the observation process, and offer one idea on how to make your observations on safety better.

August 15, 2024 No Comments

Leadership

Shooting Straight

This month Paul dives into the topic of effective management communication, and the importance of “Shooting Straight” when it comes to managing safety.

July 31, 2024 No Comments

Execution

The Investigation Process

In this month’s Managing Safety Performance News Paul shares his journey to understanding and investigating problems and stirs the pot to examine the investigative process. He, once again, asks questions about the process that are easy to ask but you might find the answers troubling. He and Bill Wilson, a Balmert Consulting teacher and consultant, make the point that problems and successes are treasures and knowing how to properly investigate them deserves your attention.

June 28, 2024 No Comments

Uncategorized

First Impressions and Safety

In this month’s Flash, we take a look at working with someone new and the importance first impressions have when it comes to working safely.

June 17, 2024 No Comments

Leadership

Influencing Safety Performance

This month Paul examines who in management has the most control and influence over sending people home alive and well at the end of each and every shift every day. I’ll let him tell you the logical and correct answer and to share what knowledge and skills are needed by each of those team members responsible for making it happen.

May 31, 2024 No Comments

Safety Meeting Topics

Near Miss – Or Sure Thing?

In this month’s Flash, we take a look at one near miss that very well could have been a hit. In doing so, we’ll ask one very important question that can help you in sending folks home, Alive and Well.

May 15, 2024 No Comments

Compliance

Earbud Nation

This month Paul examines multitasking and distracted walking. From his own experience as a pedestrian and data in a recent report he draws some lessons that can help us back on the job with earbuds, hazard recognition, and distracted working, including walking and driving.

April 30, 2024 No Comments

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Finding “The Source”

In this month’s Flash, we explore where hazards come from—and why that matters. Understanding their sources is a critical step in identifying what could cause harm.

It’s Just Common Sense

This month Paul examines how leaders often misuse the phrase “it’s just common sense”—either to dismiss learning or to assume shared understanding without definition. He argues that many leadership statements presented as fact are really opinions, and that poor communication stems from assuming others interpret words, experience, and expectations the same way.

Resetting PPE Habits

In this months Flash we are re-visiting the fundamental concept of getting folks to follow all of the rules, all of the time. As to how you might move the needle a great place to start is with PPE.

The Holiday Season

This month Paul shares that for twenty-five years, our work has been grounded in disciplined observation, analysis, and testing. That process has shaped how we identify the leadership practices that most directly influence safety performance—the same ideas we teach.

Accountability

This month, we are pleased to feature an article by Newton Scavone, one of our most experienced members of the Balmert teaching team, based in São Paulo. Newton started as a client learning and using the MSP tools, then became one of the leaders developed to teach the course inside his company. For the last six years, many of you have known him as a Balmert Consulting teacher. He brings deep operational credibility and a clear understanding of what it takes to make these tools work in the real world.

Enough Said?

In this month’s Flash, we take a look at a very important first step to ensure conversations go as well as they ought to when expectations around safety haven’t been met.

Managing Hazards

This month, Paul takes on one of the toughest challenges every leader faces — managing hazards. Not just the big, obvious ones that make the “A List,” but the ordinary, everyday things that cause most of the injuries. He reminds us that managing hazards isn’t about eliminating every risk; it’s about handling them — and the people around them — “with a degree of skill and care.”

Beyond the Rules

In this months Flash we look at the importance of Safety Rules, and a very critical concept about the rules that ensures they help keep us safe.

My Supervisor

In this month’s Managing Safety Performance News Paul takes on the challenge of trust and credibility in leadership—he discusses why they’re eroding at the top, why supervisors hold the real advantage, and what that means for influencing followers to work safe. He makes the case that trust is not a given but a hard-earned reward—and the most powerful tool any leader has for sending everyone home safe, every day.

Setbacks

In this month’s Flash we take a look at setbacks, and the unique opportunity they provide to a leader in ensuring followers know and understand what is most important.

Paul Balmert

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