The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management

How to avoid the $300K premium trap in workers' compensation with Todd Thams

I welcome Todd Thams to discuss how a workers compensation insurance experience mod score and EMR rating serve as the most critical numbers in your risk management strategy. We look at the financial mechanics of insurance premium negotiation and why a high mod score can literally put you out of business in the construction industry.  Todd shares his transition from a family broker to a tech founder and provides a deep dive into workers comp claims management to show how injury prevention ROI is calculated. We also talk about the dangers of hiring uninsured subcontractors and why protecting your personal assets starts with proper documentation. What You’ll Learn: * Why your experience mod score is the credit score of your business safety performance. * The specific threshold that prevents construction companies from bidding on major contracts. * How to translate safety data into an ROI that your financial team actually understands. * The massive legal risks of paying workers under the table and ignoring workers comp laws. About the Guest Todd Thams is the founder of ModAdvisor and a twenty year veteran of the commercial insurance and workers compensation industry. He started his career in a family brokerage in rural Iowa where he focused on building scale and deep relationships before launching a software platform to help the entire industry manage mod rates and claims visibility. Todd is an entrepreneur who balances his passion for business growth with a commitment to his family and his role as a girl dad and grandfather. Episode Resources: * Todd Thams on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-thams/] * Michael Zalle on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelzalle/] * Yellow Bird Website [https://goyellowbird.com/] * The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-canary-report/id1680958839]  * The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5WaqWijkDp17eQOGOVWBo5] * The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGc7qaRV7Y7MayITez6kRPp2PnZkYPHMa] The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]

Human First Safety Leadership and Scaling Culture with Derek Cox

I sit down with Derek Cox to explore workplace safety and construction safety management while we look into how risk management and safety culture thrive. We discuss the transition from being a union plumber to a safety director and the lessons learned along that winding path. You will hear why safety leadership requires a shift toward modern tactics that resonate with today's crews. We dive into the specific ways proactive safety and hazard management can be scaled even in high pressure environments like data center builds. This conversation is a deep dive into worker protection and why occupational health depends on the support you give your frontline leaders. What You’ll Learn: * How safety leadership changes when you use appreciation and coaching for your teams. * The reason safety culture improves when you focus on what people do right every day. * Why risk management in data centers requires specialized technical knowledge about liquid cooling. * The way safety training and worker protection scale through a unique champion program. * How proactive safety prevents injuries in dangerous concrete pumping operations during early hours. About the Guest:  Derek Cox is the safety director at Mann Mechanical Company Inc. and brings over twenty years of experience in construction safety management. He started his career as a union journeyman plumber before moving into safety leadership roles where he now manages worker protection for hundreds of employees. Derek has a unique background that includes an aviation degree and a pilot's license which gives him a different perspective on risk management and standard procedures. He is a strong believer in building a human first safety culture and focuses on empowering foremen to own site safety on their own job sites. The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]

Ditching the 500-Pound Paperweight for Real Field Safety

I am joined by William LePage, the VP of Health and Safety at Posillico Civil, to unpack how a risk management strategy functions at scale. We dive into his journey of safety program development and why leading safety initiatives requires ditching the 500-pound paperweight manuals.  During our talk, I realized that safety compliance often feels like theater when we use one-size-fits-all templates. Bill explains how he uses employee safety ownership to protect crews across massive projects like Manhattan parks and Texas highways. I loved hearing about his weekly safety huddles with company owners because it shows true executive commitment. We also explore why he personally interviews every consultant to ensure they fit the culture. What You’ll Learn: * How to replace generic checklists with energy-based safety to focus on fatal risks. * The reason project-specific safety programs are more effective than standard manuals. * How to build a culture of executive accountability through weekly safety huddles. * Why observing work at the "sharp end" is critical before judging performance. * The process for vetting consultants to ensure they match your organizational values. About the Guest:  William LePage is the Vice President and Director of Health and Safety at Posillico Civil Inc., a heavy civil contractor with over 1,200 employees. He has spent nearly three decades in the industry, including eighteen years of direct fieldwork that informs his practical approach to safety. Currently, he oversees complex projects ranging from multi-million dollar infrastructure to large-scale park developments across the Northeast and Southern United States. Bill is a dedicated advocate for the Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) model and focuses his leadership on protecting people through meaningful engagement rather than administrative bloat. The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]

Addressing suicide awareness and mental health in construction with Jim Ruggiero

Join me as I discuss construction safety management and incident prevention with Jim Ruggiero, who shares 40 years of wisdom on building a true safety culture. We look beyond basic OSHA compliance to address the invisible challenges that safety leadership often overlooks in high-hazard environments. Jim explains how his background in union leadership and state consultation shaped his belief that proactive safety involves caring for the whole person.  We examine the impact of mental health and suicide awareness on job site focus and why systems collapse when workers arrive distracted by personal struggles. I appreciate how Jim humanizes the role of a safety director by sharing stories about his family and the legacy of his mother. This conversation reminds me that our primary goal is worker protection and ensuring every person returns home whole to their family. It is a necessary look at the future of occupational health and employee wellbeing. What You’ll Learn * Why hiring for character creates a culture that acts as a safety force multiplier. * How to bridge the trust gap between contractors and outside safety resources. * The reason mental health is now a core pillar of occupational health and safety. * Why proactive outreach saves more lives than reactive incident investigations. * The danger of the "I do anything" red flag when vetting safety experts. Episode Resources: * Jim Ruggiero on LinkedIn [https://www.ediscompany.com/team-member/jim-ruggerio/] * Michael Zalle on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelzalle/] * Yellow Bird Website [https://goyellowbird.com/] * The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-canary-report/id1680958839]  * The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5WaqWijkDp17eQOGOVWBo5] * The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGc7qaRV7Y7MayITez6kRPp2PnZkYPHMa] The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]

From Volunteer Firefighter to VP of a National Safety Program

I sat down with Chris Braamse to discuss EHS management and building a safety culture that actually lasts. As the VP of DH Pace, Chris oversees 60 locations and shares how he uses a regional safety management approach to keep travel manageable for his team. We dive into injury prevention programs and how his background as a volunteer firefighter led him to an unexpected safety degree program.  Chris proves that whether you are in food manufacturing or construction, the core principles of hazard recognition and OSHA compliance are universal. You will hear about his "say what you do, do what you say" philosophy and how he integrates acquisitions without the usual friction. This episode is packed with insights on safety career growth and why keeping things simple is the key to scaling a national program effectively. What You'll Learn: * How universal safety principles like lockout tagout and PPE apply across wildly different sectors. * The structural secrets of the hub and spoke model for overseeing dozens of sites with a lean team. * Why intentional industry changes can prevent professional stagnation and deepen your problem solving toolkit. * Strategies for reducing travel burnout while maintaining high levels of leadership presence. * The importance of involving operations and maintenance teams early in the safety planning process. About the Guest:  Chris Braamse is the Vice President of DH Pace Company, a leading distributor in the dock and door industry with 60 locations nationwide. He is a Kansas City native who began his journey as a volunteer firefighter before earning a safety degree from the University of Central Missouri. Throughout his career, Chris has led safety initiatives in the refuse, coatings, food manufacturing, and construction industries. He is known for building high performing, low turnover teams and fostering a community focused culture through initiatives like the Kansas City Corporate Challenge. Today, he focuses on strategic leadership and supporting national accounts through a programmatic mindset. Episode Resources * Chris Braamse on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-brame-0b0b0b0b] * DH Pace Company Website [https://www.dhpace.com/] * Michael Zalle on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelzalle/] * Yellow Bird Website [https://goyellowbird.com/] * The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-canary-report/id1680958839]  * The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5WaqWijkDp17eQOGOVWBo5] * The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGc7qaRV7Y7MayITez6kRPp2PnZkYPHMa] The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]