Do you get tired of big ideas, exorbitant pitches, inactionable concepts, and empty promises? Cool, me too. I’m Dr. Matt Law, and I’m the host of ”Prove It To Me”. This podcast aims to put theories to the test and bring good research to light by showcasing evidence-based solutions. Guests will be challenged to identify things that actually work, provide research and data to back up their claims, and tell us how to measure and manage real solutions. You’ll hear about a lot of environmental health and occupational safety theories and concepts, but you’ll also learn about general business solutions and maybe even some everyday things that you can apply to your life. We’ll also cover general topics about research, whether it be about measurement tools, statistics, or what differentiates good research from, well, the not so good information out there. ”Prove It To Me” is nerdy. It is serious. It is jovial and fun. It is optionally explicit, but your kids will probably be asleep before we get to any bad stuff anyway. If you’re ready to cut through the BS, maybe learn a little bit about research, and get into the nitty gritty of whether big ideas work or not, you’re in the right place. Have some evidence-based research to share? Send an email to contact@proveitpod.com today! Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and its guests and do not necessarily represent the official position, opinion, or strategies of their employers or companies. Examples of research and data analysis discussed within this podcast are only examples. They should not be utilized in the real world as the only solution available as they are based on very limited, often single-use case, and sometimes dated information. Assumptions made within this discussion about research and data analyses are not necessarily representative of the position of the host, the guests, or their employers or companies. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of the creator of the podcast. The presentation of content by the guests does not necessarily constitute an active endorsement of the content by the host.
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Do you get tired of big ideas, exorbitant pitches, inactionable concepts, and empty promises? Cool, me too. I’m Dr. Matt Law, and I’m the host of ”Prove It To Me”. This podcast aims to put theories to the test and bring good research to light by showcasing evidence-based solutions. Guests will be challenged to identify things that actually work, provide research and data to back up their claims, and tell us how to measure and manage real solutions. You’ll hear about a lot of environmental health and occupational safety theories and concepts, but you’ll also learn about general business solutions and maybe even some everyday things that you can apply to your life. We’ll also cover general topics about research, whether it be about measurement tools, statistics, or what differentiates good research from, well, the not so good information out there. ”Prove It To Me” is nerdy. It is serious. It is jovial and fun. It is optionally explicit, but your kids will probably be asleep before we get to any bad stuff anyway. If you’re ready to cut through the BS, maybe learn a little bit about research, and get into the nitty gritty of whether big ideas work or not, you’re in the right place. Have some evidence-based research to share? Send an email to contact@proveitpod.com today! Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and its guests and do not necessarily represent the official position, opinion, or strategies of their employers or companies. Examples of research and data analysis discussed within this podcast are only examples. They should not be utilized in the real world as the only solution available as they are based on very limited, often single-use case, and sometimes dated information. Assumptions made within this discussion about research and data analyses are not necessarily representative of the position of the host, the guests, or their employers or companies. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of the creator of the podcast. The presentation of content by the guests does not necessarily constitute an active endorsement of the content by the host.
Ep 113 - Dr. Todd Loushine and Dr. Matt Law - Embracing a Scientific Approach to Safety
Prove It To Me - Real Research, Real Data, No BS
57 minutes
3 months ago
Ep 113 - Dr. Todd Loushine and Dr. Matt Law - Embracing a Scientific Approach to Safety
In this compelling episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Todd Loushine and Dr. Matt Law deconstruct traditional safety measurement approaches. They challenge listeners to think critically about how safety is defined, measured, and understood, exploring the complex relationship between data, perception, and workplace safety.
Listen now at www.proveitpod.com or wherever you get your podcasts!
Key highlights include:
Critiquing incident rate methodologies
Exploring statistical nuances in safety research
Discussing cognitive biases in safety interpretation
Demonstrating the limitations of current safety metrics
The presenters use real-world examples and academic research to illustrate how our current understanding of safety might be fundamentally flawed. They advocate for a more curious, experimental approach to safety management, emphasizing the importance of challenging assumptions and continuously learning.
Perfect for safety professionals, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding the deeper complexities of workplace safety beyond surface-level metrics.
Chapters:
Introduction of Speakers and Session Overview 00:00:48
The moderator, Kelton, introduced Dr. Todd Loushine and Dr. Matt Law as the presenters for the breakout session. Dr. Loushine was described as a certified safety professional with a PhD from Wisconsin, currently an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and a former compliance safety and health officer. Dr. Matt Law was introduced as a certified safety professional with a doctorate in public health from Walden University, whose dissertation focused on occupational risk perceptions among foreign-born construction workers in central Florida. Dr. Law mentioned his podcast "Prove It To Me," noting that the first full-length episode featured a conversation with Dr. Loushine on the same topics they would be discussing in this session.
Scientific Method and Research Fundamentals 00:04:34
Dr. Loushine began by explaining that the scientific method is cyclical rather than linear, often involving setbacks and sometimes yielding no results despite significant effort. He emphasized that research is about seeking truth and understanding, not just confirming existing beliefs. Dr. Loushine introduced key research concepts including construct validity (whether one variable truly relates to or causes another), measure reliability, and bias assessment. He stressed the importance of peer-reviewed publications versus non-reviewed content, noting a disconnect between researchers and practitioners in the safety field.
Importance of Curiosity in Safety Research 00:10:23
Dr. Matt Law emphasized the need for curiosity in safety research, encouraging the audience to question both ideas that align with and contradict their preconceptions. He noted that the safety and health field lacks consensus on the "right way" to do safety, with many approaches (BBS, HOP, Safety One, Safety Two, etc.) having little evidence-based support. Dr. Law framed this as an opportunity for testing and measurement to determine what actually works in improving workplace safety.
Challenging Traditional Safety Metrics 00:12:16
Dr. Loushine questioned how safety is defined and measured, suggesting that if something can't be measured, its effectiveness can't be established. He presented statistical concepts related to normal distribution and explained why injury data doesn't follow a normal distribution but is asymptotic. Dr. Loushine argued that comparing companies to industry averages using incident rates is problematic because extreme outliers skew the data. He questioned whether judging safety program performance based on injury numbers is appropriate, comparing it to judging driving performance based solely on accidents.
Research on OSHA Data Reporting Issues 00:27:16
Dr. Loushine shared findings from his published study analyzing seven years of OSHA 300A data, revealing that approximately 12% of submitted reports c
Prove It To Me - Real Research, Real Data, No BS
Do you get tired of big ideas, exorbitant pitches, inactionable concepts, and empty promises? Cool, me too. I’m Dr. Matt Law, and I’m the host of ”Prove It To Me”. This podcast aims to put theories to the test and bring good research to light by showcasing evidence-based solutions. Guests will be challenged to identify things that actually work, provide research and data to back up their claims, and tell us how to measure and manage real solutions. You’ll hear about a lot of environmental health and occupational safety theories and concepts, but you’ll also learn about general business solutions and maybe even some everyday things that you can apply to your life. We’ll also cover general topics about research, whether it be about measurement tools, statistics, or what differentiates good research from, well, the not so good information out there. ”Prove It To Me” is nerdy. It is serious. It is jovial and fun. It is optionally explicit, but your kids will probably be asleep before we get to any bad stuff anyway. If you’re ready to cut through the BS, maybe learn a little bit about research, and get into the nitty gritty of whether big ideas work or not, you’re in the right place. Have some evidence-based research to share? Send an email to contact@proveitpod.com today! Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and its guests and do not necessarily represent the official position, opinion, or strategies of their employers or companies. Examples of research and data analysis discussed within this podcast are only examples. They should not be utilized in the real world as the only solution available as they are based on very limited, often single-use case, and sometimes dated information. Assumptions made within this discussion about research and data analyses are not necessarily representative of the position of the host, the guests, or their employers or companies. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of the creator of the podcast. The presentation of content by the guests does not necessarily constitute an active endorsement of the content by the host.
