Safety Mindset

Workplace safety is a simple construct geared towards one philosophy: every person deserves to return home safely to their loved ones. Drawing from experience in education and retail industries, this book illuminates how quickly ordinary decisions can dramatically alter our future paths. Through compelling real-world examples, including a powerful light switch demonstration that transformed a child’s bedroom into a landscape of potential hazards, the author reveals the fragile nature of safety and how easily it can be compromised by thoughtless actions.

This book offers a strategic framework and practical resources needed to transform safety culture through the power of better decisions. Readers will discover the “Safe 2 Home” approach that transforms safety management from a rigid science into an art of decision-making influence. The book presents over 120 ready-to-implement toolbox talks covering critical safety topics from fall arrest systems to equipment operation, each designed to create meaningful emotional connections with safety protocols. Safety leaders can develop and possess practical tools to build a proactive safety culture where thoughtful decisions actively save and improve lives every day.

Safety Mindset: Conversations that Work will appeal to professionals in the field of occupational health and safety, including safety managers, supervisors, HR personnel and anyone responsible for workplace wellbeing.

Author Biography

Justin Hinks, from Tea, South Dakota, USA, holds master’s degrees in educational administration and business administration with a focus on Project Management. With over a decade of experience in safety management, he has spent the last eight years as the Director of Safety for Furniture Mart USA, overseeing 70 locations and nearly 1,300 employees across six states. Certified as a Safety Manager through NASP, in Incident Command through FEMA, and trained as a DOT inspector (MIPS), Justin’s professional philosophy centers on proactive prevention and continuous improvement. His focus is on creating awareness and improving communication around safety, ensuring that every family member makes it home safely today, tomorrow, and into the future. He believes that coaching and mentoring are essential to eliminating workplace safety incidents. Recognized for his contributions to workplace safety, Justin is a member of several professional organizations and has spoken at several industry conferences. He is dedicated to innovating in safety management and helping organizations achieve their safety goals. His “Safe 2 Home” mission is driven by his commitment to his wife Angie, his son Wes, and their two dogs, Gemma and Sylvee. In his free time, he enjoys working on the family farm ground, restoring old trucks, and spending quality time with his family.