SAFETY FIRST An Interview with Dr. Laura Helmrich-Rhodes By Gary McCoy
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s this issue focuses on workplace safety, in this interview I review the landscape of today’s manufacturing environment with Dr. Laura Helmrich-Rhodes. Dr. Rhodes is well known to Springs readers due to her role as an independent regulations compliance consultant for SMI and as a regular columnist. Dr. Rhodes has worked with SMI since Oct. 1, 2014, conducting safety audits, training classes and webinars. Safety audits are offered to SMI members as a means to prepare for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections. Participating members have lowered incidents of lost-time injuries, lowered workers’ compensation costs and avoided large fines from government regulatory agencies. In addition to her work with SMI, she is a board-certified safety professional in Comprehensive Practice (CSP) and is an associate professor in the Safety Sciences department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She continues to be active in private consulting through Safety Geeks, LLC. In her free time, Dr. Rhodes enjoys travel, fly fishing, backpacking, tent camping and any outdoor fun. Dr. Rhodes earned her doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, where her dissertation focused on the intersection of human resources and safety professions and the need for human resource professionals to gain graduate safety education. She holds a bachelor’s in safety sciences and a master’s degree in industrial and labor relations. On the following page is an edited version of my recent Q&A with Dr. Rhodes conducted via Zoom.
SPRINGS | Winter 2022 | 33
