In this episode of Safety on the Edge Podcast ‘Edge Talks’, host Corrie Pitzer speaks with Lorraine Martin, President and CEO of the National Safety Council (NSC), about the evolution and future of safety leadership. A former U.S. Air Force officer and Lockheed Martin executive, Martin brings a service-oriented ethos - “I have your six”—to her work at the NSC, emphasizing collective responsibility for ensuring everyone goes home safe. Reflecting on the inaugural Safety on the Edge event at UC Berkeley, Martin praised the collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and industry leaders for pushing safety thinking beyond traditional boundaries. She highlighted discussions on language, culture, and the need to move from lagging to leading indicators—focusing on risks that cause serious injuries and fatalities rather than simply counting incidents. Martin emphasized that modern safety requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating engineering, psychology, human resources, and technology. With increasing automation and AI, safety must now account for complex interactions between people and machines. She also underscored the importance of psychological safety and inclusion—recognizing that people bring their full selves and life challenges to work. “You can’t be safe if you don’t feel safe,” she noted, linking safety culture to broader organizational culture. Looking ahead, Martin envisions the next major leap in safety as industry-led, risk-focused, and human-centered—identifying and controlling critical risks before harm occurs. She advocates for businesses and safety organizations to lead progress even before regulations catch up. The episode concludes with a look to the upcoming 2025 Safety on the Edge and NSC Safety Summit in Baltimore, where academic and industry leaders will join forces again. Martin’s closing advice to young professionals: stay curious, challenge existing norms, and seek out those shaping the next wave of change in safety.

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