June 4, 2026
1:00PM - 2:00PM

EHS Leadership Track

The Human Connection of Safety

Speaker: Cedric Barrett

Organizations invest heavily in safety programs and technology, yet many still struggle with employee engagement. Over thirteen years in safety leadership, I have found that the missing link is often the lack of genuine human connection between leaders and the workforce. By building trust, bridging generational perspectives, and communicating clearly and respectfully, employees respond more positively to coaching than enforcement.

This approach has driven measurable improvements in participation, including increasing behavior-based safety observations from 434 in all of 2024 to more than 1,600 in the first quarter of 2025. This session explores how prioritizing authentic relationships and clearly explaining the “why” behind expectations strengthens safety culture and drives real buy-in.