358 Safety First: Practical Tips, Big Results in Water Treatment

Did you know that integrating safety practices into your organization's culture can lead to significant improvements in employee engagement and overall performance?

Step into the world of safety excellence alongside two industry leaders, Michael Highum and Reid Hutchison, in this enriching episode of the Scaling UP! H2O Podcast. As seasoned experts in their respective fields, Michael and Reid bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, making this conversation a must-listen for anyone seeking to enhance their understanding of safety practices in the water treatment industry.

With over two decades of experience in insurance, Michael Highum is no stranger to the intricacies of risk management. As a partner at McGowan Insurance Group, he has played a pivotal role in providing businesses with tailored insurance solutions and strategic risk management advice. His insights into the importance of leading by example and fostering a culture of safety within organizations are invaluable.

Reid Hutchison, the COO of HOH Water Technology, Inc., carries on a proud family legacy in the water treatment sector. With a lineage that spans three generations, Reid brings a deep understanding of the industry's nuances and challenges. His emphasis on proactive safety measures, team engagement, and the integration of safety practices into organizational culture resonates throughout the episode.

In this educational and uplifting discussion, Michael and Reid share practical tips, real-life anecdotes, and actionable strategies for enhancing safety practices in water treatment facilities. From the significance of starting small and being proactive to the crucial role of continual improvement, listeners will gain valuable insights into building a robust safety culture that safeguards businesses and empowers teams.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or a newcomer to the industry, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to help you scale up your safety game. Join Michael Highum and Reid Hutchison on this enlightening journey towards safety excellence and discover how you can create a safer, more resilient future for your organization.

Tune in now to Scaling UP! H2O Podcast and embark on your path to safety success with insights from two industry expert guides!

 

Timestamps

00:01 - Trace Blackmore shares what it means to be a CWT and where to find FREE Industrial Water Week and Legionella Resources

04:00-  Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 

08:00 - Introducing returning guests Michael Highum and Reid Hutchison 

14:40 -  Interview with Michael Highum and Reid Hutchison on the Water Treater’s Blindspot, Safety

59:00 - Drop by Drop With James McDonald 

 

Quotes

“Safety isn’t compliance, an afterthought, or a box you check, you need to find ways to make it relevant to the team to get the attention and engagement it deserves.” - Reid Hutchison   

“If you're excited about growing your business, begin to put some thought into how you're going to grow the culture around safety in your company. As you grow and scale whatever vulnerabilities, weaknesses, or issues grow as well.” - Reid Hutchison   

“Talk about the WHY - it’s about truly developing a team where you care about each other. Employees watch leadership and when they see leaders take initiative on wanting to protect the team, it shows what the leadership cares about - safety. Safely for each and every person and ensuring they go home safely as possible.” - Michael Highum

“Safety. It takes time and effort, but you’ve got to start somewhere. The need is not going away. There's no better time than today to start the safety process. It’s not just employee safety, it's customer site issues, employee injury, vehicles - it's up to leadership to enable and empower people.” - Michael Highum

“Lead by example. No matter where you are in the organization, you are responsible and accountable to each other.” - Michael Highum 

 

Connect with Michael Highum

Phone: 317.490.2322

Email: michaelh@mcgowaninsgrp.com

Website: www.mcgowaninsgrp.com 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhighum

www.linkedin.com/company/mcgowan-insurance-group 

 

Connect with Reid Hutchison 

Phone: 847.702.1708

Email: rhutchison@hohwatertechnology.com

Website: hohwatertechnology.com 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/reid-h-3a329431

www.linkedin.com/company/h-o-h-water-technology-inc- 

 

Links Mentioned

CWT Prep Course

Industrial Water Week Resources 

Legionella Resources Page

025 The One On Insurance with Mike

107 Day 2 Of Industrial Water Week (Boilers) with Reid

107 Day 5 Of Industrial Water Week (Careers) with Mike

122 The One with Reid Hutchison

123 The Other One with Reid Hutchison

236 The One Where We Talk About Waters Treaters Changing The World with Reid

287 The One About How To Create Aligned Employee Engagement with Reid

McGowan - Advisory & Compliance Services

McGowan - Risk Solutions

How Alcoa quintupled their revenue by focusing on worker safety

The Rising Tide Mastermind

Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses

Submit a Show Idea

 

Books Mentioned

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

 

Drop By Drop with James 

Today’s segment is a “What If” and the topic is about boiler bottom blowdown.  What if an operator opens and closes the boiler bottom blowdown valves in the wrong order?  What will be the impact?  Will this impact be felt immediately or long term?  What is the logic of why boiler bottom blowdown valves are opened and closed in a certain order?  Is there logic?  Is there any additional wear and tear on the valves based upon the order opened?  What if a valve starts to leak through and needs to be repaired?  Which valve would be easier to repair possibly without requiring the boiler to be taken offline?  Are the bottom blowdown valves of the same design or different design?  Why?   

The boiler manufacturer’s operations manual should be followed when determining the proper order to open and close the bottom blowdown valves, of course, but if the boiler operator asked you, would you know how to answer? 

 

2024 Events for Water Professionals

Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we’ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE or using the dropdown menu.