Get the Latest Insights on Safety, Compliance, and Risk Management

Alana Spencer of Clayco shows how embedding sustainability from day one—backed by business value, not just ideals—turns green building from an aspiration into a competitive advantage.

See why daily safety huddles are one of the most effective tools for reducing workplace injuries, boosting communication, and improving safety culture in high-risk industries.

Optimize your safety contractor hiring process by focusing on more than just third-party safety consultants’ credentials.

On The Canary Report, host Michael Zalle speaks with Brett Smith, Global Safety Director at Gardner Builders, about transforming safety culture in high-risk construction environments. They discuss mental health support, building trust with subcontractors, and human-centered leadership. Brett shares practical strategies, from transparent communication to OSHA collaboration, that enhance both physical and psychological safety. Discover how humility, assertiveness, and real-time feedback can drive meaningful change in safety programs without sacrificing productivity.

The ground is shifting beneath manufacturing leaders. Disruption isn’t occasional—it’s constant. McKinsey’s 2024 supply chain survey reports that, nine in ten respondents say they have encountered supply chain challenges in 2024. By 2033, the industry will need to fill 3.8 million new roles, yet nearly half of these positions may go unfilled due to widening skills gaps . These challenges also extend to on-site safety concerns. Injuries and equipment failures can lead to significant disruptions, including unplanned downtime, production delays, and ballooning costs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the manufacturing industry witnessed 391 fatal occupational injuries in 2023 . The stakes for effective manufacturing risk assessments have never been higher. Yet, most manufacturers are still managing risk with outdated, static processes, often reviewing safety and operational risks only once or twice a year. If your risk management feels reactive, slow, or fragmented, you’re not alone, but saving that action for next quarter is no longer an option. Here are seven reasons why many manufacturers are still relying on outdated risk assessments, and why now, more than ever, is the time to invest in your manufacturing safety programs. 1. Inefficient, Manual Processes Are Slowing You Down Despite advances in technology, many manufacturers still manage risk using spreadsheets, emails, and ad hoc phone calls. This patchwork approach leads to fragmented data, delays in response time, and missed insights. Manual systems can’t keep pace with the velocity of risk in today’s environment, especially when unplanned downtime already costs manufacturers an estimated $50 billion per year . 2. Data Lives in Silos—And It’s Not in Real Time When you operate across multiple plants, departments, or countries, risk data often becomes siloed. Without a centralized system that delivers real-time visibility, risk leaders are left cobbling together information-often after it’s too late to act effectively. 3. Teams Aren’t Talking—and Risks Are Falling Through the Cracks Risk doesn’t respect department lines. When EHS, operations, quality, and executive teams fail to collaborate, critical areas get overlooked. Lack of cross-functional communication means one team may be solving yesterday’s problems while another is unaware of tomorrow’s threats. 4. Risk Assessments Are Infrequent and Quickly Outdated Conducting an annual manufacturing risk assessment might meet compliance requirements, but it won’t prepare you for the pace of change today. Risks evolve in real time, and assessments need to evolve with them. Relying on a once-a-year snapshot leaves your business exposed for the remaining 11 months. Consider quarterly or even monthly manufacturing risk assessments to stay on top of evolving conditions. 5. Your Technology Is Holding You Back Spreadsheets aren’t built for risk intelligence. Legacy tools lack automation, audit trails, and actionable insights. Without modern platforms to aggregate, analyze, and flag critical risks, even experienced teams can miss what matters most. 6. The Focus Is Compliance—Not Prevention Too often, risk management is treated as a checkbox exercise. If your approach is designed primarily to pass audits or respond to incidents, you’re missing the bigger opportunity: preventing them in the first place . 7. There’s No Standard—and That’s a Risk in Itself When each site or team uses its own methodology to assess risk, it becomes impossible to see the big picture. Inconsistent scoring systems, templates, and reporting structures prevent you from prioritizing effectively or comparing risk across locations. Ready to Modernize Your Risk Strategy? Outdated manufacturing risk assessments won’t keep your teams safe—or your operations running. YellowBird connects you with certified EHS professionals who conduct fast, thorough, and actionable safety assessments tailored to your facilities, risks, and industry needs, when you need them. Whether you’re managing one site or 100, YellowBird helps you: •Identify critical, unseen areas that pose risk to your people and your operations •Standardize risk evaluation across locations •Move from reactive to proactive with real-world recommendations

At YellowBird, we know real leaders don’t just check boxes — they create systems and cultures that put people first. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new podcast: The Canary Report. Hosted by our Founder and CEO, Michael Zalle, The Canary Report is the podcast for proactive professionals driving the future […]

NEW! Faster Job Posting. Real-Time Communication. At YellowBird, we’re always looking for ways to make your experience simpler, faster, and more efficient. Today, we’re excited to announce two major updates designed to help you move more quickly and communicate more effectively with your team and stakeholders—right from the platform. Introducing In-App Chat for Jobs Our new in-platform chat keeps all your job communication in one place—so you can move faster, stay aligned, and never miss a detail.

Even the most advanced equipment is only as safe as the person operating it. When operators lack the right training, small mistakes can quickly escalate into bigger problems,from avoidable workplace incidents to unexpected OSHA compliance issues.  The good news? Spotting the warning signs of an unqualified heavy equipment operator is easier than you might think. […]