The Safety Consultant Podcast

OSHA has a new leader, a new poster, and a very clear inspection strategy for 2026. Are you ready?
In this quarterly OSHA update, Sheldon breaks down the biggest changes safety professionals and consultants need to know — from the new “OSHA Cares” poster to federal enforcement reductions and the 24,929 inspections planned for the year.
You’ll learn:
What the new OSHA poster means for employers
Who the new head of OSHA is and why it matters
Where enforcement dollars are shrinking (and where focus is tightening)
Why 70–80% of inspections will be unprogrammed
The four hazards that will dominate construction inspections
If you're a consultant, safety manager, or building your own safety business, this episode helps you anticipate where OSHA is headed — so you can position yourself (and your clients) ahead of the curve.
Stay proactive. Stay strategic. Stay inspection-ready.

Spring is a season of growth — but growth doesn’t happen just because the calendar changes. It happens when you decide to move.
In this episode, Sheldon explores why so many safety professionals stay stuck in “learning mode” and never make the leap into leadership. Backed by behavioral research on the intention–action gap, perfectionism, and productive procrastination
Spring Forward
, he breaks down what’s really holding you back — and how to shift from preparation to execution.
More importantly, this conversation goes beyond hustle. It’s about the freedom that comes with ownership: choosing your clients, controlling your schedule, and building a career that gives you options — not just income.
If you’ve been thinking about launching or growing your consulting business, this is your nudge to stop collecting knowledge and start building momentum.
🌱 Learn more at sheldon.coach

When the federal government shuts down, what actually happens to OSHA? Do inspections stop? Are citations paused? Is enforcement put on hold?
In this episode of the Safety Consultant Podcast, Sheldon Primus breaks down what a government shutdown really means for OSHA, employers, and safety professionals. Using the Department of Labor’s official contingency framework as a guide, Sheldon explains which OSHA functions continue, which ones pause, and how businesses should prepare for both the shutdown period and the surge of activity that often follows reopening.
You’ll learn why a shutdown does not mean a free pass on compliance—and why relying on enforcement pressure instead of building a strong safety culture can put your organization at risk.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
How government shutdowns affect Department of Labor agencies
What percentage of OSHA staff are furloughed during a lapse in funding
Which inspections still happen (imminent danger, fatalities, catastrophes)
What enforcement and compliance activities are suspended
Why injury reporting requirements never stop
How the six-month statute of limitations still impacts citations
Smart steps safety professionals should take during a shutdown
Why OSHA activity often increases after funding resumes

Whether you’re a safety manager, business owner, municipal leader, or consultant, this episode gives you a strategic roadmap for navigating uncertainty while staying compliant and protecting your workforce.
Because even when the government shuts down…
Your responsibility under the OSH Act does not.

📄 Description / Show Notes
As safety professionals, we’re wired to look out for everyone else’s well-being — but when was the last time you checked in on your own mental health?
In this introspective episode, Sheldon opens up about the importance of taking care of your emotional and psychological safety, especially in a high-stress, high-responsibility field like EHS.
🎧 He challenges you to ask:
What are you doing for your mental health right now?
How are you managing burnout, isolation, or overwork?
Do you treat mental health as a compliance issue — or a culture issue?
From self-awareness to intentional self-care, this episode is a needed pause — a mental PPE check for those who often carry the weight for others.

It’s recordkeeping season—and that means opportunity. Sheldon breaks down exactly how EHS consultants can turn OSHA logs into paid engagements before the March 2 electronic submission deadline, including who must file, who’s exempt, and how to target high-hazard NAICS industries. You’ll get the outreach scripts, a free-audit offer structure (300/301/300A), and a pricing tactic anchored to real citation dollars—plus how to build a short course from OSHA’s recordkeeping directive (CPL 02-00-172) and 29 CFR 1904 so you can upsell audits and ongoing compliance support. If you want a fast, ethical way to help clients and grow revenue this month, start here