The Safety Consultant Podcast

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

Psychological Safety in a Politically Divided Workplace
What if the biggest risk in your organization isn’t a missing procedure or a broken control—but the things people are afraid to say?
In this episode of The Safety Consultant Podcast, Sheldon Primus explores how political and ideological discord can quietly introduce psychological risk into the workplace. Drawing on recent research and real-world observations, Sheldon explains how distrust, self-censorship, and siloed communication create latent safety hazards that traditional safety systems often miss.
This conversation isn’t about debating politics—it’s about understanding how disagreement, when left unmanaged, leads to silence, broken information flow, and increased operational risk. You’ll learn how political tension can undermine psychological safety, weaken hazard reporting, and fracture safety culture from the inside out.
Sheldon also introduces a Learning Team–style approach to addressing sensitive workplace friction, offering practical ways organizations and consultants can surface hidden risks, rebuild trust, and keep critical safety conversations moving—without turning the workplace into a battleground.
Key takeaways include:
How political discord creates psychological hazards
Why silence is not harmony—it’s deferred risk
The connection between trust, psychological safety, and safety performance
How Learning Team principles can restore communication and visibility
If you care about safety culture, leadership, and real risk reduction, this is a conversation you don’t want to ignore.

Feeling capped in your EHS role? In this episode, Sheldon Primus breaks down Safety Consulting 101—a practical roadmap designed to help safety professionals transition into consulting without overwhelm or guesswork.
You’ll learn how to identify your best income lanes, build credibility that clients trust, choose a profitable niche, and package your expertise into clear, paid offers. This episode walks through the exact framework Sheldon teaches in his live workshop—focused on clarity, boundaries, and action.
If you’ve ever thought, “I know my stuff, but I don’t know how to turn this into a business,” this episode is your starting line.