November 18, 2024

Insights from our Houston Work Safe, Texas Summit

On November 12, Texas Mutual hosted a Work Safe, Texas Summit in Houston. During the summit, attendees had the opportunity to hear from industry leaders, small business owners and safety experts about innovative strategies for workplace safety and navigating disasters, as well as network with other business professionals in the area. The morning of conversation and learning emphasized protecting one’s workforce and business while fostering a culture of safety.

Protecting your people

The summit featured panel discussions with Houston-area employers and subject matter experts, moderated by Kristin Marcum, owner and CEO of ECPR Texas. The first panel, focused on creating safe workplaces and ensuring compliance, featured:

• Ariel Schrader, HSE manager, H+M Industrial EPC
• James Shelton, compliance assistance specialist, OSHA Houston North Area Office
• Craig Witherspoon, manager regional safety services - Houston, Texas Mutual

The panel focused on strategies to create safer workplaces by prioritizing training, understanding regulatory compliance and encouraging employee engagement. Schrader emphasized the importance of empowering employees through consistent safety training tailored to their specific roles, ensuring they have the skills to work safely and confidently. Witherspoon highlighted the need to stay informed about Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, explaining how compliance not only prevents costly violations but also fosters a safer work environment. Shelton rounded out the discussion by advocating for employee engagement in safety initiatives, noting that participation can build a culture of shared responsibility and ownership in workplace safety.

Protecting your business

The second discussion shifted focus to safeguarding businesses against unexpected risks and featured:

• Rebecca Davio, director, Texas State University Institute for Government Innovation
• Janice Jucker, president & co-owner, Three Brothers Bakery
• Eric Wall, director, U.S. Small Business Administration

The second panel focused on equipping businesses with strategies to navigate risks, embrace innovation and build resilience through community partnerships and available resources. Wall underscored the importance of leveraging resources, such as Small Business Administration (SBA) programs, to help businesses navigate economic uncertainties and build resilience. Jucker shared her own experiences of innovating during tough challenges and encouraged attendees to get to know their elected officials and who they should go to in the midst of a disaster. Davio emphasized the value of building community partnerships, highlighting how strong relationships with local organizations can strengthen business networks and provide crucial support during challenging times.

Davio also mentioned our newest disaster preparedness and response tool, BeforeDuringAfter. She explained that the free, online resource offers guides, alerts and other crucial information to help small businesses prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters and other unpredictable events.

Keeping people safe is at the forefront of what we do at Texas Mutual and our Work Safe, Texas Summits are just one way we help employers get the resources they need.