The Warehouse Safety Influence Map 2025: Who really moves DC safety

The Leaders Shaping Warehouse Safety—Why You Should Follow Them and What You Can Learn From Them

The loudest voice isn’t always the most useful. This map highlights the people who drive tangible outcomes on the warehouse floor—from forklift training and AMR interaction to rack design and inspection standards. Follow the right leaders, absorb what matters, and turn influence into fewer incidents and faster fixes.

How to use this safety map

• Follow the right leaders: curated in alphabetical order by section.
• Steal the move: apply one practical action from each entry.
• Measure impact: SIF potential, % racks out-of-service by aisle, forklift-pedestrian near-miss trend to gauge improvement.

1. Policy & Standards: Where Rules and Expectations Start

Amanda Wood Laihow—Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA (2025)

• Leadership spotlight: A labor and safety attorney with deep regulatory experience, Amanda Wood Laihow previously served on the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission and as OSHA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary. She brings a strong focus on enforcement consistency, employer accountability, and practical safety policy.
• Why follow: OSHA’s current acting leader has been public about forklift safety and spoke at National Forklift Safety Day (NFSD) 2025.
• Steal this move: Run a forklift + pedestrian separation stand-down and document corrective actions (line marking, guards, spotter SOPs).

Lorraine M. Martin—CEO, National Safety Council (NSC)

• Leadership spotlight: Throughout her 35-year career in leadership, Lorraine M. Martin has championed worker safety and human potential. She chairs the Road to Zero Coalition (2,000+ organizations) and spearheads national conversations on eliminating workplace fatalities through technology, impairment prevention, and safety leadership.
• Why follow: NSC sets the tone on Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) prevention and executive accountability. In July 2025, it added a President role (Nick Smith) while Martin remains CEO.
• Steal this move: Include SIF potential (not just lagging recordables) on every site’s monthly ops review and treat it as a capacity-to-fail check.

2. Forklift Safety: Culture and Competency

Brian Feehan—President, Industrial Truck Association (ITA)

• Leadership spotlight: A veteran of public policy and association leadership, Brian Feehan guides ITA’s mission to advance safety, technology, and sustainability across the powered industrial truck industry.
• Why follow: ITA convenes regulators, OEMs, and operators each year at NFSD to align on training and controls.
• Steal this move: Put NFSD learnings into your training plan—operator refreshers plus pedestrian modules.

Brett Wood—President & CEO, Toyota Material Handling North America; ITA Chair

• Leadership spotlight: A mechanical engineer and one of the few non-Japanese executives on Toyota Industries Corporation’s global board, Brett Wood oversees TMHNA and its companies, together supplying roughly one in three forklifts sold in North America.
• Why follow: As ITA Chair, he leads the annual National Forklift Safety Day and drives Toyota’s “Every Move Matters” campaign—both centered on elevating operator training and safety culture.
• Steal this move: Publish a 90-day near-miss trend to supervisors and operators; tie refresher training to hot spots.

3. Rack Engineering & Inspection: The Backbone Risk

Dan Clapp (in memoriam)—Longtime RMI Engineering Leader

• Leadership spotlight: A foundational voice in rack design and safety, Dan Clapp’s decades of work with the Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI) helped shape today’s ANSI MH16.1 guidance, with the 2023 edition dedicated to his memory.
• Why follow: His influence persists in modern inspection and maintenance practices. (See RMI/MHI materials)
• Steal this move: Standardize damage assessment (using a single decision tree) for repair vs. replace across sites.

Dr. Teoman Peköz—Professor Emeritus at Cornell Engineering

• Leadership spotlight: A globally recognized authority on cold-formed steel and aluminum structures, Dr. Teoman Peköz authored significant portions of U.S./EU design specs and advanced research adopted worldwide.
• Why follow: His work underpins the rack engineering logic used in today’s MH16.1-aligned practice.
• Steal this move: Build the 1/240 out-of-plumb rule into toolbox talks; tag out and repair anything that exceeds the threshold.

4. Robotics & AMR: Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)

Jacob Carr, PhD—NIOSH Center for Occupational Robotics Research (CORR)

• Leadership spotlight: With 15+ years in OSH research, Jacob Carr oversees NIOSH CORR studies on collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots, drones, and wearable robotics, translating HRI research into practical controls.
• Why follow: As AMRs and AGVs proliferate, NIOSH leads on HRI risk and mitigation methods.
• Steal this move: Expand JHAs to include exception-handling (jam clearing, maintenance), define no-go zones, and enable stop-work authority near robots.

5. Enterprise Operators & Analysts: Turning Insight into Practice

Jonathan Fortkamp, PhD, CSP—Senior Director HSE, DHL Supply Chain NA

• Leadership spotlight: A systems-driven HSE leader, Jonathan Fortkamp, is known for integrating science, systems, and culture across large networks.
• Why follow: Brings a multi-site view on culture, tech, and human performance; spoke at NFSD 2025 on tech-enabled safety and standardizing training.
• Steal this move: Pilot leading indicators (rack OOS %, forklift near-miss heatmap) at two sites before scaling.

Jordan Barab—Author, Confined Space (former OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary)

• Leadership spotlight: A longtime advocate for worker safety and regulatory accountability, Jordan Barab served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor at OSHA until 2017, where he helped shape national policy on injury prevention. Through “Confined Space,” he continues to champion standards, transparency, and work safety.
• Why follow: Clear reads on OSHA enforcement and policy implications for warehousing.
• Steal this move: Track enforcement themes related to material handling and fix gaps before an inspection does.

Adrian Gonzalez—Analyst & host, Talking Logistics

• Leadership spotlight: Founder and host of Talking Logistics, Adrian Gonzalez turns complex supply chain trends into actionable warehouse takeaways, bridging executive insight and frontline practicality.
• Why follow: Long-running platform that filters buzz into pragmatic next steps.
• Steal this move: Assign one Talking Logistics episode per month to frontline leaders; capture three action items.

Yossi Sheffi—Director, MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL)

• Leadership spotlight: A globally recognized expert in systems optimization, risk analysis, and supply chain resilience, Dr. Yossi Sheffi has shaped modern thinking on how logistics, technology, and people interact to create safer and more reliable operations.
• Why follow: Offers a systems-thinking lens on risk, resilience, and trade-offs that shape warehouse safety investment and performance.
• Steal this move: Add a quarterly 30-minute “What’s Changing in Risk & Tech” brief to your safety council to connect macro disruptions to on-floor safety priorities.

6. Educators & Practitioners to Add to Your Feed

Marc Bianco—CEO, United Alliance Services

• Leadership spotlight: With 30+ years in EHS consulting and management, Marc Bianco specializes in practical safety solutions and risk control across industrial and manufacturing environments.
• Why follow: Hands-on OSH training and field implementation that translates policy into everyday practice.

Abby Ferri, CSP, ARM—Senior Leader, NSC Networks (NSC)

• Leadership spotlight: A senior leader for NSC Networks, Abby Ferri drives member collaboration, safety consulting, and thought leadership, advocating for ethical tech use, inclusive PPE, and women’s advancement in EHS.
• Why follow: From an NSC vantage point, she helps member companies benchmark, share best practices, and elevate performance.

Eric Gislasonִ—Vice President & Executive Director, National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP)

• Leadership spotlight: With over 30 years in EHS, Eric Gislason is an OSHA-authorized instructor and multi-credentialed safety professional, focusing on compliance training and safety culture.
• Why follow: Under his leadership, NASP delivers certifications and OSHA-compliant courses that build internal safety expertise at every level.

Darryl C. Hill, PhD, CSP—EHS Program Director and Lecturer at Oakland University

• Leadership spotlight: A 35-year EHS veteran, Darryl C. Hill builds progressive safety cultures, mitigates organizational risk, and delivers measurable business impact—honored with the National Safety Council Distinguished Service to Safety Award and the BCSP Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Why follow: Appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to the NIOSH Board of Scientific Counselors, he helps guide national research priorities and safety strategies that shape workplace health and safety policy across industries.

Susan Main—Writer, Speaking of Safety

• Leadership spotlight: Since 1999, Susan Main has shared real-world workplace safety stories from across Canada, highlighting people and practical solutions.
• Why follow: Her WorkSafeBC-sponsored platform builds community and inspires others to become work safety champions.

Jamie Young—Co-founder/COO, Safeopedia

• Leadership spotlight: Drawing on more than 20 years in the construction industry, Jamie Young cofounded Safeopedia to champion the belief that everyone has the right to return home safely.
• Why follow: Safeopedia provides comprehensive global resources for EHS professionals, uniting the safety community around the principle that all accidents are preventable.

Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP—President, American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)

• Leadership spotlight: As the 2024-25 ASSP President, Pam Walaski brings over 30 years of experience in occupational safety and health leadership and has been recognized with the Charles V. Culbertson Outstanding Volunteer Service Award.
• Why follow: Under her leadership, ASSP continues to advance OSH education, advocacy, and standards that help safety professionals prevent workplace injuries worldwide.

Conclusion: Turn Safety Insight into Action

Safety leadership doesn’t happen in a classroom; it happens when you apply what you’ve learned. The voices in this map show where warehouse safety is headed next.

Every leader on this map contributes to shaping warehouse safety. Your job is to turn their influence into a safer, more reliable operation, starting with the risks that matter most: rack stability, forklift interaction, and AMR-human workflows.

Next steps:

• Download: Warehouse Safety Guide
• Try: Rack Repair ROI Calculator
• Talk to an expert

Quick FAQ: Warehouse Safety & Leadership Topics

What are the most important warehouse safety topics to cover in meetings?

• Focus on high-energy hazards and recurring risks: forklift and pedestrian interaction, rack stability, ergonomics, and safe material handling.
• Add quick refreshers on lockout/tagout, PPE use, and emergency response; they’re among OSHA’s top citations for warehouse work safety.
• Rotate topics monthly to keep meetings short, visual, and relevant to current operations.
  

How does OSHA regulate warehouse safety?

OSHA warehouse safety standards are outlined in 29 CFR 1910, which covers material storage, forklift operation, walking-working surfaces, and hazard communication.

Section 1910.176(b) specifically requires that materials be stored safely and secured against sliding or collapse, which is the foundation for practical rack inspection and repair programs.
Regular training and documented inspections are crucial for ensuring compliance and protecting workers.

What are good safety topics for warehouse meetings?

Useful warehouse safety topics for meetings include:

• Forklift operation and pedestrian awareness
• Proper pallet stacking and rack loading
• Manual handling and ergonomics
• Spill response and chemical labeling
• Heat stress, fatigue, and seasonal hazards
• Reporting near-misses and unsafe conditions

Each session should link to a real-world example or recent observation from your own facility.

How can warehouse leaders improve overall work safety performance?

Safety leaders can enhance warehouse health and safety by integrating engineering controls (such as guarding and repair programs) with human-factor initiatives (including training, culture, and accountability).

Benchmark against organizations like OSHA, NSC, and ITA, and run quarterly safety audits tied to measurable indicators such as SIF potential, near-miss rates, and rack out-of-service percentage.Consistent visibility drives both safety in the workplace and operational reliability.

What role do inspections play in warehouse work safety?

Routine inspections are central to work safety, especially for pallet racking and material-handling equipment. Use qualified inspectors, follow RMI/ANSI MH16.1 and CSA A344 standards, and log corrective actions through digital platforms for traceability. This proactive approach transforms compliance into prevention, reducing costly downtime.

How can companies keep warehouse safety discussions engaging and informative?

Mix short “safety topics for warehouse meetings” with storytelling and visuals—photos, short videos, or real incident data. Highlight positive examples (“caught doing it right”), run hands-on demos, and connect lessons to tangible business outcomes like uptime and cost avoidance. The goal is to make worker safety a daily conversation, not a monthly formality.