From Compliance to Culture: Strategic Safety with Jo Pina

The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management

"Creating an environment where people feel comfortable to report said near misses is critical." - Jo Pina

Hello and welcome everyone. For a start, this one’s packed with rich insights you can use and apply right away, and on a personal level, I’ve waited a long time and looked forward to meeting Jo Pina on this week's episode of The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management. Jo is the Global Director of EHSS at Footprint and a 20-year safety veteran who’s worked across infrastructure, utilities, and construction. Together, we dive into how near-miss reporting signals the maturity of your safety culture, why psychological safety matters more than policies, and how diverse voices drive stronger outcomes. Jo shares how to align KPIs with business goals, build programs even with limited resources, and break barriers for women in safety leadership.

Here are some of the topics that we explore:

• Why near-miss reporting is a critical leading indicator of safety culture maturity
• How to align safety initiatives with business objectives using strategic planning
• The importance of psychological safety in building effective reporting cultures
• Why diverse perspectives strengthen safety programs and drive better outcomes
• How to develop safety programs based on organizational maturity levels
• The evolution from compliance-focused to strategic safety leadership
• Why traditional career paths aren't necessary for safety success
• How to create effective safety programs without extensive internal resources

Jo Pina is the Global Director of Environmental Health, Safety, and Security at Footprint and a Certified Safety Professional with over 20 years of experience across infrastructure, utilities, energy, and construction. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, she leads Arizona’s Women in Safety Excellence (WISE) chapter and actively contributes to ASSP. Jo is also an OSHA Authorized Trainer and author of My Safety Superhero. She’s dedicated to building psychologically safe workplaces where people and organizations thrive.

Episode Resources:

• Jo Pina on LinkedIn
• Footprint Website
• Michael Zalle on LinkedIn
• Yellow Bird Website
• The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on Apple Podcasts
• The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on Spotify