The Safety Consultant Podcast

Being a safety consultant is high-pressure work, but if you do not take time to recharge, you are on a fast track to burnout. In this episode, Sheldon Primus explores why fun is a critical component of your business strategy and how stepping away from the audit sheet can actually sharpen your professional skills.
We often focus so much on safety sparks and business brilliance that we forget to nurture our own interests outside of the industry. Sheldon shares his personal journey of finding balance while living the RV life, from hiking near the Grand Tetons to the surprising patience required for baking sourdough bagels. These moments of downtime are not just distractions; they are necessary resets for a high-performing analytical brain.
A significant portion of this episode dives into Sheldon's love for poker, specifically Omaha High-Low. He breaks down why he views poker as a premier mind game that helps develop executive decision-making skills. You will hear about the math involved, the psychological aspects of the game, and how he uses a specific poker app to stay sharp. Sheldon even provides details on how you can join his private league if you are looking for a way to engage your brain outside of your typical work hours.
The core message is simple: if you do not take time for yourself, burnout will eventually change how you see your business. Whether it is playing an instrument, hiking, or gaming, find what works for you and make it a priority. Tune in to learn how to keep your safety game elevated while keeping your sanity intact.
Chapters
0:00 Intro and the Importance of Fun
2:45 Hobbies from RV Life to Sourdough Baking
5:30 Why Poker is the Ultimate Mind Game
8:15 Joining the Agents of Poker League
11:00 Poker Math and Executive Decision Making
14:30 Avoiding Professional Burnout
17:45 Final Thoughts and Outro
Subscribe for more insights on the business of safety consulting and visit our website for additional resources.
#safetyconsultant #burnoutprevention #businessmindset #pokerstrategy #worklifebalance
My website: http://www.sheldonprimus.com/poker

Welcome to another empowering episode of The Safety Consultant Podcast, hosted by Sheldon Primus. Whether you're a seasoned EHS professional, building your own consulting business, or new to the field, this episode is packed with practical strategies to elevate your training effectiveness and sharpen your consulting edge. Broadcasting from a small town in Minnesota, Sheldon Primus revisits and upgrades his classic "5 Tips to Be the Favorite Instructor," now including essential guidance for both in-person and online safety training. Tune in as Sheldon Primus walks you through actionable steps to engage learners, handle unexpected disruptions, and deliver value that gets you invited back time and again.
Sequence of Topics Covered
1. Introduction to the Podcast and Host
Sheldon Primus welcomes listeners to the Safety Consultant Podcast 01:03
Emphasis on blending safety expertise with business acumen
Audience: Safety professionals, new consultants, and those interested in safety
2. Purpose and Content of the Podcast
Teaching the business of being a safety consultant 01:42
Coverage of OSHA compliance, regulatory requirements, and safety management systems
3. Setting and Personal Context
Sheldon Primus records from Magnolia, Minnesota 02:14
Reflection on life as a traveling safety consultant and RVer
Mention of previous episodes with industry peer Jill James and her association
4. Revisiting a Previous Episode: “5 Tips to Be the Favorite Instructor”
Reference to episode 106, originally aired in 2021 03:58
Outline of the five original tips:Know your material inside out
Be prepared for disasters
Don’t preach but teach
Be respectful and personable to facility staff
Always help set up and tear down

5. Expanded Tips for Modern Safety Training
a. Know Your Material Inside and Out 07:11
Importance of deep knowledge for flexibility and engagement
Being able to go off script to clarify or elaborate for learners
Using real-world analogies and stories
Visualization techniques to prepare for training sessions
Taking students on a storytelling journey (hero, villain, conflict, resolution) 11:03
b. Be Prepared for Disasters 12:49
Carrying backup equipment and connectors
Having a long HDMI cord and other AV tools
Bringing personal hotspot and backup devices 13:59
Arriving early to account for technical or logistical issues
c. Don’t Preach, Teach 15:19
Avoiding a lecturing or punitive delivery
Relating OSHA standards to on-the-job realities
Incorporating practical examples and engagement
Minimizing reading directly from PowerPoint slides
d. Be Respectful and Personable 17:31
Treating the training site as someone else’s space 17:41
Cleaning up, resetting the room, and showing courtesy to staff
Bringing personal supplies (markers, erasers, etc.)
Being polite and helpful beyond just teaching delivery
e. Always Help Set Up and Tear Down
Actively involve yourself in logistical tasks before and after training 19:13
6. Additional Tips for Online Training
Engaging online learners through chat and direct questions 19:24
Encouraging use of chat features to foster participation 19:40
Utilizing break-out rooms for peer-to-peer learning 20:18
Using online games (e.g. Game Show Pro via learningware.com) to boost testing and engagement 21:04
Offering digital raffles and prizes
7. Business Calls to Action
Inviting listeners to enroll in the Safety Consultant 101 Course at safetyconsultantblueprint.com 23:23
Encouraging prospects interested in coaching to visit sheldon.coach and fill out the intake form 24:07
Each segment is filled with structured, actionable advice aimed at elevating safety consultants’ training delivery and supporting their business growth.

Ready to unlock the next level in your consulting business?
        ~Explore the Safety Consultant 101 Course at safetyconsultantblueprint.com, or get one-on-one business coaching with Sheldon at sheldon.coach.

In this episode of The Safety Consultant Show with Sheldon Primus, Sheldon explains how safety consultants can approach mock OSHA audits and other mock regulatory agency audits as professional consulting services.
Sheldon covers how to find clients, use OSHA inspection data, evaluate NAICS codes, think through pricing, review administrative controls, inspect physical worksites, and deliver a report that gives the client clear findings and practical remediation steps.
Topics covered include:
 Finding mock OSHA audit clients 
 Friends, family, referrals, and past coworkers 
 Using OSHA establishment search data 
 Looking at OSHA emphasis programs 
 Using NAICS codes and frequently cited standards 
 Pricing based on urgency, hazard level, and company size 
 Why not to default to hourly pricing 
 50/50 payment structure 
 Administrative review: written programs, OSHA logs, and training records 
 Physical site walkthroughs 
 Taking photos and connecting findings to standards 
 Creating remediation recommendations 
 Turning mock audits into follow-up services 
This episode is especially useful for safety consultants, EHS professionals, OSHA compliance trainers, and anyone building a safety consulting business.
Learn more at safetyconsultantblueprint.com

Ever wondered if you can run a successful safety consulting business while traveling the country in an RV? Sheldon Primus shares his personal journey and the exact tools he uses to maintain a professional consulting practice from the road. 🚐✨
In this episode of the Safety Consultant Podcast, Sheldon breaks down the logistics of being a mobile safety professional. He discusses everything from downsizing your life to managing 50/50 contracts that keep cash flow steady while you move between locations. You will learn about the essential tech stack required for remote work, including satellite internet, portable power stations, and high-quality audio gear. Whether you are looking to reduce your overhead or simply want more freedom, this guide provides the blueprint for a location-independent consulting career. 🛠️💼
Chapters
0:00 Intro and Life in South Dakota
4:10 Transitioning to Full-Time RV Life
8:25 Financial Planning for Mobile Consulting
12:15 Securing Training Contracts and Online Work
15:30 Digital Tools and Resource Recommendations
19:45 Building an Online Learning Management System
23:10 Marketing Strategies and QR Code Tracking
26:50 Behind the Scenes: Audio and Video Gear
31:20 Staying Connected with Starlink and Hotspots
35:04 Video End
Sheldon also reviews his favorite resources for safety pros, including matchmaking platforms like Yellowbird and interactive training tools like GameShow Pro. Discover how to leverage technology to provide top-tier service to your clients without being tied to a traditional office. By focusing on virtual training and digital program reviews, you can reclaim your time and travel the world while helping companies stay OSHA compliant. 🌐📈
If you found this video helpful, please hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the latest in safety consulting and business brilliance. Visit sheldonprimus.com/resources for more resources and to join our community of safety professionals.
#safetyconsultant #rvlife #occupationalsafety #businessofsafety #remotework
My website: http://www.sheldonprimus.com

📉 Navigating a Slow Economy: How to Keep Your Safety Consulting Business Thriving
When the economy slows down, corporate budgets freeze, and external contracts are often the first to face scrutiny. But a slow market doesn't mean your safety consulting pipeline has to dry up.
In this episode of the Safety Consultant Podcast, host Sheldon Primus breaks down exactly how to pivot your business strategy to thrive in a down market.
🔍 What you’ll learn in this stream:
The Shifting Mindset of Corporate Buyers: Understand how risk aversion and cash flow panic change how companies hire.
Reframing Your Value: How to speak the language of CFOs, sell ROI, and shift to "fractional" or modular safety services.
Leaning Out Your Expenses: Practical, actionable ways to audit your tech stack, minimize travel overhead, and stay highly profitable between clients.
🚀 Business Resources Mentioned:
Grab your Recession-Proof Consulting Framework: safetyconsultantblueprint.com
Take the Readiness Assessment for One-on-One Coaching: sheldon.coach
Don't just survive the downturn—learn how to build a resilient, recession-proof consulting business. Hit play and let's get started!