In this episode of the Leading and Learning Through Safety Podcast, Dr. Mark French takes a deep and heartfelt look at lone worker safety—a topic that tragically resurfaces too often in today’s workplaces. Inspired by a recent real-world incident where a lone distribution worker lost their life after a stack of boxes collapsed, Mark explores how training, resource constraints, and unrealistic productivity metrics can intersect to create deadly conditions.

He reflects on the delicate balance between efficiency and safety—how metrics like trailer “cube-out” levels, while intended to drive performance, can quickly become dangerous when used as mandates instead of learning tools. Mark underscores the importance of true training, not just box-checking exercises, and the need for proper knowledge transfer from experienced mentors to new team members.

The conversation moves beyond compliance to culture—how leadership decisions, investment in learning, and the design of work itself shape the safety and empowerment of every employee. Dr. French challenges organizations to rethink how they measure risk for lone workers and to ensure safeguards, oversight, and meaningful training are in place before tragedy strikes.

The episode closes with a powerful reminder: Safety isn’t about what’s most convenient—it’s about what’s most human.