Owning the Heart and Soul of Safety

When a leader who had transformed his company's safety performance was asked what made the difference, his answer was one word: ownership.

In this follow-up to The Heart and Soul of Safety, Paul Espenan explores what happens when safety becomes personal. That means part of who we are as individuals, part of a team's DNA, and a force that aligns an entire organization.

Through 113 short, story-driven chapters, Espenan connects lessons from history, sports, science, and everyday life to the work of keeping people safe. The stories include the McDonald brothers and the Law of the Lid, the final seconds of the Apollo 11 landing, Simone Biles walking away from the vault, the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and personal stories from Espenan's life.

Each chapter closes with reflection questions designed for a pre-job discussion, a team meeting, or a quiet moment of your own. Read it straight through or one topic at a time. Either way, you'll come away ready to lead safety culture from the inside out.

Paul Espenan, CSP, is a transformational safety leader and the author of The Heart and Soul of Safety. He has spent his career in the energy industry, including Diversified Energy Company, Burlington Resources and ConocoPhillips. He is a keynote speaker, frequent podcast guest, and has led positive leadership workshops for teams across the industry. He delivers a weekly safety leadership message to the people he serves.