James Junkin
CEO
Mariner Gulf Consulting
Lessons in Recovery from a SIF Incident: How You Respond Matters
This presentation examines three serious injury/fatality incidents from the over 18 fatality incidents the speaker has investigated. The case studies illustrate how the lack of prevention through design, inadequate planning, poor training, and deficient safety management systems contributed to the deaths and serious injuries of four workers.
The presentation also analyzes the post-accident response by each involved leadership team regarding the psycho-social hazards that contributed to the accidents and the mental health care of co-workers in the wake of the tragedies.
The presentation concludes with recommendations emphasizing how leadership responds to tragedy matters, stressing proactive safety measures to design out error potential while also addressing the psycho-social and mental health hazards remaining in the wake of a SIF incident.
James A. Junkin serves as the CEO of Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, L.L.C., a specialized firm in risk management and occupational safety based in Louisiana. With numerous certifications including Master Safety Professional (MSP) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP), he is also a summa cum laude graduate of Columbia Southern University, where he earned a Master of Science in occupational safety and health and is currently a doctorial candidate. His firm provides a range of services, including expert legal opinions, OSHA inspection defense, and tailored training programs, with a focus on safety regulations and program development. He is also the chair of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board.
An accomplished author and master trainer, James has contributed to professional journals and educated over 40,000 students, including training significant numbers during the Deepwater Horizon disaster. His accolades include being named Columbia Southern University’s 2022 Outstanding Safety Professional (Runner Up) and receiving the NAEM’s 30 over 30 Award for his consulting impact. He has also been honored with the ASSP’s 2024 Safety Professional of the Year award for Training and Communications. Beyond his professional accomplishments, James is actively involved in several safety and health advisory groups and serves as the co-host of the podcast The Risk Matrix, further establishing his influence in the industry and a professor in the school of Occupational Safety and Health at Columbia-Southern University.