Explore how Behavior-Based Safety moves beyond compliance to create a culture where employees make safer choices naturally by understanding human motivations and influences in the workplace.
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I stopped waiting to feel fearless and started moving with the fear instead. Every step I took while shaking became proof that growth doesn't require perfection, just courage in motion.
Christina Phillips, COHC, GSP, MS · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Christina
Christina Phillips, COHC, GSP, MS, is a dedicated and highly driven professional serving as a Regional Safety, Health, and Environment (SH&E) Facility Manager at Nestlé Health Science. With a strong background in occupational health and safety, Christina has held roles across multiple organizations, including The Hershey Company, RETTEW, and Cuisine Solutions, where she led safety teams, conducted audits, developed training programs, and implemented initiatives to promote a culture of safety. Christina’s expertise spans industrial hygiene, hearing conservation, and general safety management, complemented by certifications such as Graduate Industrial Hygiene Specialist, Graduate OSHA Compliance Specialist, and CPR Trainer for the American Red Cross. Christina’s career journey reflects resilience and determination. Facing significant personal challenges early in life, she earned her GED at 32. She went on to complete her associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees—becoming the first in her family to attend college. Initially pursuing nursing, she shifted to occupational safety after recognizing the critical importance of safety protocols across industries. Christina is passionate about mentoring and developing her teams, training employees, and fostering workplace environments where safety is prioritized and valued. Beyond her professional achievements, Christina is ambitious about the future. She plans to travel to facilities to teach and implement effective safety protocols. She is currently writing a book that shares her experiences and insights in the fields of safety and healthcare. Known for her grit, determination, and unwavering commitment, Christina approaches every challenge with energy, compassion, and a drive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Christina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I credit my success to resilience, vision, and above all, the unwavering support of my husband. His encouragement has been the cornerstone of my journey, strengthened by the love and inspiration of my family. Together, they remind me that family is the greatest source of strength.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to lead with integrity and never compromise safety for convenience. That principle has guided every decision I’ve made, and it’s the foundation of my success.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to never give up. Working in a male-dominated field can be challenging, but it’s important to stay confident and keep moving forward. Don’t let male dominance silence your voice—use it, assert yourself, and know that your perspective is valuable.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The warehouse and manufacturing world is full of challenges, but also huge opportunities. Right now it’s about balancing labor shortages and rising costs with the exciting potential of automation, AI, and sustainability. For me, it all comes down to building safer, smarter systems that protect people while driving progress.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me are integrity, resilience, and innovation — but above all, family. My husband’s unwavering support, and the encouragement of our kids remind me that true success is measured not just in achievements, but in the impact we make and the people we uplift along the way.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Christina
Beyond Compliance: Understanding Human Behavior in Safety
Why Behavior‑Based Safety Is the Missing Link Between Rules and Real Change
The Human Side of Safety
When we talk about safety, compliance often takes center stage. Regulations, audits, and checklists are vital, but they only scratch the surface. Real safety begins when we understand the people behind the procedures.
Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) looks beyond compliance to uncover the motivations and influences that drive everyday decisions. It's not about catching mistakes; it's about understanding patterns and helping people make safer choices naturally.
Why Behavior Matters More Than Rules
Rules define what's expected. Behavior defines what's lived.
When employees understand why safety matters, they internalize it. They look out for one another, speak up, and take ownership.
A compliance-driven system prevents violations.
A behavior-driven culture prevents injuries.
That's the difference between checking boxes and changing lives.
The Hidden Influences Behind Behavior
Human behavior is shaped by more than training manuals. It is influenced by:
- Peer norms: "Everyone else does it this way."
- Production pressure: "We're behind schedule."
- Perceived risk: "I've done this a hundred times."
- Leadership modeling: "If my supervisor skips PPE, why shouldn't I?"
- Recognition: "No one notices when I do it right."
Understanding these drivers helps leaders design safety programs that resonate, not just regulate.
Building a Behavior-Based Safety Process
A successful BBS program focuses on partnership, not policing.
- Observe: Watch how work is done to understand habits.
- Engage: Provide feedback that is constructive, specific, and respectful.
- Analyze: Identify trends and underlying factors contributing to unsafe actions.
- Collaborate: Involve employees in creating practical solutions.
- Recognize: Consistently acknowledge and celebrate safe behaviors.
When people feel valued, they become advocates for safety rather than passive participants.
From Compliance to Culture
Compliance builds the foundation. Behavior builds the culture.
When leaders focus on human behavior, safety becomes a shared responsibility rather than a checklist.
The goal is not perfection—it's progress.
It is helping people understand that every choice, every action, and every conversation contributes to a safer, stronger workplace.
What's one behavior you've noticed—either in yourself or others—that has the greatest impact on safety, and what do you think drives it?
A reflective exploration of safety leadership grounded in real manufacturing experience, examining how authentic leadership, thoughtful system design, and personal choice create cultures where safety becomes a shared value rather than enforced compliance.
How People, Purpose, and One Conversation Shifted My View of Safety Leadership
From manufacturing floors to leadership: how authentic influence shapes a culture of safety.
My career began where real work happens—in manufacturing plants, at the heartbeat of operations, where people move product, solve problems, and keep industries alive. Those environments shaped me long before I ever stepped into a leadership role. They taught me that safety is not a binder of rules; it’s a reflection of how people feel, how they’re led, and what they believe about the work they do.
This truth became even clearer when I had the opportunity to meet Manley Feinberg II, CSP, at the GOSH Conference. Listening to him speak—and later connecting with him one‑on‑one—reminded me why I fell in love with this field in the first place. His message about “vertical leadership” and the power of clarity, commitment, and connection struck a chord. It wasn’t just motivational; it was a mirror. It made me reflect on the people who shaped me, the environments that challenged me, and the responsibility leaders carry to influence behavior through trust, not fear.
That conversation inspired me to write this piece.
Because the deeper I go into my doctoral journey, the more I realize that the future of safety isn’t about more rules—it’s about understanding why people behave the way they do. My research and lived experience point to three interconnected truths:
Safety Leadership
Leadership sets the tone long before a policy ever does. In warehouses and manufacturing settings, people don’t respond to titles—they respond to consistency, presence, and authenticity. I’ve seen how a leader’s behavior can either build a culture of trust or create an environment where people feel unseen and unheard. Safety leadership is not about enforcement; it’s about influence.
Safety by Design
The best safety systems are the ones that make the right choice the easy choice. When processes, equipment, and workflows are designed with people in mind, behavior naturally aligns with safer outcomes. My time in operations taught me that workers don’t wake up wanting to take risks—they adapt to the systems they’re given. If we design better systems, we get better behaviors.
Safety by Choice
At the end of the day, safety is personal. It’s shaped by how people feel about their work, their team, and their leaders. When employees feel valued, supported, and respected, they choose safer actions because they believe their well-being matters. Safety by choice is not about compliance; it’s about connection.
These principles—leadership, design, and choice—form the foundation of my doctoral research and the lens through which I view every workplace I step into. They are also the reason I’m passionate about elevating the voices of the people who do the work: the forklift operators, line workers, technicians—the teams that show up every day deserve leaders who understand them.
Meeting Manley Feinberg reminded me that leadership is a climb, not a position. As I continue this next chapter in research and practice, I’m committed to climbing with intention—bringing others with me, learning from the people on the ground, and shaping a future where safety is not a mandate but a shared value.
The future of safety is human. And that’s precisely where it belongs.
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