Chelsea Cochrane
District Manager, Plato's Closet
Chelsea has been with Plato’s Closet Ottawa since the company opened its first store in March 2015, joining the team while attending university and growing with the organization ever since. She now serves as District Manager, overseeing four retail locations and supporting approximately 80 team members across the business. Certified as a SafeStart trainer, Chelsea has played a key role in integrating SafeStart concepts into day-to-day retail operations, leadership coaching, and team development. She is particularly passionate about using SafeStart to improve how leaders coach, helping managers move beyond simply telling employees what to do and instead ask better questions that help team members recognize risk and think through decisions for themselves. Known for her approachable leadership style, Chelsea has helped build a culture where SafeStart terminology and concepts are used consistently to reinforce expectations, develop habits, and improve awareness in a fast-paced retail environment.
Chelsea's sessions
SafeStart Beyond the Plant Floor: Applying Human Factors Where You Least Expect Them
Tue, Oct 20, 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM - Mustang/
SafeStart is often associated with manufacturing and high-hazard environments, but the human factors behind mistakes, lapses in judgment, and unwanted outcomes show up anywhere people work. In office, service and even retail settings, the hazards may look different, but the same states and critical errors still affect performance, quality, customer experience, and yes, safety. This fireside chat explores how SafeStart concepts can be applied in environments where traditional safety risks may be less obvious, but where rushing, frustration, fatigue, complacency, and mind not on task still influence daily outcomes. Drawing on real-world examples from Plato’s Closet retail operations and experiences with global client teams, including accounting, sourcing, and customs/export, participants will join the conversation on how human factors influence far more than injury prevention. Participants will also share their own challenges and leave with practical ideas for increasing awareness, improving engagement, and using SafeStart language to strengthen performance and accountability across a broader range of roles. This session will challenge assumptions, broaden perspectives, and reinforce a simple idea: if people are involved, human factors are involved.
Presented by
Mark MacLellan, SafeStart
Chelsea Cochrane, Plato's Closet