Rick Ricker
CSP, CIT, Implementation Specialist, SafeStart
Raymond “Rick” Ricker is a Certified Safety Professional and Certified Instructional Trainer with a 30- year career spanning high-risk, technically complex industries, including aerospace, pulp and paper, chemicals, logistics, coatings, and manufacturing.
Rick has led EHS strategy and teams at the facility, division and corporate levels, delivering measurable improvements including reductions in OSHA recordables, ISO 9002/14000 and VPP certifications, safety management system (SMS) audits and he’s implemented behavior-based safety, human factors, HOP, and serious injury and fatality (SIF) reduction programs. He’s also developed and delivered OSHA Outreach training, HAZWOPER courses, leadership development, ergonomic programs, and cognitive safety science training across North America and internationally.
Rick’s philosophy centers on building systems that work because people are part of them—coaching leaders and frontline teams to become co-creators of safer, more reliable workplaces.
Rick holds a BS in Biology from the University of South Carolina and is a graduate of the Poindexter Executive Leadership program. He is an authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer for general industry, Six Sigma Greenbelt, 5S and specialized training in data analytics and AI prompting. Earlier in his career, Rick earned accolades such as Soldier of the Year for the 75th Ranger Regiment and team recognition for ergonomic innovation and diversity leadership.
Rick's sessions
The Myth of “They Should Know Better”: Human Factors, Neuroscience and Feedback
Tue, Oct 20, 9:45 AM to 11:00 AM - Salon 9/10
If information alone prevented injuries, safety would already be solved—yet incidents still happen. So, what are we missing? This engaging and interactive session will challenge the common assumption that people make mistakes simply because they “don’t know better.” Instead, it will explore how the brain is actually wired to rely on habits, shortcuts, and emotional responses—especially under pressure, fatigue, or distraction. Participants can expect to engage in some “brain exercises” as they explore the basic concepts of neuroscience and human factors and how they shape everyday decisions. More importantly, this session will reframe feedback—not as correction or criticism—but as a powerful tool that works with the brain, not against it. Participants will leave with practical, easy-to-use strategies to deliver feedback that sticks, influence behavior in the moment, and strengthen safety conversations across their teams. Expect to tap into your brain to reflect, participate, and walk away thinking differently about why people do what they do—and what can help them to do it better.
Presented by
Rick Ricker, SafeStart