
Eliminating Bias in Emergency Response
Many organizations operate under the assumption that the future will look fairly similar to the present. The reality is—that’s not often the case.
With disasters increasing in size and frequency, it’s critical to consider how disruptive changes in the broader environment can impact your people, mission, and operations.
David Kaufman, Vice President and Director for Safety and Security at CNA, shares how companies can overcome preconceived notions and recency bias to develop adaptive capacity in their emergency response efforts.
We discuss:
- Bridging the gap between theory and reality in emergency planning
- The confluence of trends leading to bigger and more frequent disasters
- How the relationship between the public and private sector impacts response
- Why rigid plans can be detrimental to emergency management
Reach out to David at kaufmand@cna.org or on LinkedIn.
The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia.
You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to The Employee Safety Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.

More Episodes You May Be Interested In
- From FBI to Corporate Security: How Kurt McKenzie Stays Ahead of Emerging Threats
Kurt McKenzie, Director of Physical Security at a major global tech company and retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent, has spent decades investigating financial crimes, terrorism, and organized crime. Now in the private sector, he applies that experience to help his company detect and mitigate risks. Kurt shares how his law enforcement background shapes his approach…
- How Ingles Markets Responded to Hurricane Helene
When Hurricane Helene barreled toward North Carolina in September 2024, Johnny West, Safety Coordinator at Ingles Markets, sprang into action to notify employees and protect the company’s sole distribution center. In this episode, Johnny shares the compelling story of how his team responded to Helene, ensured employee safety, and got the distribution center back up…
- How to Manage Risk Using Human and Organizational Performance (HOP)
Erick Anez, Head of Enterprise Risk and Resilience for Bridgestone West, explores Human and Organizational Performance (HOP)—a framework focused on reducing errors and improving outcomes by addressing systems, not blaming individuals. With over 16 years of experience in high-hazard industries, Erick shares how HOP principles can transform enterprise safety and resilience. From creating safer environments…