AZASSP Technical Meeting FY27-09

Title: Beyond Physical Safety: The Safety Professional’s Role in Suicide Prevention

Instructor: Michelle Walker, CCIFP, CRIS, SPHR

Description: Safety professionals are trained to recognize hazards, assess risk, and intervene before an incident occurs—but not every workplace risk is physical. Suicide and mental health concerns can affect employees across industries and may present warning signs in the workplace that safety professionals, supervisors, and coworkers are in a unique position to recognize.

In this technical session, Michelle Walker will discuss what safety professionals should understand about suicide prevention, including risk factors, warning signs, workplace considerations, and how to appropriately respond when there is concern for an employee. The session will also explore practical strategies organizations can use to reduce stigma, strengthen workplace support systems, and incorporate suicide prevention into a broader culture of worker safety and well-being.

The goal is not to turn safety professionals into counselors, but to help them recognize when something may be wrong, know how to respond appropriately, and understand how workplace systems and culture can support prevention.

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize common risk factors, warning signs, and workplace circumstances that may indicate an employee is experiencing a mental health or suicide-related crisis.
2. Identify appropriate actions safety professionals and supervisors can take when they are concerned about an employee, including how to initiate a conversation, connect the individual with appropriate resources, and respond to an immediate crisis.
3. Evaluate opportunities to integrate suicide prevention and mental health awareness into existing safety programs, leadership practices, training, and organizational culture.

Bio:

Michelle Walker, CCIFP, CRIS, SPHR serves as Vice President of Operations at SSC Underground, a trenchless technology company providing underground construction and consulting services nationwide. With more than 20 years of experience in underground construction, she brings extensive expertise in operations, safety, risk management, finance, human resources, workforce development, and organizational strategy.

Michelle is the founding chairman of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, where she has helped advance workplace solutions addressing suicide prevention, mental health, and addiction within the construction industry. She is also a highly rated industry speaker on suicide prevention, workforce development, risk management, finance, and organizational culture.

An active construction and business leader, Michelle serves on the Executive Committee of the Greater Phoenix Chamber and the Utility & Infrastructure Committee of the Associated General Contractors. Her professional recognition includes Construction Business Owner’s Outstanding Women in Construction, CFMA’s Debra Hahn Memorial Award, AZRE Magazine’s Big 100 People to Watch, and the 2026 Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Chamber Champion award.