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Virtual live sessions: June 9 & 10, 2025; 2pm-5:00pm PT
Virtual Instructor-led
Class description
The Trust Decoder: Trust in the Health & Safety Workplace
Trust is a foundational element of every safety culture. In high-risk environments, trust is not optional, workers rely on one another and on their leaders to communicate hazards, follow procedures, and to voice concerns. Research consistently shows that trust influences team performance, safety climate, organizational learning, and leadership effectiveness. Yet many workers and leaders are unclear about where trust begins, what comprises it, and how trust forms and erodes in everyday interactions.
A lack of trust in the workplace reduces hazard reporting, weakens cooperation, and increases hidden costs, such as workarounds, noncompliance, fear of retaliation, and disengagement, ultimately undermining safety and operational performance.
What Is Trust?
Trust is a willingness to be vulnerable to another person’s actions, even when you cannot fully monitor or control what they do. In health and safety contexts, this vulnerability is at the core of safe work. We trust co-workers to follow lockout/tagout, leaders to communicate risks honestly, and organizations to protect our well-being. Trust is both a process and capability, it can be strengthened with awareness, practice, and intentional behavior.
Foundations of Trust – Strengthening Motivation and Ability to Trust in Health & Safety Workplaces
Trust begins with an individual’s motivation to trust others and their ability to do so effectively. In health and safety environments, workers depend on each other and leaders to follow procedures, share information, and speak up about hazards. Explore the foundations of trust and the specific behaviors that create, or erode, trust in safety-critical environments.
Where Does Trust Begin?
Take this course to explore the foundations of trust, how trust forms, and the behaviors that build it. Learn the four components that comprise trust and practical strategies to strengthen trust in the workplace. The course includes a self-assessment, engaging content, and interactive discussions designed to help you increase trust in your work environment. Work on real-life scenarios customized for your industry and occupation.
Course is 8 hours in total using a hybrid format with two virtual and instructor-led sessions: 2:00pm-5:00pm Pacific Time on June 9 & 10, 2026 and two hours of on-demand, online self-paced learning.
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
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Describe the four core components of trust and how each influences a strong safety culture.
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Analyze how individual propensity to trust affects risk communication, teamwork, and safety climate.
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Evaluate your motivation and capacity to trust others in safety-related interactions.
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Identify key behaviors that foster trust among co-workers, supervisors, and safety leaders.
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Apply trust-building strategies that improve reporting, collaboration, and health and safety performance.
About the Instructor:
Molly Breysse Cox, MA, PhD, U.W. NW Center of Occupational Health & Safety
Dr. Breysse Cox has over 25 years of change management work experience with Fortune 500 companies. This includes leadership positions in IT, Operations, Customer Service, Product Management, and Marketing. She joined the CLST team in 2014 as a Leadership Development Coach and Instructor for undergraduate and graduate courses in the UW Foster School of Business. Dr. Breysse Cox has experience in transformational change projects, including designing and deploying new technology, organizational change, and leadership development. Her work is focused on fostering safety and psychological safety in education and the workplace. In addition, she was chosen in 2008 as the recipient of Women in Technology International’s Leadership Award for leadership in support of women in IT.
ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCE FORMAT
Connectivity requirements to attend the course:
(1) a high speed internet connection
(2) a desktop or laptop computer from which to work, i.e. a cellphone connection is insufficient
(3) an active webcam or onboard camera
(4) an active audio connection via either a computer microphone or separate telephone connection
Cancellation Policy
In the event you cannot attend a course you have registered for, there are a few options -- you can either cancel your registration, transfer your registration to another course or send a substitute in your place.
If you choose to cancel, we must receive your cancellation in writing (mail, fax, or email) with at least 1 week notice. Refunds will be issued, minus a $100 cancellation fee. If you do not cancel or are a no-show for the course, your tuition fees are forfeited.
If you choose to transfer your registration, please state the course you are transferring out of, the course you are transferring into, and the reason for the transfer. Transferring to another course is granted only twice per course registration. If you are unable to attend the course after the second transfer, the above cancellation fees and policy applies.
Course prices
Course price: $295
Student price: $147.50
Government Employee price: $245.00
Group price: $195.00
Course pricing and discounts FAQ