Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada - Designing For Worker Trust: Near Miss Reporting and Continuous Improvement with Sarah Abdul-Rasoul

 In this episode of Safety Spotlight, we sit down with Sarah Abdul-Rasoul, a Top Woman in Safety and a respected safety leader at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada. Sarah shares how her career unexpectedly shifted from science and pharmacy studies into occupational health and safety, and why she quickly became driven by preventative work, worker engagement, and meaningful risk reduction.

Sarah explains how her early consulting experience shaped her understanding of industrial hygiene, exposure assessments, sampling, and the importance of clear communication. She goes deeper into how Toyota’s continuous improvement culture has influenced her approach to safety, from building programs to conducting audits, reviewing near misses, and using the PDCA cycle to strengthen systems week by week.

This episode explores why communication is one of the most powerful tools in any safety professional’s toolkit. Sarah talks about how transparency, explaining the “why,” and building trust with workers can make or break a safety program. She also describes how recognition programs, simple acts of appreciation, and taking the time to close the loop on worker concerns can dramatically increase engagement and reporting.

We also discuss psychological health and safety, an area Sarah has become increasingly passionate about. She shares how Toyota supports employee wellness, reduces burnout, and creates spaces where workers feel heard and respected. Her insights show how psychological safety directly affects productivity, team cohesion, and long-term safety outcomes.

Sarah offers practical advice for new and developing safety professionals. She talks about exploring different areas of OHS, learning from mentors, getting involved in professional communities, and understanding that leadership is built through influence rather than titles. She describes how to have productive conversations with experienced workers, how to handle pushback, and how to recognize the real leaders on your worksite by observing who people naturally turn to.

Her stories highlight the impact of mentorship, the importance of continuous learning, and the value of surrounding yourself with peers who challenge your thinking and point out your blind spots. Sarah also discusses the pride she takes in helping workers feel supported and in contributing to safer, healthier workplaces.

If you are a safety leader, supervisor, educator, or someone looking to grow within the OHS profession, this conversation is filled with practical insights you can apply immediately. Sarah’s perspective demonstrates that safety is not only about procedures and compliance but about understanding people, building trust, and creating environments where workers can thrive.