Safety Culture and Strategic Risk at Scotts Miracle-Gro
April 23, 2026
In this episode, I discuss EHS leadership, workplace safety programs, safety culture, risk management, and Scotts Miracle-Gro with Jason Johantges. I am fascinated by how his team achieved zero COVID deaths by monitoring regulatory changes and scientific data months in advance. We also dive into his "Kickoff for Safety" program, a football-themed gamification strategy that led to their safest fiscal year on record. It is a powerful look at how human-centered leadership transforms compliance into a competitive advantage for 8,000 employees.
I sit down with Jason Johantges of Scotts Miracle-Gro to explore EHS leadership, workplace safety programs, safety culture, and risk management. We begin by examining a pandemic response that prioritized employee protection so effectively that showing up to work was often safer than staying home alone.
Jason explains how his team secured PPE and manufactured hand sanitizer long before mandates arrived by staying ahead of the regulatory curve. We also discuss his "Kickoff for Safety" initiative, which used a football theme to reduce injury rates during high-volume seasonal periods when temporary labor surges.
Jason shares why he believes safety leaders must be involved in M&A due diligence from the very first day to prevent cultural misalignment and hidden liabilities. We touch on the immense risks of distracted driving and the importance of servant leadership when managing a dispersed workforce across manufacturing, distribution, and retail. This conversation offers a deep dive into how proactive planning and human-centered strategies transform basic compliance into a massive operational advantage for any modern organization.
Episode Resources
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