Eric Reyes-Barriga

There are thousands of chemicals used in workplaces.

OSHA only has exposure limits for less than 500.

Of that, only 30 new standards have been updated or established since 1971.

During his time in office, Michaels managed to push through a new silica exposure standard, updating the 1971 regulation in existence.

But he said that many other hazards remained under-regulated, requiring companies to implement their own, stricter standards.

When we come back, a CEO turns to safety as he turns his company around.

James Gallagly is a former petrochemical executive.

People I spoke to for this episode told me that he proved it was possible for a company to prioritize both profits and safety.

Leyendaal de Sel is a Dutch petrochemical company with refineries and other chemical processing plants in the U.S.

When Gallagly took over in 2009, the company was in the middle of bankruptcy proceedings.

But instead of focusing solely on profits, Gallagly took a different approach.

I spoke to occupational safety experts who said their research shows that when you prioritize health and safety procedures, your production processes just function better.

They become more efficient.

Gallagly updated facilities that he felt were unsafe.

He got pushback from investors who balked at the idea of spending money during a bankruptcy.

Gallagly insisted.

Then he turned to the company's culture.

He also instituted bonuses for employees who performed well on safety.

Workers who failed to report safety problems in their areas were fired.

Lyondell Bissell even made sure their downstream clients followed correct safety protocols.