The Golden Era of Manufacturing: Grit, Growth, and the Guys Who Keep Their Fingers
I joined Tony Moore from Timpl on his podcast. The Golden Age of America starts with Manufacturing a building a culture of workplace safety. Check out the episode here.
American manufacturing is having a moment—again. They’re calling it the "Golden Era" revival, and honestly, it’s about time. For the small towns that lost their heartbeat when factories shuttered and jobs went overseas, this resurgence feels less like a trend and more like a second shot at life. When machines spin and shop floors buzz, the whole economic pyramid gets a lift—from the guy on the line to the exec in the corner office. Turns out, capitalism with a blue-collar backbone can actually feel kinda patriotic.
Enter the safety guy—not the clipboard cop, but the real-deal, dirt-under-the-nails type. A former electrician whose hard hats tell the story: yellow for sparky days, brown from the mining grind, and white when he became the protector of fingers and futures. His mission? Not to slap wrists, but to build a culture where calling out a bad valve or a loose guard is common sense, not career suicide. Because safety isn’t a buzzkill—it’s the thread that keeps manufacturing’s comeback from unraveling at the seams.
We’re not just talking theory here. From lockout/tagout slip-ups that could’ve ended in tragedy to steam valve scares that didn’t get the memo, he’s been on the front lines. And with automation creeping in—hello, Optimus robot—this isn’t just about people anymore. It’s about rewriting the playbook for a workforce that might soon include machines who don’t take lunch breaks or watch their step. Trade schools, get ready. Safety pros, adapt or get left behind.
And here’s the kicker—“Save the Hard Hats” is coming soon. A podcast tribute to the wild, weird, and wise moments of American industry. The close calls, the comebacks, the untold stories from the shop floor. Think less corporate fluff, more locker room honesty with a purpose. Because preserving our legacy isn’t about looking back—it’s about honoring the people who built this country and making sure we don’t lose the plot while chasing the next big thing.
Follow the movement at KellySafety.com, let’s to talk shop, training, or that one time someone really should’ve worn their PPE. The hard hat’s still on—but now it’s got a mic. Let’s talk. #KellySafety #GoldenEraManufacturing #SaveTheHardHats