03/24/2026
Even in the most mature safety cultures, incidents, near misses, and tragedies still occur. The recent event at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada Express CRJ-900LR is a sobering reminder.
In moments like these, organizations move quickly—activating response protocols, launching investigations, and identifying root causes.
But there’s a critical question we don’t ask enough:
What about the psychological impact on the people involved—those directly and those who witness it?
While we focus on systems, processes, and prevention, are we equally prepared to support the human response to trauma?
Is your organization equipped to:
✳️ Recognize psychological distress after an incident?
✳️ Support frontline leaders who are carrying both operational and emotional responsibility?
✳️ Integrate mental health into your incident response—not as an afterthought, but as a priority?
If you are attending the ASSP Region IV 2026 Professional Development Conference in Atlanta this April, I invite you to join my technical session.
We’ll explore how to strengthen your incident response plan to support not just physical safety—but psychological recovery and resilience.