Powering the Process ℠

In this episode of Powering the Process, host Jen Little sits down with field supervisor Josh Bennett to explore the deeper meaning behind a simple but powerful symbol in industrial work: the hard hat.

With nearly 26 years in the field, Josh shares how hard hats go far beyond safety compliance. They tell a story of experience earned, miles traveled, skills learned, and the culture that defines ProcessBarron crews.

Listeners will hear how hard hat stickers become visual badges of honor, marking outages completed, training achieved, and years of dedication in the field. From the pride of a fully covered hard hat to the humbling feeling of starting fresh with a new one, Josh explains how this small detail reflects professionalism, mentorship, and trust on job sites.

The conversation also dives into the realities of field life,  long stretches away from home, the importance of safety training, building strong crews, and how experienced workers mentor the next generation.

At its core, this episode highlights how something as simple as a hard hat represents responsibility, craftsmanship, teamwork, and the shared commitment to protecting people above all else.

Key Topics Covered:
  • Why hard hats represent more than PPE
  • The meaning behind hard hat stickers
  • How experience is recognized in the field
  • Building culture and mentorship within crews
  • The realities of life on the road for field teams
  • Safety training and career growth opportunities
  • How professionalism shows up on job sites

What is Powering the Process ℠?

Powering the Process℠ is a podcast for engineers, plant managers, and operations leaders focused on industrial systems, plant optimization, and manufacturing efficiency. Hosted by ProcessBarron experts, each episode delivers practical insights on material handling, air and gas systems, industrial equipment, and reducing downtime.

Episode: The Hardhat Story — What It Means to Our People

00:00:00:07 - 00:00:31:20
Jen Little
This podcast is brought to you by ProcessBarron. Handle everything better. Welcome to Powering the Process, the podcast focused on the real work behind industrial manufacturing. Each week, your host, Jen Little, digs into the systems, equipment, and strategies that keep plants running efficiently. From everyday operational challenges to emerging engineering solutions, we’re here to share practical insights that help you keep your process moving.

00:00:31:23 - 00:00:36:11
Jen Little
Let’s get started.

00:00:36:13 - 00:01:03:06
Jen Little
Welcome to Powering the Process, where we share the stories behind the work that keeps America moving. Today we’re going to talk about something simple yet powerful — the hard hat. It’s more than just a piece of safety gear. At ProcessBarron, the hard hat represents responsibility, craftsmanship, and a commitment to protecting what matters most: people. Today we have Josh Bennett joining us.

00:01:03:08 - 00:01:30:18
Jen Little
He has been with ProcessBarron for almost 26 years and currently serves as a Field Services Superintendent. Josh, thank you for coming. A hard hat is something you put on every day — probably the first thing you put on along with your regular PPE: safety glasses, ear protection, gloves, and sometimes a safety vest. Those items are typically generic, but the one thing that differs from person to person is the hard hat. So when you put it on in the morning, what does it mean to you?

00:01:51:06 - 00:02:07:09
Josh Bennett
It’s like putting on a football helmet before a game. Safety is your number one goal. You make sure it’s on right — it’s the first thing you grab. You might forget something else, but not that.

00:02:07:11 - 00:02:12:22
Jen Little
So, the stickers on the hard hat — are you stickers or no stickers?

00:02:12:23 - 00:02:13:17
Josh Bennett
I’m stickers.

00:02:13:19 - 00:02:14:22
Jen Little
You are stickers.

00:02:14:27 - 00:02:16:00
Josh Bennett
That shows the experience.

00:02:18:09 - 00:02:22:05
Josh Bennett
Over the years, I’ve probably got four or five at home completely covered.

00:02:22:12 - 00:02:27:01
Jen Little
Really? How many hard hats have you had in your 26 years?

00:02:27:04 - 00:02:29:27
Josh Bennett
About ten or twelve.

00:02:29:27 - 00:02:32:10
Jen Little
And why do you have to retire them?

00:02:32:12 - 00:02:35:22
Josh Bennett
They go out of date and get completely covered with stickers.

00:02:38:22 - 00:02:58:01
Jen Little
I’ve noticed over the years that when you take safety training or go to outages, they don’t always give stickers anymore. Personally, that disappoints me because I think they say something.

00:02:58:02 - 00:03:04:00
Josh Bennett
They do — they show experience. Sometimes you just have to ask for them.

00:03:04:04 - 00:03:12:17
Jen Little
When you get a new hard hat, what’s it like starting over?

00:03:12:20 - 00:03:15:13
Josh Bennett
Like being a rookie.

00:03:35:18 - 00:03:38:06
Josh Bennett
It takes two or three years to get it covered again.

00:03:51:17 - 00:03:55:07
Jen Little
Customers look at that too.

00:03:55:07 - 00:03:56:16
Josh Bennett
That’s right.

00:05:22:26 - 00:05:26:23
Josh Bennett
Last year alone, crews covered over two million miles and completed thousands of jobs.

00:05:34:24 - 00:05:40:03
Josh Bennett
Some years I’ve been gone up to 300 days. Typically, it’s around 250 to 300 days away from home.

00:06:11:18 - 00:06:17:03
Josh Bennett
You just accept it mentally and stay ready. That’s part of the job.

00:07:11:13 - 00:07:12:05
Josh Bennett
If they see you care about their safety and growth, they’ll give you everything they’ve got.

00:08:32:19 - 00:08:49:20
Josh Bennett
Showing up fully geared in hard hats shows professionalism. It sends a message that we know what we’re doing, and it brings pride to the crew.

00:10:03:16 - 00:10:15:01
Josh Bennett
We train our people. Many companies don’t offer hands-on experience like we do.

00:10:48:19 - 00:11:05:10
Josh Bennett
Crew members earn crane certifications, emissions certifications, OSHA credentials, millwright certifications, and welding certifications.

00:12:01:08 - 00:12:18:18
Josh Bennett
New crew members are paired with experienced workers who mentor them and keep them safe.

00:12:29:06 - 00:12:43:20
Josh Bennett
Every day, we start by giving it to God and saying a prayer before work.

00:13:01:06 - 00:13:04:02
Josh Bennett
ProcessBarron is family.

00:13:04:24 - 00:13:06:13
Josh Bennett
That’s what it’s all about. Roll Tide.