--- title: what is Visual Literacy and how it can improve workplace safety? description: Doug Pontsler agreed to sit down with SafeStart’s Rodd Wagner to explain what visual literacy is and how it can improve workplace safety. image: https://see.covectr.com/hubfs/SAFESTART%20interview%20blog.jpg --- [![COVE Logo_Reverse white_PMS_RTM](https://see.covectr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/COVE%20Logo_Reverse%20white_PMS_RTM.png?width=1578&height=723&name=COVE%20Logo_Reverse%20white_PMS_RTM.png "COVE Logo_Reverse white_PMS_RTM")](https://www.covectr.com/home) - [Learn](https://www.covectr.com/learn/) - [Workshops](https://www.covectr.com/workshops/) - [Organizational Training](https://www.covectr.com/organizational-training/) - [Licensing & Train-the-Trainer](https://www.covectr.com/licensing-model/) - [Consulting](https://www.covectr.com/safety-risk-management-consulting/) - [Resources](https://www.covectr.com/resources/) - About - [The Art of Seeing Art](https://www.covectr.com/the-art-of-seeing-art/) - [Partnerships](https://www.covectr.com/partnerships/) - [Who We Are](https://www.covectr.com/who-we-are/) - [Case Studies](https://www.covectr.com/case-studies/) - [Contact](https://www.covectr.com/contact-us/) # LATEST NEWS ![](https://see.covectr.com/hubfs/SAFESTART%20interview%20blog.jpg) # what is Visual Literacy and how it can improve workplace safety? By Doug Pontsler on Jul 22, 2019, 12:47:07 PM Learning to process visual information effectively is more than just theoretical. Organizations looking to improve Environmental Health and Safety processes can adopt this approach to enhance **hazard recognition, incident investigation and pre-job safety analysis; decrease incident rates, while saving time;** and train their team to engage safely with the workplace environment. Doug Pontsler—the Chairman and Managing Director of COVE: Center of Visual Expertise—and SafeStart Chairman of the Board Colin Duncan will jointly present a session entitled Learning to See: A New Perspective on Visual Literacy in Safety at the [SafeStart Human Factors Conference](https://humanfactorsconference.com/) on November 5th and 6th, 2019. Before the conference takes place, Pontsler agreed to sit down with SafeStart’s Rodd Wagner to explain what visual literacy is and how it can improve workplace safety.  [![Listen to Interview](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4334378/2874c441-41c3-46a7-8c57-d09661f893c3.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4334378/2874c441-41c3-46a7-8c57-d09661f893c3) Posted by [Doug Pontsler](https://see.covectr.com/blog/author/doug-pontsler) on Jul 22, 2019, 12:47:07 PM ![Doug Pontsler](https://see.covectr.com/hubfs/Doug%20Pontsler%20621x621.jpg) ## Doug Pontsler Doug is Chairman and Managing Director for COVE, the Center of Visual Expertise. Launched in 2018 by the Toledo Museum of Art, COVE is dedicated to the application of visual literacy for industrial and service applications with an emphasis on safety. In this leadership role he is responsible for all aspects of the enterprise including thought leadership, product development and client satisfaction. Prior to his current role, Doug was the former vice president of operations sustainability and EHS for Owens Corning. He joined Owens Corning in 2002 and held leadership positions including director of corporate services and vice president of global sourcing. Doug also served as a member of the National Safety Council Board of Directors and as the Chairman of the Campbell Institute at the National Safety Council. He is a recipient of NSC’s 2019 Distinguished Service to Safety Award. Find me on: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougpontsler/) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/MU79) Topics: [Visual Literacy](https://see.covectr.com/blog/tag/visual-literacy), [Risk Observation Skills](https://see.covectr.com/blog/tag/risk-observation-skills), [environmental health and safety](https://see.covectr.com/blog/tag/environmental-health-and-safety), [occupational safety](https://see.covectr.com/blog/tag/occupational-safety), [safety culture](https://see.covectr.com/blog/tag/safety-culture) ### Related posts [![Moving Beyond Traditional Reactive Safety Programs: How to be more proactive In safety](https://see.covectr.com/hubfs/Blog%20moving%20beyond%20reactive%20safety%20V2.jpg)](https://see.covectr.com/blog/moving-beyond-tradition-reactive-safety-programs-how-to-be-more-proactive-in-safety) [Moving Beyond Traditional Reactive Safety Programs: How to be more proactive In safety](https://see.covectr.com/blog/moving-beyond-tradition-reactive-safety-programs-how-to-be-more-proactive-in-safety) May 10, 2023 [![Seeing Elevates the Maturity of Your Health and Safety Program](https://see.covectr.com/hubfs/Blog%20Seeing%20Elevates%20The%20Maturity%20Of%20Your%20Health%20And%20Safety%20Program.jpg)](https://see.covectr.com/blog/seeing-elevates-the-maturity-of-your-health-and-safety-program) [Seeing Elevates the Maturity of Your Health and Safety Program](https://see.covectr.com/blog/seeing-elevates-the-maturity-of-your-health-and-safety-program) April 13, 2023 [![Effective Communication: The Backbone of Your Safety Programs](https://see.covectr.com/hubfs/effective%20communication%20Backbone.jpg)](https://see.covectr.com/blog/effective-communication-the-backbone-of-your-safety-programs) [Effective Communication: The Backbone of Your Safety Programs](https://see.covectr.com/blog/effective-communication-the-backbone-of-your-safety-programs) March 29, 2023 [![Identifying hazards for High-Energy Control Assessments](https://see.covectr.com/hubfs/HECA%20blog.jpg)](https://see.covectr.com/blog/identifying-hazards-for-high-energy-control-assessments) [Identifying hazards for High-Energy Control Assessments](https://see.covectr.com/blog/identifying-hazards-for-high-energy-control-assessments) March 1, 2023 ### Subscribe Here! - 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