Richard Flynt, CSP, CIT

Principal Consultant

Safety Skills Consulting

Richard Flynt is the founder and principal consultant with Safety Skills Consulting, bringing more than three decades of hands-on industrial experience and over twenty years of dedicated safety leadership to organizations seeking meaningful, sustainable improvements in workplace safety.

Following his service in the U.S. Army, Richard spent 18 years working directly in manufacturing operations as a production employee, electrician, and contract automation engineer. In that role, he supported the commissioning of new facilities and modernization of legacy processes across numerous industrial environments. This practical, field-based background gave him a deep understanding of how work is actually performed - an insight that continues to shape his pragmatic and highly operational approach to safety today.

In 2001, Richard transitioned fully into the safety profession. He earned his degree in Occupational Safety from the State University of New York - Empire State, and obtained both the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Certified Instructional Trainer (CIT) designations. Over the next 21 years, he served as a Safety Manager or Director for six multi-site manufacturing organizations, leading safety initiatives across diverse industries including glass manufacturing, automotive, food & beverage, flexible packaging, and chemical processing.

Richard joined the National Safety Council in 2023 as a senior consultant, and founded Safety Skill Consulting in 2026, where he now partners with organizations across the United States to strengthen safety systems, develop frontline leadership engagement, and build practical frameworks that drive continuous risk reduction. His work focuses on helping companies move beyond compliance to create safety cultures grounded in operational excellence, workforce capability, and measurable improvement.

A frequent speaker at national and regional conferences, Richard is known for delivering engaging, experience-based presentations that connect safety theory with real-world application. His writing and thought leadership have appeared in leading safety publications, where he advocates for mastering the fundamentals of risk management, equipping employees with the skill of working safely, and creating systems that continuously improve workplace conditions.

“I have been an employee here for 41 years, and this was the best “Safety Talk” I have ever attended!!!"

"Best presenter during the entire PDC! This topic is underutilized in industry and the presenter really delivered the message in a meaningful manner."

“I took more away from your 6-hour session than I did from the previous 2 days. Great content, great connection, great session!"

"Very engaging instructor. Spoke my language and really opened my eyes."

"His presentation was amazing  He made the whole thing into something we all will remember. Thank you so much for the insight."

“Thank you for doing an excellent job getting these important lessons across to the team here. The brain is the most powerful tool we own, and you taught many people today how to use it better.”