Student Information
Graduate StudentHuman and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology
College of Global Futures
Jonathan Klane, M.S.Ed., CIH, CSP, CHMM, CET is a storytelling consultant where he helps businesses and org's tell more effective and affective stories to solve their problems.
He is also a PhD candidate in the SFIS program Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology (HSD) where he studies the scientific literature on our cognitive biases, risk perceptions, decision-making, and why and how stories are effective at affecting them. This has brought greater clarity to why we tend to make decisions that don’t always seem logical at first glance but are explicable when viewed through the science of risk..
He has a Masters in Adult Education, a Bachelor’s in Geology, and is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), and Certified Environmental Health & Safety Trainer (CET).
He has over 30 years of experience as a trainer, professor, and consultant. He is also a former faculty member at Thomas College in their Graduate Program having taught OHS, Risk Assessment and Management, Training, Wellness, Marketing, Organizational Theory and Behavior, and Conflict Management.
He has presented well over 100 times at national and regional conferences across North America and the Caribbean and has authored a book, several textbook chapters, many articles, developed and presented numerous presentations and on-line Webinars on Training, Wellness, and Health and Safety topics, and has been interviewed for several articles. He is also on the ANSI/ASSE Z490 technical review committee on EHS training.
Ph.D. candidate in Human and Social Dimensions in Science and Technology (HSD) in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society (SFIS) at Arizona State University (ASU)
M.S.Ed. in Adult Education and Higher Ed (concentration in Training + Development) from University of Southern Maine
Bachelors in Geology (environmental focus) from UMass - Amherst
How stories and storytelling affect risk perceptions in research labs in academia (dissertation)
How exposure to sci-fi as a child relates to college educational choices and career paths
Using discourse analysis to help antagonistic groups improve their understanding and empathy of each other
Which is more effective for learning transfer and retention: humor or narratives (stories)?
How existential risk in stories affects our risk perceptions
Uses of purpose-told stories to affect persuasion, risk perceptions, and decision-making
How to place the reader into the story for the greatest impact
Character-driven vs. plot-driven stories as they relate to our risk perceptions via narrative transport
Andrew Maynard's Risk Innovation Lab (formerly active)
WORKBOOKS + TEXTBOOK/MANUAL
- Communicating OEHS Concepts – Learner Workbook and Facilitator Guide. AIHA. 2022.
- Manual of Environmental Safety & Health Abbreviations (or MESHA). American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). February 1997. ISBN 978-1882417186.
BOOK CHAPTERS
- “Risk Communication”, The Occupational Environment: Its Evaluation, Control, and Management (aka “The White Book”). AIHA, 2025 (tentative).
- “Adult Learning and Effective Training”, Biosafety Reference Manual, AIHA, 2025 (tentative). [co-author Ashley Augspurger, PhD, CIH, CSP]
- “Controlling Workplace Chemicals”, Managing Hazardous Materials, Institute for Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM), 2025. [co-author Ashley Augspurger, PhD, CIH, CSP]
- “Training and Communication”, Desk Reference, 3rd Ed., Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals (AHMP), 2017.
- “Combine Wellness with Workplace Safety and Health – Twelve Steps You Can Take to Increase Your Total Health” in Healthy Profits: The 5 Elements of Strategic Wellness, edited by Sandra Larkin, Yellow Duck Press, 2009.
- Chapter 5 “Training Delivery” of Accepted EHS Training Practices - An Implementation Guide on ANSI/ASSE Z490.1 Criteria for Accepted Practices in EHS Training, National Environmental, Safety and Health Training Association (NESHTA), 2003.
PEER JOURNALS and conference proceedings papers
- Harris, T. M., Hottle, T. A., Soratana, K., Klane, J., & Landis, A. E. (2016). Life cycle assessment of sunflower cultivation on abandoned mine land for biodiesel production. Journal of Cleaner Production, 112, 182-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.057.
[Note: I was brought in as a co-author to get through peer review blockage]
- Doerstling, F. and Klane, J. (2013). Studying the Need for Interpersonal Communication (IPC) Skills among SH&E Professionals and Reviewing SH&E Academic Curricula for IPC-related Courses. ASSE’s Academic Forum research study proceedings paper.
- Klane, Jonathan. (2012). A Retrospective Review of the Value of a Practicum in the OHS Associate Degree Program at a Technical College and Its Correlation to Employment. ASSE’s Academic Forum research study proceedings paper.
- Klane, Jonathan T., (2011). “Diacetyl, it’s Baaaack” - What’s New and What’s Not”, The Monitor, Newsletter of the Industrial Hygiene Practice Specialty, American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).
- Klane, Jonathan. (2009). The challenges of chemical safety (or any) training! Journal of Chemical Health and Safety, 16, 4, 10–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchas.2008.12.001.
[Note: The editor of the Journal of Chemical Health and Safety attended my talk and asked me to write this paper.]
- Klane, Jonathan. (2010). Anything But Lecture! How to Use Other Training Approaches and Methods. ASSE’s Safety 2010 PDC conference paper. https://www.academia.edu/100418073/Anything_But_Lecture_article_for_Safety_2010_PDC_Klanes_Session.
- Klane, Jonathan. (2017). Conflict Management & Resolution for EHS Professionals. ASSP’s PDC proceedings paper.
- Klane, Jonathan. (2012). Why Isn’t Anyone in the Classroom? Market and Promote Safety Training More Effectively! https://www.academia.edu/64523377/Why_Isn_t_Anyone_in_the_Classroom_Market_and_Promote_Safety_Training_More_Effectively_.
- Klane, Jonathan. (2009). “Culturally Appropriate Training - How to Do It Right!”, Safety 2009 Conference Proceedings, American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). https://www.academia.edu/70559746/Culturally_Appropriate_Training_How_to_Do_It_Right_.
DISSERTATION
- Klane, Jonathan. “How can stories about risk impact laboratory health and safety? An exploration”. For completion of the PhD in Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology (HSD) at Arizona State University (ASU).
[Note: in progress]
How stories affect risk perceptions (dissertation)
The use of humor vs. narrative in lab safety/risk training
Does exposure to sci-fi early in life impact educational and career choices?
"Jobs of the future" - Why do we explain things we imagine using narratives?
The need for interpersonal communication skills education in EHS/risk degree programs
Inaugural ASU Grad Professional Student Association's (GPSA's) Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT)
Senior Safety Editor for Lab Manager Magazine, 2022-2024
AIHA, ASSP, CSHEMA, IHMM, WHWB
Provided services for 20 years to a wide variety of companies across diverse industries or Klane's Education Information Training Hub, LLC, Dames & Moore, Inc., and Balsam Environmental Consulting
AIHA Committee Chair - Communicating OEHS Concepts
CSHEMA - former VP and Director
MIAQC - former Board member and Chaired Best Practices Committee
Sr. Manager of Business Development | EHS Advisor for Draeger, Inc.
Senior Safety Editor for Lab Manager Magazine (part of LabX Media Group)
Director of Risk Management and Education for BioRAFT, Inc. (now SciSure)
Director of Safety & Quality for Safe Handling, Inc.
Corporate Health and Safety Manager for Presstek, Inc.
Mid-Maine Technical Center (vo-tech high school) - mentored the OHS Skills Team for two years