Alastair Davey shares his insights and experiences to help us understand how integrating safety strategically can not only mitigate risks but also enhance business efficiency and employee well-being. Episode Highlights: - Defining Strategic Safety: Alastair explains what strategic safety means in the modern workplace and how it differs from traditional safety practices. - Leadership's Role in Safety Culture: Insights into how leaders at all levels can influence and cultivate a culture that prior...
May 10, 2024•45 min•Ep. 166
In this episode of the Safety and Risk Success podcast, Christian is joined by Karen Hewitt, health & safety consultant and author, to discuss the results of her recent survey on health and safety engagement. The survey delves into how safety professionals define and approach engagement, the challenges they face, and the opportunities for improvement. Karen and Christian explore the importance of strategic planning, leadership buy-in, and effective communication techniques to foster a cultur...
May 03, 2024•52 min•Ep. 165
How can we prove that we've achieved safety? Ahead of the release of his new book, Greg Smith joins Christian Harris this week to delve into the intricacies of legal risk management and the often misunderstood concept of safety metrics. Join us as we unravel how organisations can truly benefit from effective safety practices. Highlights: - Introduction to "Proving Safety": Greg Smith introduces his new book, "Proving Safety: Wicked Problems, Legal Risk Management, and the Tyranny of Metrics", di...
Apr 26, 2024•43 min•Ep. 164
Shonagh Methven brings years of experience from the political arena into the safety sector, providing unique insights into proactive safety measures and people-centred risk management. Let's talk politics vs safety, being "optimistically discontent", safety scaffolding, people-centred risk management, and much more! Highlights: - Transition from Politics to Safety: Shonagh discusses her journey from being a chief whip in Islington Council to spearheading safety initiatives, highlighting the skil...
Apr 19, 2024•44 min•Ep. 163
Today we embark on a deep dive into the traditional hierarchy of controls. Is it truly fit for purpose in today's dynamic safety landscape, or does it require a critical reassessment and possible modification to ensure its efficacy? Join us as we unravel these questions through a lively and insightful Safety Roundtable discussion, aiming to shed light on the applicability and potential limitations of this fundamental safety framework. Highlights - Re-evaluation of the hierarchy: Discussion on wh...
Apr 12, 2024•45 min•Ep. 162
Welcome to "Diverse Minds, Safer Workplaces," a podcast where we delve into the crucial intersection of neurodiversity and workplace safety. In today’s episode, we sit down with Nathan Whitbread, a renowned expert in neurodiversity, to explore how understanding and leveraging the unique perspectives of neurodiverse individuals can lead to more innovative risk management strategies and create safer work environments. Through an engaging conversation, we uncover the potential benefits of neurodive...
Apr 05, 2024•37 min•Ep. 161
In the latest episode of the Safety and Risk Success podcast, host Christian Harris delves into the vital topic of safety culture. This roundtable discussion brings together safety professionals and enthusiasts to explore the essence of safety culture, its importance, and practical steps towards nurturing a positive environment for safety within organisations. The session is not only rich in dialogue but also in sharing diverse perspectives on how safety culture impacts business performance, emp...
Mar 29, 2024•42 min•Ep. 160
Let’s explore James Macpherson's innovative operational risk framework, a novel approach to safety and risk management. Recorded during one of the most interactive and well-attended safety roundtable sessions, this episode promises insightful discussions, practical strategies, and expert insights into making the world a safer place through redefined safety practices. Highlights: - The Operational Risk Framework: An in-depth exploration of James McPherson's framework, discussing its components an...
Mar 22, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 159
In this episode, host Christian Harris, alongside guests Dan Hobbs and Peter Thomas, delve into the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the realm of safety. As we explore the exciting and ever-evolving landscape of AI, our discussion brings to light the profound impact AI has on enhancing safety measures and protocols. Highlights: - Interactivity and Audience Engagement - Embracing AI in Safety - AI's Broad and Narrow Applications - AI's Role in Proactive Safety Measures - Pri...
Mar 15, 2024•55 min•Ep. 158
Stuart Hughes, President of IOSH and Director of Health and Safety Strategy at the Mercedes Formula One team, joins me this week to delve into his vision for IOSH and the safety profession, plus the intersection of safety and high performance in his day job. Stuart shares profound reflections on the role of safety professionals, his strategic vision for IOSH, and the invaluable lessons from the pinnacle of motorsport that can apply across various sectors. Highlights: - The Infinite Game of Safet...
Mar 08, 2024•53 min•Ep. 157
This week on the podcast, I welcome Peter Jenkins, the innovative founder of Simple Foundry, for an in-depth discussion on the digitisation of safety management systems. Through his wealth of experience in safety and his expertise in Microsoft products, Peter reveals how digital tools can revolutionize safety processes, making them more streamlined, automated, and accessible to frontline staff. This conversation is packed with insights on enhancing digital literacy, the adaptability of Microsoft...
Mar 01, 2024•55 min•Ep. 156
What if your approach to safety could unlock new levels of performance and profitability? This week, I share the transformative framework of Safetynomics, designed to seamlessly integrate safety into the essence of business operations. Through a detailed exploration of five pivotal steps - Protection, Performance, Profit, Progress, and Purpose, I’ll guide you on embedding safety deep within your business strategy. I argue for the financial and ethical imperatives of viewing safety as an invaluab...
Feb 23, 2024•37 min•Ep. 155
Let’s talk about improving resilience and wellbeing, with our guest, stress resilience expert Carole Spiers. As they navigate through the complexities of stress and resilience, especially in the evolving post-COVID work environment, Carole sheds light on the transformative strategies that organisations can adopt to foster a culture of mental wellbeing. With an emphasis on the significance of training managers in soft skills and emotional intelligence, this conversation unveils the essential comp...
Feb 16, 2024•41 min•Ep. 154
This week, your host Christian Harris, delves into the crucial topic of Display Screen Equipment (DSE) regulations alongside DSE specialist, Gerald Whitehouse. This comprehensive discussion sheds light on the indispensable role these regulations play in protecting the health and well-being of employees who use computers and other display screen equipment regularly in their workplaces. Here's what you can expect from this episode: - Introduction to DSE Regulations: Christian and Gerald kick off t...
Feb 09, 2024•31 min•Ep. 153
Simon Cassin returns for part 2, joining Christian to further delve into ethics in safety. We'd recommend taking in part 1 first, as the dicussion picks up from where that episode left off. You can find this here: Audio: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ethics-in-safety-with-simon-cassin/id1521150061?i=1000638630849 Video: https://youtu.be/eS9Qd-XgNdg?si=sIziyel-57V6XGnl Highlights: - An in-depth examination of the zero harm approach in workplace safety and its ethical implications. - The p...
Feb 02, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 152
What are your safety priorities for 2024? What is the current safety landscape and how should you react to that? What are the 5x key areas that Christian suggests you focus on? Explore this and more in this week's episode!
Jan 26, 2024•36 min•Ep. 151
In our 150th episode(!), Christian is joined by Peter Forshaw, a partner at Weightmans law firm, to explore the complexities of the safety legal landscape as it stands in 2024. The discussion provides a deep dive into how economic conditions affect claims exposure, the critical importance of evidence in defending claims, and the emerging trends in health and safety management, including the integration of AI. They also highlight the growing focus on mental health in the workplace and the trends ...
Jan 20, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 150
Our first episode of 2024 explores how to evaluate success as a safety professional. Your host, Christian, is joined by a number of participants in this Safety Roundtable, where various metrics and approaches to measuring safety in their organisations are discussed. Key Discussion Points: - Evaluating Safety Success - Metrics and The Challenge of Measurement - Frontline Engagement - Quantitative vs Qualitative Assessments - Cultivating a Safety Culture - Practical Methods and Observations - Gath...
Jan 12, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 149
Simon Cassin, a philosopher with a keen interest in the ethics of safety, joins me this week. We delve into the controversial topic of a zero harm approach to safety, unpacking its ethical implications and challenging traditional perceptions. Highlights: - The concept and philosophy behind zero harm in safety. - A critique of the traditional definition of harm in the health and safety context. - Exploration of the moral dimensions and ethical implications of striving for zero harm. - The relatio...
Dec 15, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 148
Murray Ritchie joins Christian on the podcast this week to talk about The Seven Bad Habits of Safety Management. Together, they explore the critical facets of safety management, dissecting the seven detrimental habits that often plague this crucial area. Drawing from Ritchie's comprehensive book, this episode promises a deep dive into the nuances and complexities of safety management in the modern workplace. Episode Highlights Exploring the Seven Bad Habits : A detailed discussion on the seven n...
Dec 08, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 147
This week, Christian Harris welcomes Heather Beach to discuss mental health in the workplace. The conversation delves into the significance of mental health issues, the challenges they pose in business environments, and the strategies managers and leaders can adopt to address these concerns effectively. Highlights: 1) Understanding Mental Health in the Workplace: - Heather shares alarming statistics about mental health and its widespread impact. - The conversation includes why mental health issu...
Dec 01, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 146
Turn on your headphones (just not too loud...) for this thought-provoking episode where we delve into the often-neglected topic of sound exposure and its risks. Joining Christian is Stephen Wheatley, the founder and CEO of LimitEar and HearAngel, and an expert in the field of hearing protection and safe listening. Key Topics Discussed: The Difference Between Sound and Noise: Christian and Stephen break down the fundamental differences between these two concepts, offering listeners a new perspect...
Nov 24, 2023•57 min•Ep. 145
Katherine Evans, the founder of Bold As Brass, joins Christian this week to discuss how her experiences have led to her spearheading a campaign for women's PPE and advocating for gender equality in the workplace. Highlights: - Katherine's career journey - The issue of inadequate PPE for women - Founding Bold As Brass - Advocacy for gender equity - The role of organisations in this fight - Collection action and support Actions: Connect with Katherine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathe...
Nov 17, 2023•43 min•Ep. 144
Bjørn Jepsen joins Christian to enlighten us with his expertise on how a deeper comprehension of brain processes can significantly improve safety practices in any organisation. By drawing parallels with sports, he illustrates the need for mental readiness to anticipate and prevent accidents. Key points: Bjørn's insights into the intersection of neuroscience and safety protocols. The power of mental preparation and its similarities to sports strategies. Understanding the crucial role of dopamine ...
Nov 10, 2023•59 min•Ep. 143
This week, the UK hosted an international AI Safety Summit. Having discussed AI a few times on the podcast, I was keen to share this conversation between Rishi Sunak and Elon Musk about AI safety. They discuss: The rapid advancement of AI technology The importance of global alignment on safety The potential impact of AI on jobs and labour markets The balance between innovation and regulation The potential of the UK as a hub for tech companies The everyday impact of AI The issue of manipulated me...
Nov 03, 2023•54 min•Ep. 142
Ever wondered how our body's automatic response to threats can influence our performance and well-being? This week, Christian is joined by Tara Halliday - engineer turned high performance coach - to discuss physiological safety and overcoming imposter syndrome. Highlights: Physiological Safety Explored: Tara explains the body's innate reactions to perceived threats. The correlation between understanding these automatic responses and improved performance. The role of physiological safety in preve...
Oct 29, 2023•37 min•Ep. 141
This week, Christian interviews Colin Pereira, a security and safety professional with over 20 years of experience in protecting journalists in conflict zones. Colin shares insights from his career, discussing the complexities of managing safety in volatile environments, the importance of trust within organizations, and the need for practical safety measures. He also emphasises the significance of consistent training for journalists and managers. Key points covered include: - The burden of respo...
Oct 20, 2023•50 min•Ep. 140
Today, I welcome back guest Justin Strange to discuss event safety and the repercussions of the gig economy on the world of safety. We delve into the unique risks and challenges of managing safety at events, including intoxicated attendees, sunstroke, dehydration, and poor movement. Justin shares his experiences with events held in greenfield sites and the difficulties of controlling the number of people entering. We also discuss the importance of planning for evacuations and effectively communi...
Oct 13, 2023•39 min•Ep. 139
This is a replay of a Safety Roundtable discussion on the topic of zero harm in the workplace, with guest, Kevin Barr. Kevin and I introduce the concept of zero harm and invite participants to share their thoughts. We cover: - The pros and cons of zero harm - The challenges it presents - The potential oversimplification of safety - Alternative approaches, such as a people-first strategy - The difficulties in defining and reporting incidents. We also explore the impact of zero harm on resource al...
Oct 06, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 138
Christian Harris interviews Stuart Lansdown, the director responsible for third-party services at QuestGates, a leading specialist provider of claims solutions, about how to defend slips, trips and falls insurance claims. They discuss slip, trip, and fall accidents and insurance claims, particularly in the corporate hospitality, retail, and leisure sectors. Stuart emphasizes the importance of determining liability in these accidents and explains the concept of occupiers' liability. They also dis...
Sep 29, 2023•40 min•Ep. 137
