Safety And Risk Success

Christian Harris hosts a live Sliptember masterclass, walking through the data, science and method behind reducing slip risk and improving legal defensibility. Recorded as part of the Safety Roundtable series. The episode covers why confidence in slip safety is often built on perception rather than evidence, why common fixes like matting, cleaning, anti-slip flooring, insurance and signage don't solve the underlying problem, and how the pendulum test and PTV scores are used by the HSE and the courts to assess genuine slip resistance. Christian introduces the CHIMES framework, a zonal approach to prioritising high-risk areas, and shares results from real client sites, including a 60% reduction in incidents at Euston Station and a retailer that secured a £65,000 reduction in their insurance premium. The episode closes with live audience questions on footwear standards and managing risk that can't be fully eliminated. Take the free Slip Prevention Scorecard: scorecard.slipsafety.co.uk

Christian Harris opens this year's Sliptember campaign with the story of Dennis Satchell, who suffered multiple hip fractures after a fall at a Tesco Extra in 2015, and what environmental health officer Justin Strange uncovered when he led the prosecution that followed. A known hazard, managed with signs and boom socks instead of being fixed, is the pattern Christian says he sees at organisation after organisation. The episode covers the scale of the slip and trip problem across the UK, why matting, cleaning, signage and insurance don't solve the underlying issue on their own, and the CHIMES framework and Slipology method Christian has developed over more than thirteen years working across 4,000 client sites. It also marks the launch of Sliptember 2026, including thirty free slip tests being given away across September, a live masterclass on 9 September on preventing slip incidents, and a conversation with Peter Bennett of the No Falls Foundation on 23 September. It's not a slip problem. It's a grip problem, and this September, the message is simple: measure, don't guess. Get entered for a free slip test or access the Slip Prevention Scorecard: [scorecard.slipsafety.co.uk]

Christian Harris joined by Paul Goodreau, a former hydrogeologist who went on to become a CEO, business leader and now author and career coach, for a conversation about ownership, career planning and knowing when you're on the right track. Paul shares the career life cycle model behind his book, Own Your Career, No One Else Will, and explains why so many technically skilled professionals in safety, risk and engineering struggle to think strategically about their own path forward. They also discuss why AI is reshaping entry-level roles across the industry, how to build a genuine advisory team, and why your career aspiration should be reviewed and allowed to change over time. The episode closes with a question Paul says he's never been asked before: how will you ultimately score your career? Find Paul on LinkedIn or at paulgoodreau.com. Curious where your own organisation stands on safety? Take the free Slip Risk Scorecard: [scorecard.slipsafety.co.uk]

Christian is joined again by Louise Hosking, who has spent the last six months developing a new framework called the Choice Chain. It started with a question Christian asked on a webinar about why more data and more effort do not always lead to better outcomes. Louise draws on 35 years of experience across risk, safety and membership organisations, and on recent study at teh Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership, to explain her constellation of decisions model. This model shows how purpose, signals, interpretation, trade-offs, learning, and conditions all interact to shape whether an organisation gets a positive or negative result. Louise talks through real examples of major organisational failures, including how a warning signal about structural risk failed to reach the right decision makers in time. She also explains signal equity, the idea that some voices in an organisation carry more weight than others, and why the quietest signals are often the ones worth listening to most closely. The episode closes with Louise's environmental health roots and why she believes this lens, covering clean water, safe food, safe workplaces, and protection from pollution, is central to understanding organisational wellbeing today. Find Louise Hosking on LinkedIn, or visit her website at thechoicechain.co.uk for her ongoing series of Choice Chain articles.

Christian Harris shares the results of the third annual State of Safety survey in this Safety Roundtable session. The data reveals a clear priority gap. Manual handling, slips and trips consistently cause the most harm, yet they rank far lower when it comes to management attention and resource. This episode covers the confidence gap between how safe organisations believe they are and how much they trust their own safety data, why testing for slip risk remains low despite 90% of respondents agreeing more could be done, the jump in safety technology adoption over the past year and why trust in AI still lags behind, and honest feedback from safety professionals on leadership, culture and change resistance. Get the full State of Safety Report: https://www.linkedin.com/smart-links/AQEqi546ov8yWg Ready to find out where your own risk really sits? Take the Slip Risk Scorecard.

In this episode, Christian Harris speaks with Amar Shahzad, founder of the Occupational Health and Safety Institute Sweden and host of the Safety by Amar Shahzad podcast. Amar opens up about the workplace accident that first drew him into safety. He unpacks the difference between compliance and genuine understanding, and reflects on the mindset shifts that came from interviewing respected voices in the field, including Todd Conklin and Sidney Dekker. The episode explores why a good process can still end in a bad outcome, why lagging indicators alone do not capture the full picture, and what real engagement with frontline workers actually looks like. The pair close with a look at where safety is headed over the next decade, and the role AI is likely to play. Listen in for a grounded, practical discussion on human-centred safety, drawn from real experience across Pakistan, Qatar and Sweden. Find Amar Shahzad on LinkedIn and on YouTube at Safety by Amar Shahzad. This episode is brought to you by Slip Safety Services. Find out more, and get your copy of Slipology by Christian Harris.

Wyatt Bradbury of Avetta, ASSP's 2026 Safety Professional of the Year, joins Christian for a Safety Roundtable on building genuine safety culture across an interconnected workforce of direct staff, contractors and gig labour. They discuss why the newest or least familiar person on site often carries the most risk, why certain contracted staff can end up caught between two organisations without full support from either, and why so many safety metrics track activity rather than actual impact. Wyatt also shares practical examples, from a major transit project's contractual culture assessments to simple language changes that can either build or break a sense of shared team. Connect with Wyatt on LinkedIn: [ LinkedIn link]

In this episode, Christian Harris speaks with Anna Albright, founder of Klima, about the true cost of heat on worker safety and productivity. Anna shares the story of a delayed flight that revealed ground crews, not aircraft systems, were being grounded by extreme heat, and how that realisation led her to leave a career at J.P. Morgan and BCG to build a wearable cooling device for industrial workers. They discuss why global heat related productivity losses are estimated in the trillions, why current cooling solutions on the market fall short, and why Anna believes heat safety needs to be framed around return on investment rather than treated as a cost centre. Try the heat cost calculator: [calculator link] Connect with Anna Albright on LinkedIn: [LinkedIn link]

In this Safety Roundtable session, Christian Harris explores what he calls the safety confidence gap. Early data from our State of Safety Survey shows 94% of respondents rate their safety performance as average or better, but only half are confident their risks are measured rather than assumed. Christian shares a case where a 91 year old fractured his hip in a Tesco store, resulting in a fine of nearly three quarters of a million pounds for systemic failings, alongside the BP Texas City disaster, a ketchup factory with a red floor, and NASA's approach to weak signals. Attendees Shona, Steve and Richard join the conversation with their own views on culture, process ownership and management training. Take the State of Safety Survey here: [survey link] Results will be discussed at the next Safety Roundtable in two weeks.

Would your workplace still be safe if every regulation vanished overnight? That question sits at the heart of this conversation between Christian Harris and Brad Johnson, safety coordinator and author of Noncompliant Safety. Brad talks candidly about breaking into safety with no formal training, learning the hard way that a fully compliant team can still be carrying real risk, and why he now treats risk itself as the metric that matters. He and Christian discuss the myth of the perfectly compliant workplace, why accountability needs to shift toward the organisation rather than landing solely on the frontline worker, and Brad's SLOW framework for challenging "we've always done it this way" thinking. They also touch on Brad's win of Safest District of the Year in 2024, and the practical, risk based tools any safety professional could start using this coming Monday. Resources mentioned: Brad's book, Noncompliant Safety, plus free risk conversation guides and presentation resources, available on his website. Connect with Brad on LinkedIn as Brad Johnson, CSP. Enjoyed this one? Subscribe to Safety and Risk Success so you don't miss next week's conversation.

Are more letters after your name actually making you a better safety professional, or just better at collecting certificates? In this episode of the Safety Roundtable, Christian Harris is joined by Dr. David Thomas, Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead for Health and Safety Management at Middlesex University, for a candid and at times controversial look at how the industry qualifies, and misqualifies, its people.   Drawing on 30+ years of practice, including his time as a Section 98 appointee under the Mines and Quarries Act, David shares the story that first got him questioning "competence": a safety professional from head office who could flag a loose drainpipe but had no idea whether a 33,000-volt electrical supply was safe. From there, the conversation ranges across NEBOSH certificates and diplomas, degree apprenticeships, IOSH accreditation limits, the IIRSM competency framework, and the murky gap between what a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification is supposed to mean and what it actually delivers on the ground.   Topics covered include: - Why "competent person" doesn't have to mean "health and safety professional" - The mismatch between academic qualification levels and professional membership grades - Why recruiters default to naming a NEBOSH award without understanding what it actually assesses - Career ceilings in OSH; and why safety professionals rarely make it to MD or Chief People Officer - How generative AI is upending assessment and forcing universities to rethink how competency is tested - Advice for people starting out in safety, risk, and OSH careers today   With live audience questions from practitioners across offshore, construction, education, and consultancy, this is a wide-ranging debate about what it really means to be "qualified", and whether the profession has been chasing the wrong metric all along.   Got thoughts on qualifications vs. competency in health and safety? Join the conversation on LinkedIn and let us know where you stand.

Most incident investigations depend heavily on witness accounts, but what if human memory is far less reliable than we assume? In this episode, Christian Harris is joined by Elizabeth Hyde and Dr Samantha Masley, experts in witness memory, psychology and investigations, to explore the fascinating science behind how people remember events and why those memories can sometimes be misleading. Together, they discuss why memory is not a perfect recording of reality, how stress and trauma influence recall, why confident witnesses are not always the most accurate, and how investigators can unintentionally contaminate evidence through poor questioning techniques. The conversation also explores the growing attention courts are paying to witness reliability, the role of cognitive biases such as hindsight bias, and practical steps investigators can take to gather better evidence and improve the quality of their investigations. In this episode: Why memory is not like a video recording How stress affects memory formation and recall The dangers of witness contamination Why confidence does not equal accuracy Common mistakes investigators make when interviewing witnesses Open questioning and free recall techniques The impact of hindsight bias on investigations What courts are saying about witness evidence Practical ways to improve incident investigations Whether you're a health and safety professional, investigator, lawyer, manager, or anyone responsible for gathering evidence after an incident, this episode offers valuable insights into the psychology of memory and how it influences decision-making. Connect with the Guests Elizabeth Hyde: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-hyde-hesper/ Samantha Masley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-samantha-masley-62524564/  Hesper GRC: www.hespergrc.com Subscribe for more conversations on health, safety, risk and the human factors that shape workplace outcomes.

Mental health and wellbeing is something every Organisation talks about, yet many of the people who need support the most never ask for it. Why?   That question sits at the heart of my conversation with Nick Elston, who has spent more than a decade helping Organisations engage the people who are often the hardest to reach. Drawing on his own lived experience of obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety and burnout, Nick shares why awareness alone isn't enough, why storytelling creates genuine engagement, and how a simple conversation can make all the difference. We also explore the common mistakes people make when trying to help, how to support someone without feeling responsible for fixing them, and why sharing a little of our own human experience can open doors that policies and procedures never will.   Highlights Why people stay silent: Fear, conditioning and lack of anonymity. Lived experience: Builds trust and encourages genuine engagement. Better conversations: Support people without trying to fix them. Human connection: Small vulnerability creates deeper trust. Protect yourself first: Set clear boundaries before listening. Supporting sceptics: Focus on self development, not labels. Energy management: Helping others starts with looking after yourself. Follow up matters: A simple check in can mean everything.   Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Nick on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickelston/    Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/  

Risk management is often viewed as something that keeps Organisations out of trouble. But what if it could do far more than that? My guest, Graeme Fleming, argues that risk is one of the most powerful tools leaders have for making better decisions, achieving strategic objectives and creating competitive advantage. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in governance, risk and compliance, Graeme shares why risk should be firmly on every CEO's agenda, how Organisations can move beyond compliance-led thinking, and what separates high-performing risk functions from those that struggle to influence the business.   We also explore the importance of storytelling in risk communication, lessons leaders can learn from the Titanic disaster, and why AI presents both significant opportunities and governance challenges. Packed with practical insights and memorable analogies, this conversation offers plenty of food for thought for anyone involved in leadership, safety, risk, compliance or operational performance.   Highlights Risk and strategy: Why CEOs need both connected Competitive advantage: Using risk to outperform competitors Better decisions: Turning uncertainty into business insight Storytelling: Making risk relevant to leadership teams Leading indicators: Spotting problems before they escalate Risk controls: Why brakes help businesses move faster AI governance: Balancing innovation with responsible oversight Business performance: Aligning risk with organisational objectives Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graeme-fleming/     Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/  

Before you think "it won't happen here", consider this: a company was fined £10,000 for a serious machinery incident in early 2016. Just weeks later, a similar case resulted in a £1.6 million fine. Ten years after the sentencing guidelines transformed the health and safety legal landscape, the consequences are impossible to ignore. Fines are higher, accountability has sharpened, and Organisations are increasingly judged on exposure to risk rather than actual harm. I sat down with leading health and safety lawyer Chris Green to explore what has changed, where many businesses still get caught out, and why directors can no longer afford to view safety as something that sits solely with the safety team. Whether you're advising the board, managing risk on the ground, or trying to influence decision-makers, this conversation offers valuable insight into how the legal landscape continues to evolve. Highlights Why fines increased: Designed to reflect company size and turnover  Risk versus harm: Exposure alone can trigger prosecution  Very large Organisations: Courts can go beyond guideline thresholds  Governance matters: Directors must actively engage with safety  Paperwork isn't enough: Implementation is what courts examine  Aggravating factors: Repeated exposure and ignored warnings increase penalties  Small business challenge: Compliance burdens remain disproportionately difficult  Looking ahead: New legislation may increase corporate liability  Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/  Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-green-70a899a/  Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

There's a dangerous assumption still deeply embedded in many workplaces that if people would just follow the rules, incidents wouldn't happen. But what if that thinking is actually making safety worse? My conversation with Jake Mazulewicz challenged a lot of conventional thinking around human error, procedures, investigations and safety leadership. Drawing on experience from firefighting, emergency medicine, military operations and human reliability, Jake shares a practical and refreshingly honest perspective on how people really make decisions under pressure, why experts don't simply follow procedures, and how resilient Organisations learn from mistakes rather than punish them. This was one of those discussions that makes you stop and rethink how safety is approached day to day. Plenty of practical insights throughout that leaders can apply immediately. Highlights from the conversation: Human error: Signals for learning, not failures to punish Safety rules: Why too many procedures can reduce reliability Decision making: The four layers experts use under pressure Resilience: Building systems that tolerate inevitable mistakes Investigations: Looking beyond who touched it last Psychological safety: Encouraging honest reporting and learning Near miss reporting: Making learning simple and non-punitive Work as done: Understanding how work really happens safely Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/  Connect with Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-mazulewicz/ Check on Jake Book (Seven Practical Steps: How to Build Reliability, Safety, and Trust in Technical Teams): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPFQ65GX  Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

Safety is changing faster than many organisations can comfortably keep up with. But as technology evolves, workplace expectations shift, and new risks emerge, one question becomes impossible to ignore: is the safety profession evolving quickly enough to stay relevant and make a bigger impact? In this conversation, I sat down with Richard Bate, President of IOSH, for a frank and insightful discussion on leadership, continuous learning, AI, and why safety professionals must think broader than compliance. From adapting to generational change and digital transformation, to tackling some of the most overlooked risks in rural industries, Richard shares a deeply human perspective on what the future of safety should look like and why standing still is no longer an option.  Highlights Purpose-led safety: Moving beyond compliance towards wellbeing, dignity and wider business impact. Learn or risk irrelevance: Continuous learning is essential as safety roles rapidly evolve. AI and digital change: Technology should support better decisions, not replace human judgement. Reverse mentoring: Younger professionals can help reshape leadership, communication and thinking. Rural safety crisis: Farming remains one of the UK's highest-risk and overlooked sectors. Mental health pressures: Isolation, financial stress and suicide in farming need greater focus. Safety as influence: Professionals must improve leadership impact and speak the language of business. Stay connected: Follow Richard Bate on LinkedIn and support wider conversations on rural safety.  Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/  Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-bate-iosh-president-chair-of-council-4b547118/  Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/    

The internet was meant to make life easier. Instead, it's created a world where trust is constantly under pressure. That's why this conversation with Jesse Tayler stayed with me long after we finished recording. Jesse was there at the beginning of the digital revolution, creating the world's first digital app store long before platforms and online identities became part of everyday life. What followed was a fascinating exploration of digital trust, fraud, reputation, online safety, and why the future of risk management may depend on rethinking identity itself. From Steve Jobs stories to the unintended consequences of putting our lives online, this is one of those conversations that challenges how you see the modern internet.   Highlights The original vision behind the first digital app store: remove physical barriers to software access  Why identity could become the internet's final frontier: trust now underpins everything online  The hidden risk of digital IDs and verification systems: copied forever once exposed online  How fraudsters exploit onboarding systems today: stolen identities bought cheaply online  What iTunes taught the world about reducing fraud: convenience beats risky alternatives  Why trust and safety teams should rethink barriers: excessive friction harms genuine users  The powerful "safety rope" analogy for online identity: trusted anchors reduce exposure to fraud  Jesse's remarkable memories of Steve Jobs: seeing possibilities others dismissed completely   Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Jesse on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtayler/  Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

What if the real risk in your workplace is not the process, the procedure, or the equipment… but the way people are thinking under pressure?   This conversation with Helen Taylor Brinson completely shifted the way I think about safety leadership. We explored what actually happens in the brain when people are stressed, overwhelmed, distracted, exhausted, or emotionally overloaded, and why that can fundamentally change behaviour, judgement, attention, and decision making.   One of the biggest takeaways for me was this: behaviour is communication. When someone is acting out of character, cutting corners, withdrawing, freezing, or reacting emotionally, there is usually something deeper going on beneath the surface.   We also talked about psychological safety, presenteeism, recovery, sleep, curiosity, and why creating space for people to think   A genuinely thought provoking conversation with practical ideas you can start applying immediately.   Highlights Stress response: Fight, flight, freeze affects decision making Presenteeism: Often a bigger risk than absenteeism Curiosity: Helps teams solve problems more effectively Behaviour: Often communication, not carelessness Breaks and recovery: Essential for focus and judgement Sleep quality: Directly impacts resilience and performance Psychological safety: Helps people think more clearly Reflection habits: Improve wellbeing and mental resilience Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Helen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-taylor-brimson-b6222546/ BrainWorks Website: https://brainworkshypnotherapy.co.uk/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/    

What if the biggest lever for improving safety isn't your systems, processes, or even your safety team but your supervisors? That's exactly where this conversation goes. Speaking with Kevin Burns really challenged some deeply held assumptions about how safety actually works in organisations. We often focus on frameworks, metrics, and compliance, yet overlook the single most influential relationship on any worksite, the one between supervisor and frontline worker. If that relationship is weak, no amount of process will fix it. If it's strong, everything else becomes easier. There's a lot here that made me stop and rethink, particularly around how we build buy-in, how we support new supervisors, and why safety culture can't sit in a silo. If you're serious about improving performance, not just talking about it, this is one to reflect on. Highlights: Safety is a people issue: not a process problem  Supervisors drive culture: more than safety departments  Buy-in matters most: awareness alone changes nothing  Leadership gaps: new supervisors lack proper training  Relationships over rules: connection builds safer behaviour  Explain the why: not just the how  The supervisor tax: poor leadership costs organisations  Careful supervision: care for work, safety, and people  Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevburns-peoplework/ PeopleWork Website: https://peoplework.app/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/  

When safety systems become bloated, disconnected and more focused on paperwork than people, they can quietly create the very risks they were meant to prevent. That is exactly what I explored in this special Safety Roundtable with the brilliant Sidney Dekker. We challenged long-held beliefs about responsibility, compliance, human error and whether many systems are helping people succeed or simply getting in their way. If you want a fresh perspective on creating safer, smarter and more human-centred Organisations, this is one to hear. Join our next Safety Roundtable live to be part of conversations like this and bring your own questions to the table. Highlights: Why systems fail: when process matters more than real work. Safety ownership: everyone who touches work shares responsibility. Rules versus reality: people often adapt to get work done. Human motivation: purpose drives better decisions than fear. Variability at work: not all variation is dangerous. Hearts and minds: telling people rarely guarantees action. Documentation limits: records matter, but learning matters more. Better systems: make work easier, clearer and safer Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Sidney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidneydekker-com/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

Most organisations think they're doing enough on safety until they realise they're only seeing half the picture. I sat down with David Picton, SVP, Safety & Sustainability at EcoOnline, to explore what happens when you stop looking backwards and start using data to actually shape what happens next. What came through loud and clear is this shift from simply meeting requirements to uncovering insights that drive better decisions, stronger performance, and ultimately safer outcomes. There's a real opportunity here not just to protect people, but to elevate safety into something that genuinely influences business success. Highlights: Moving beyond compliance: Unlocking hidden value in safety data  Data visibility: Turning information into actionable insight  Leading vs lagging indicators: Driving forward looking decisions  AI in safety: Supporting insight, not replacing human judgement  Connecting data sources: Training, incidents, and operational factors  Predictive safety: Preventing incidents before they occur  Business impact: Linking safety performance to productivity and ROI  Executive influence: Elevating safety to strategic decision making Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpicton/  EcoOnline website: https://www.ecoonline.com/ Connect with EcoOnline LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecoonline-global/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

There's a hard truth many of us don't like to admit we're incredibly busy in safety, yet not always as effective as we could be. This conversation is the panel session from an online event I co-hosted, bringing together some sharp minds in the field including Louise, Carla and Davy, where we challenged what really moves the needle in safety and risk. Not more paperwork, not more audits for the sake of it but sharper thinking, better conversations, and a relentless focus on what actually works. If 2026 is going to be your safest year yet, it starts with questioning some uncomfortable habits and getting back to what truly matters.   Highlights: Risk assessments without action: paperwork over performance  Data without follow-up: insight lost, no improvement  Manual handling myths: outdated training still widespread  Busy but ineffective: activity not equal to impact  Speak to people: real understanding starts on the ground  Slow down to speed up: reduce reactive overload  Leadership language gap: align with boardroom priorities  Safety role shift: generalist thinking over specialist silos   Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Louise on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisehosking/ Connect with Carla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlacrocombe888/ Connect with Davy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davy-snowdon-mbe/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

There's a question that sits right at the heart of safety performance, and it's one that frustrates a lot of us. Why do well-designed, technically sound safety systems still fail to change behaviour in the real world? I sat down with Eduardo Blanco-Muñoz to unpack this properly, and what followed was a fascinating exploration into perception, bias, culture, and the uncomfortable truth that people don't behave the way our systems expect them to. This is a conversation that challenges the traditional, rule-based mindset and opens the door to a more human, more realistic way of thinking about safety. Highlights: Why systems fail: Humans don't behave as rational models expect  Perception limits: We miss more risk than we realise  Overconfidence bias: People overestimate their ability to stay safe  Culture link: Values and beliefs drive behaviour at every level  Leadership impact: Behaviour matters more than policies or posters  Measurement traps: Focusing on KPIs can distort real safety progress  From control to influence: Move beyond command and control approaches  Practical tools: Turning theory into actionable safety strategies   Resources and actions:  Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Eduardo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduardoblanco/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/  

Workplace noise is one of those risks that quietly chips away at people over time, often unnoticed until it's too late. Yet despite nearly two decades of regulation, it's still being misunderstood, underestimated, and poorly managed in far too many Organisations. This episode, taken from a Safety Roundtable session, features Gill Cussons sharing practical insights on why noise risk still isn't being handled well and what we should be doing differently. What really stood out is how often we confuse "not sounding that bad" with "not being harmful" and how everyday habits, both inside and outside of work, are compounding the issue.   Highlights: Noise risk underestimated: long-term exposure often ignored  Hearing aids misconception: not a fix for damage  Compliance mindset problem: action stops after assessment  Exposure matters most: not just loudest source  Everyday noise impact: cumulative across work and life  Overprotection risk: reduces awareness and compliance  Poor implementation gap: reports without real change  Start with basics: fix sources before relying on PPE   Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Gill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillcussons/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/  

Trust with data is becoming one of the defining challenges for modern leadership. We hand over personal information every day, often without a second thought, yet expectations around how that data is handled have never been higher. My conversation with James Robson explores what happens when data protection, AI, politics and public confidence all collide. James brings a rare perspective from working across research, governance and political environments, and shares why trust is no longer just a compliance issue but something that directly shapes reputation, decision making and long-term business resilience. We also get into where many Organisations are getting caught out with AI adoption, why transparency matters more than ever, and how leaders can avoid creating unnecessary risk while still making progress. Highlights: Trust in data starts with public confidence: people need clarity before they share information Political data use relies on legal frameworks: public interest often overrides standard consent routes Privacy notices still matter: transparency must be understandable, not buried in jargon AI can deepen echo chambers: algorithms increasingly shape opinion and behaviour Shadow AI creates hidden exposure: staff may introduce tools without oversight AI impact assessments are becoming essential: risks need reviewing before deployment Data protection officers are evolving fast: technical AI knowledge is now increasingly valuable External expertise can reduce risk: trusted specialists help Organisations move safely Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/-james-robson/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

Artificial intelligence is moving faster than most leaders can comfortably process, and that is exactly why this conversation matters. Speaking with CJ Clarke-Joell at Risk Europe opened up a much deeper discussion than technology alone. We explored what happens when AI starts reflecting our own biases, behaviours and decision making back at us, and why the real challenge is not simply understanding the tools, but understanding how we show up when using them. CJ brings a powerful human lens to digital disruption, cutting through the noise around AI ethics and reminding us that leadership, empathy and critical thinking matter more than ever as regulation, responsibility and rapid change continue to collide. Highlights: AI as a mirror: reflects our biases and behaviours Human oversight: expertise must stay above automation Multiple AI tools: compare outputs to expose bias Zone of disrupted identity: uncertainty affects decision making Ethical leadership: empathy, mindfulness and purpose matter Human scaffolding: support people through digital change Regulation is coming: businesses need policy and staff awareness Practical support: private AI clarity sessions through CKC Cares Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with CJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chavonjoell/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

A teenager in a hoodie hacking systems in a dark bedroom has become the cultural stereotype. But what if that picture is completely wrong? What if the world's next generation of cybersecurity defenders are actually sitting in front of Roblox, Minecraft or Call of Duty right now, developing the exact skills governments and organisations desperately need. My guest Fergus Hay, co-founder and CEO of The Hacking Games, believes we are witnessing a massive shift in how cyber talent is discovered and developed. Millions of young gamers are building problem solving, pattern recognition and creative thinking skills every day. The challenge is not whether this talent exists, but whether we guide it towards protecting society rather than exploiting it. We talk about the real risks young people face online, how criminal networks actively recruit talented teenage hackers, and why parents, educators and employers need to rethink how they view gaming, neurodiversity and talent. Fergus also shares how The Hacking Games is identifying young ethical hackers and connecting them with opportunities in cybersecurity, defence and technology. Highlights: Ethical hacking explained: using creativity to break systems and improve them Gaming and cyber skills: puzzle solving, pattern spotting and teamwork The scale of gaming: 3.3 billion gamers globally, 93 percent of Gen Z play Recruitment risk: cybercriminals targeting talented teenagers online Parenting in the digital world: engage with children in their gaming environments Neurodiversity advantage: pattern recognition and creative thinking in cyber roles Alternative career paths: cybersecurity apprenticeships beyond traditional university routes The Hacking Games mission: identifying and directing young talent into ethical cybersecurity careers. Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Fergus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fergus-hay-013a41/   Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

Psychological safety gets talked about a lot in risk circles, but what does it really look like when you move beyond policy documents and into real culture change? A conversation with Sharon Sharples at Risk Europe sparked a refreshingly honest exchange about inclusion, leadership, and the human side of risk. From employee resource groups to speaking up processes and the reality of hybrid working pressures, Sharon shares practical insight shaped by years inside a heavily regulated financial services environment. What stood out most was the reminder that risk professionals are not here to block progress but to enable better outcomes for people, customers and the wider Organisation. If you care about culture, collaboration and building workplaces where people feel safe to contribute, there is plenty here to reflect on. Highlights Risk as opportunity: balancing protection with business growth Psychological safety culture: people first, not just compliance Employee resource groups: building belonging and inclusion Staff surveys and listening groups: tracking early warning signals Hybrid working challenges: supporting carers and working parents Risk leaders as partners: adding insight rather than blocking Test and learn mindset: piloting ideas before full investment Collective progress across industries: sharing initiatives openly  Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-sharples-44829b21/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

What if the real risk in safety isn't what you see, but what you assume is already under control? This conversation challenged some deeply held beliefs about leadership, risk and effectiveness. John Barclay joined me to unpack why activity doesn't always equal impact, why experienced organisations still face serious incidents, and why a little healthy discomfort might be exactly what keeps people safe. From exposure thinking to trust, curiosity and making the safest way the easiest way, there's plenty here to reflect on if you genuinely want to move beyond surface-level safety and focus on what truly prevents harm. Highlights Chronic unease: absence of harm doesn't mean presence of safety Exposure focus: manage risk sources, not just injury numbers Control effectiveness: present, understood, effective, followed Workforce involvement: design safety with people doing the work Leadership curiosity: ask what makes processes difficult Trust and honesty: high trust drives safer decision making Safety investment: reduce waste and reinvest in engineering controls Make safety easier: safest way must be simplest way to work Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-barclay-13359b1a/   Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

For years, being technically strong, compliance-focused and armed with the right certificates was enough to build a solid career in safety. But the ground is shifting fast. This conversation with Lucas Dominguez, founder of the Safety 4.0 Academy, cuts straight through the noise around AI and digital transformation and asks a much bigger question: are today's EHS leaders actually equipped for what's coming next? From boardroom influence to digital fluency, this one is a wake-up call for anyone who wants to stay relevant, credible and genuinely effective in the years ahead. Highlights: Technical skills alone are no longer enough: Compliance gets you in the room, not heard. AI is not replacing safety, but it is reshaping it: Augmentation, not automation. Digital fluency is becoming a core leadership skill: Understanding tech to make better decisions. Safety leadership is shifting from rule keeper to change maker: Influence, not enforcement. AI can remove low-value admin: More time for real safety work. The biggest risk is playing catch-up: Early adopters gain the advantage. Human skills still sit at the centre: Empathy, judgment and critical thinking matter more than ever. Resources and actions:  Download Lucas' free e-book "Become the Safety 4.0 Leader": https://newsletter.getshield360.com/ebook Explore the Safety 4.0 Academy (IOSH-approved and CPD-certified): https://www.safetyacademy.tech/ Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/  Connect with Lucas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-domingues-msc-cmiosh-49b2b820/  Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

Working harder on safety but still seeing the same incidents? That sinking feeling when you've rolled out the training, refreshed the policies, launched the campaigns and nothing really shifts? I see this pattern constantly across Organisations. The problem isn't effort, motivation, or people not caring. It's a fundamental misunderstanding of how safety actually works. There's a simple formula that explains why so many safety initiatives stall and once you see it, you can't unsee it.   Highlights: The real formula for safety: Environment × Culture Why culture alone cannot overcome poor design The multiplication effect that most Organisations miss How environments quietly shape daily behaviour Why safety culture follows change, not the other way around Real slip case study and the maths behind it Making the safe choice the easy choice Where most safety investment is going wrong  Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

Everyone talks about culture, but very few talk about what actually creates it. After years of working inside real workplaces, I've seen the same pattern repeat itself. Leaders invest heavily in slogans, programmes and engagement campaigns, while the real problems on the ground stay exactly the same. And when that happens, trust quietly disappears. This episode cuts through the noise and gets brutally honest about what really builds a strong safety culture and why most organisations are starting in completely the wrong place. Highlights Culture follows competence: fix real problems first Trust is built on evidence: not intentions Unsafe conditions destroy belief: regardless of messaging Leadership is action: not theatre People judge results: not values statements Broken systems create cynicism: not engagement Measurable improvements build confidence: fast Physical safety is the foundation: always  Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

For too long, insurance has been treated as a grudge purchase rather than a strategic advantage. Recording live at Risk Europe in London, this panel conversation challenged that mindset head on. What unfolded was a refreshingly honest discussion with leaders from risk, insurance, broking and law, all aligned on one thing the future belongs to those who collaborate, share insight and use evidence to actively reduce risk rather than simply transfer it. If you care about safety performance, resilience and making better commercial decisions, this conversation will change how you think about insurance. Highlights From price to value: why premium alone tells the wrong story Proof matters: using data to earn trust with insurers Partnerships over transactions: better outcomes for everyone Claims intelligence: turning lessons into prevention Risk maturity: what underwriters really look for Evidence in action: culture, behaviour and real controls Boardroom impact: using data to unlock investment Practical steps: engaging brokers and insurers earlier Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/ Please note that this episode's audio quality is not at the same level as our usual recordings. We apologise for this and really appreciate your understanding.  

Most serious road collisions don't happen because of bad luck. They happen because of decisions, assumptions, and systems that quietly fail us over time. After decades at the sharp end of road safety, Rob Heard has seen exactly how those failures play out and why so many of them never needed to happen in the first place. This conversation goes far beyond driving. It's about risk perception, dignity, behaviour change, and what safety leaders in any industry can learn from the roads we all share every day.   Rob brings rare insight from hundreds of fatal collisions, national policy work, and years of campaigning that has helped shift the conversation from punishment to prevention. From eyesight and ageing to safer systems and learning cultures, this is a grounded, practical discussion about how better decisions genuinely save lives.   Highlights Most fatal collisions are preventable: Around 95 percent linked to known, repeatable risk factors Older drivers and the real data: Risk rises with age, but dignity and independence still matter Eyesight as a critical safety control: Vision underpins 90 percent of driving decisions Why self-certification fails: Defective vision and medical conditions often go unreported From blame to learning: Education and assessment outperform punishment in risk reduction MOT yourself, not just the car: Fitness, cognition, eyesight, and habits all matter Safer systems thinking: Roads, vehicles, people, speeds, and post-collision learning   Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-heard/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

There is a risk hiding in plain sight inside many organisations. It is not cyber, financial, or regulatory. It is the quiet damage caused when people do not feel safe to speak, when stress becomes normalised, and when well-being is treated as optional rather than essential. The evidence is now overwhelming. Silence has a cost, burnout is systemic, and culture is either protecting performance or quietly eroding it. This conversation from Risk Europe goes right to the heart of that challenge, exploring why psychological safety is no longer a nice to have, but a core business and safety risk that leaders can no longer afford to ignore. Highlights The economic cost of silence: Billions lost through burnout and presenteeism Psychological safety and risk: When people stay quiet, hazards multiply Manager capability gap: Line managers as first responders, often unprepared Culture over perks: Fruit bowls do not fix toxic systems Workplace design matters: Space, flexibility and trust shape behaviour Speaking up saves lives: Psychological safety and physical safety are linked Leadership responsibility: Change starts in the C-suite, not HR From awareness to action: Small human changes drive real performance gains Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

As we step into the new year, it's a great moment to reflect on what 2025 really revealed about safety and risk." After conversations with more than 50 leaders, practitioners, academics and innovators, clear patterns began to emerge. Different sectors, different challenges, yet the same messages kept surfacing. This episode pulls those signals together and turns a year of dialogue into a clear picture of where safety is heading, what's changing faster than most people realise, and where the biggest opportunities now sit for organisations and professionals who want to stay ahead. Highlights from the episode Safety as a profit driver: friction removed, performance released The evolving safety professional: influence beats expertise AI in safety: from novelty to foundation Psychological safety: silence is the real risk Human reliability: systems must absorb mistakes Integrated risk: safety, security and resilience converge Measurement that matters: leading indicators over hindsight Safety and experience: trust is built in the first 30 seconds One of the most consistent themes this year was how predictable and preventable slip risk really is when it's treated as a science, not guesswork. If that sparked a rethink, you can complete the free Slip Prevention Scorecard to see where risk is quietly building in your own environment. It takes around three and a half minutes and gives a clear, evidence-based snapshot of where to focus next. Resources and actions: Slip Prevention Scorecard: https://slipsafety.co.uk/slip-prevention-scorecard/  Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/  Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

Ergonomics has quietly moved from being about chairs and screens to something far bigger and far more important. In this conversation, I'm joined by Guy Osmond, who has spent over three decades at the sharp end of workplace ergonomics and human factors. What starts with back pain quickly opens into culture, mental health, neurodiversity, hybrid work, presenteeism, and why so many people are struggling in silence. This is one of those discussions that challenges how we think about work, wellbeing, and performance, and why getting the basics right is no longer optional. Highlights Ergonomics has evolved: From furniture to human factors and wellbeing Physical pain tells a story: Stress, anxiety, and work design collide Presenteeism explained: The hidden productivity drain organisations miss Hybrid work risks: Why home workers are quietly struggling Neurodiversity at work: One size never fits all Culture over compliance: Why good intentions often fall short Engaging the C suite: Turning discomfort into investment thinking The future of work: Designing work around humans, not averages  Resources and actions:  Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Guy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guyosmond/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

As we close out the year, the conversation around health and safety is becoming sharper, tougher and far less forgiving. Enforcement hasn't quietly evolved, it has decisively shifted. Prosecution is now the default, scrutiny on directors is intensifying, and the margin for weak systems is shrinking fast. In this timely roundtable, I'm joined by Keith Mathews, from HCR Law's Insurance, to cut through the noise and look at what really matters as we head into 2026. This is about defensibility, governance and avoiding the blind spots that still catch organisations out, often with devastating consequences.   Key highlights Enforcement mindset shift: prosecution over persuasion Risk assessments: task specific or vulnerable Directors in focus: personal accountability rising Training expectations: quality, supervision, proof Mental health risks: legal and operational exposure Occupational disease: long tail liability remains Governance priority: board level ownership essential   Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Keith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-mathews-228757bb/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/  

A huge amount gets said about culture, wellbeing, leadership and performance, but how often do we actually measure these things in a way that stands up to scrutiny? This conversation with Mark Wright lifts the lid on what thousands of workers across multiple continents are really telling us. The insights are sometimes uncomfortable, frequently surprising, and always actionable. If you want clarity on what's working, what isn't, and which levers truly shift performance, you'll get a lot from this one.   Highlights Origins of the Index: Created to fill the gap for reliable, scalable workforce feedback Integrated measurement: Leadership, wellbeing, engagement and systems all in one model Levers for action: Clear guidance on where to focus for the best improvement return The big three trends: Leadership perception gaps, shift-worker challenges, contractor dynamics Systems usability slump: Rising expectations but falling satisfaction with organisational systems Mental health insights: Growing comfort discussing mental health, but burnout and cognitive load worsening Commercial pressures: How time, productivity demands and resourcing shape behaviour Targeted strategy: Why demographic-specific insights outperform blanket organisational approaches Resources and actions: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atmarkwright/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

Breaking into health and safety shouldn't feel like hitting a brick wall. Yet so many talented people, from career-changers to those looking for a fresh start, are being shut out by the age-old "no experience, no job" cycle. In this conversation, I sit down with Kev Robins and Ben Pollard to uncover the mission, the momentum and the movement behind The Safety Net Foundation: a new not-for-profit social enterprise designed to open doors, level the playing field and support the next generation of safety professionals.   We get into the story behind the foundation, the gaps it fills, and how each of us can actively support this much-needed step forward for our profession. If you care about the future of safety, this one is well worth a listen.   Highlights Why the Safety Net Foundation exists: creating structured pathways into safety for first-starts and fresh-starts What makes it unique: focus on soft-skills, confidence, communication and real-world experience How mentoring works: personalised pairings, relatable lived experience, safe-space support Helping charities: pro-bono safety support while giving mentees hands-on practical exposure How companies can get involved: partnerships, monthly supporters, volunteering, introductions Early impact: mentees already being supported, CV help, interview preparation and job placements Future vision: qualifications funding, wider industry reach, digital platform with CPD and community How to take part: become a mentor, a mentee, a volunteer, a partner or connect them with charities Resources and actions: Website & Registration Safety Net Foundation website: https://www.thesafetynetfoundation.co.uk Charity / Partner Enquiries Charity partnerships contact page: https://www.thesafetynetfoundation.co.uk/contact Corporate Partner Information: https://www.thesafetynetfoundation.co.uk/partners  Social Media LinkedIn (main comms channel): https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-safety-net-foundation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesafetynetfoundation  Connect Connect with Kev on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kev-robins/ Connect with Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpollard88/ Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/  

The conversation with Marcus Long left a deep impression on me. His blend of professional expertise and personal experience cuts straight through the hesitation that often surrounds suicide in the workplace. This isn't a theoretical issue or a niche wellbeing topic; it's something every organisation can influence for the better. With the launch of BS 30480, Marcus and the wider standards community have created genuinely practical guidance that can prevent harm, support people, and give leaders the confidence to act with humanity and clarity.   Highlights Why BS 30480 was created: a powerful personal catalyst and a clear gap in workplace guidance Misunderstandings that hold organisations back: "it won't affect us" and fear of doing the wrong thing Stressors in the workplace: events and pressures that raise suicide risk Practical tools in the standard: HR toolkit, line manager toolkit, self-assessment, training guidance The importance of confidence: enabling people to speak, listen, and intervene constructively How standards shape culture: when organisations use them to truly improve, not to file away What's next in the standards landscape: major revisions to ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 First steps for any organisation: download BS 30480 and use the companion "first steps" resource Resources and actions: To download the standard BS 30480 Suicide and the Workplace | BSI: https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/insights-and-media/insights/brochures/bs-30480-suicide-and-the-workplace/  To download the first steps guide Suicide and the Workplace A Practical First Steps Guide | BSI: https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/insights-and-media/insights/brochures/suicide-and-the-workplace-a-practical-first-steps-guide/  Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcuslong26/  Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/  Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

Fatigue hides in plain sight. It silently chips away at judgement, coordination, reaction time and even emotional stability, long before someone reaches the point of nodding off. Yet many workplaces still treat tiredness as nothing more than part of the job. In this conversation with Dan Wakerley, founder of Pillar, we lift the lid on the true impact of fatigue, why it's entirely predictable, and how using real-time readiness data can transform safety, performance and well-being. If you want to prevent incidents rather than explain them, this is a must-listen. Highlights Fatigue as impairment: how being awake 18 hours can mirror alcohol-level degradation: real risk Cultural barriers: the "hard man" mindset and why it holds organisations back: perspective shift Predictability of fatigue: roster design, circadian insights and readiness checks: practical tools Daily risk control: adjusting tasks, not just stopping work, based on real-time data: smarter decisions Tech that helps: what readiness actually measures and why sleep hours alone mislead: clearer insights Cross-functional ownership: why CEOs, safety, HR and operations must align: integrated approach Economic upside: error reduction, productivity gains and safer outcomes: business case Immediate actions: start measuring fatigue in a small pilot and build from there: first steps Take action: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/  Connect with Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-wakerley-3386694/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

How do you get frontline teams not just to hear your safety messages, but to believe them, talk about them and act on them? Jonathan Hall, founder of SMARTbrief, has spent over two decades helping organisations bridge the gap between the boardroom and the people doing the work. We explore how tone, trust and technology come together to make communication truly land, from creative campaigns in the rail industry to tools that empower genuine two-way dialogue. This one's packed with practical ideas to turn policies into real-world engagement. Highlights: From photographer to safety comms expert: Jonathan's unexpected journey into frontline engagement Breaking the communication circle: why repeating the same safety messages isn't enough Authenticity first: how tone and trust define whether messages resonate or get ignored Turning negative feedback into gold: why "that's rubbish" can be the start of real engagement Creative campaigns that stick: from Olympic-themed awareness drives to "Sheila the nag" in rail safety Using humour, video and storytelling to drive safety conversations that people actually remember Smart Brief: the two-way communication tool transforming how frontline teams receive and share information Jonathan's top advice: keep it simple, keep it human, and start creating your own authentic content using just your phone Take action: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/  Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hall-398b1811/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/

Bonfire Night might light up the skies, but it's also the perfect spark to reignite our focus on fire safety. Joined by fire safety leaders John Field (Chair of the IOSH Fire Risk Management Group) and Bernie Higgins (former Principal Officer at London Fire Brigade and Board Member at the Fire Industry Association), we dive into what it truly takes to build resilient, fire-aware organisations, from lessons written in tragedy to leadership that keeps people, property and purpose safe. Expect stories from the frontline, sharp insights on emerging risks like lithium-ion batteries, and practical ways to create a culture where safety burns bright all year round. Highlights Lessons from tragedy: how preventable fires shape lifelong commitment to saving lives Building culture, not silos: why fire safety must be everyone's responsibility Leadership from the top: board-level engagement that drives real safety improvement Beyond compliance: moving from tick-lists to resilience and continuous learning Emerging fire risks: what lithium-ion batteries, e-bikes and modern materials mean for safety today Resilient design: bridging innovation, sustainability and fire protection standards Staying proactive: practical steps for organisations, from tabletop exercises to strong fire strategies Igniting action: how small daily habits can transform fire safety awareness across any workplace 👉 Take action: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/  Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-field557/ Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berniehigginshealthandsafety/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/ Get your free ticket for Risk Europe: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/grcworldforums/1502327/r/risk-europe-slip-safety

What if the key to improving safety wasn't more paperwork, but more genuine dialogue? Stuart Farquharson, founder of RiskTalk, shares how listening to workers and replacing forms with real conversations has changed the way leading organisations manage risk, engage teams and strengthen safety culture. It's a story of innovation, courage and the power of simply talking things through, backed by technology that captures the human side of safety. Highlights From forms to voices: How frustration on the ground led to a global shift in safety thinking The value of dialogue: Why open conversations achieve safer outcomes than written procedures AI with purpose: How RiskTalk's AI coach improves conversations without losing the human touch Results that matter: Real examples of reduced incident severity and stronger engagement Changing culture: Moving from compliance to connection, and why it drives performance Design that works: How user experience can make or break safety technology The road ahead: Voice tech, AI, and the next evolution of proactive risk management Keeping people at the centre: Building tools for workers first, not for management dashboards 👉 Take action: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/  Connect with Stuart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-farquharson-21307530/  Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/ Get your free ticket for Risk Europe: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/grcworldforums/1502327/r/risk-europe-slip-safety

When tragedy strikes in the workplace, few moments are more sobering than standing in court to defend what went wrong. But what if you could experience those lessons without the pain of a real incident? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with regulatory lawyer and trainer Emma Bowens, who has spent two decades defending organisations in some of the most serious health and safety cases imaginable. Emma reveals the eye-opening realities of what happens after an incident, why legal insight can transform prevention strategies, and how the smallest decisions, made in the heat of crisis, can change everything from sentencing to culture. With real stories, hard-earned lessons, and practical tools, this discussion bridges the gap between law, leadership and prevention, helping directors and safety professionals think differently about readiness, resilience and responsibility. Highlights The courtroom perspective: How witnessing real cases changes leaders' mindsets on safety and accountability Turning lessons into prevention: Why Emma created immersive mock trials and crisis replay sessions to help organisations learn before disaster strikes The first few hours: Decisions made straight after an incident can shape reputation, defence and sentencing outcomes Near-misses and culture: What unreported or ignored near-misses reveal about leadership and psychological safety Evidence and credibility: Why "doing the right thing" matters more than the perfect paperwork—but why documentation still saves you in court Leadership behaviours: The danger of walking past poor practice and what "you get what you tolerate" really means Preparedness vs panic: How to build crisis plans that prevent chaos, confusion and poor decisions under pressure Upcoming training: Join Emma's free 45-minute Crisis Replay session on 9 December (12:00–12:45) for a taste of her full half-day course (£149 + VAT). Details and sign-up link: https://lnkd.in/ejYVvUv7 👉 Take action: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/  Connect with Emma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebowens/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/ Get your free ticket for Risk Europe: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/grcworldforums/1502327/r/risk-europe-slip-safety

Ever felt that health and safety can be, well… a bit dull? Jon Fry thinks so too, and he's on a mission to change it. From sawmills in mid-Wales to safety consultancy and copywriting, Jon shares how small shifts in tone, humour and empathy can turn safety from a chore into a culture people actually care about. We explore how to communicate with impact, borrow lessons from marketing, and use data, pragmatism and a dash of humanity to make work genuinely safer, and more enjoyable. Highlights: Reframing safety: Making it relevant, engaging and human to boost buy-in and culture The power of communication: What safety professionals can learn from marketing and copywriting "What's in it for them": Why focusing on benefits for others transforms engagement Using humour and empathy: How to build trust and break through resistance From data to decisions: Why categorisation matters more than counting incidents Resilience and pragmatism: Balancing compliance with workable, people-focused solutions Simple frameworks: How to hook attention, highlight problems and drive action Taking action that sticks: Turning conversations into consistent, lasting behaviour change 👉 Take action: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonfryehs/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/ Get your free ticket for Risk Europe: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/grcworldforums/1502327/r/risk-europe-slip-safety

Cyber threats are no longer confined to IT teams, they're everyone's business. In this powerful conversation with cybersecurity leader, author and founder of the Insecurity Movement, Jane Frankland, we explore the human side of cyber risk and what leaders can do to protect their organisations, people, and reputations. From high-profile hacks at Marks & Spencer and Jaguar Land Rover to the rise of AI-driven attacks and insider threats, Jane reveals why resilience beats perfection and how to prepare for when, not if, a breach happens. Highlights Behind the Bond: How Jane's journey from art and design, and a touch of James Bond inspiration, led her to pioneer one of the first female-owned ethical hacking firms. High-Profile Lessons: What the recent Marks & Spencer and Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attacks reveal about vulnerabilities, response and responsibility. Homegrown Hackers: Why many new attackers are young, UK-based and driven by both money and kudos. Insurance Illusions: Why cyber insurance isn't a safety net, and how organisations remain legally responsible for data protection. People Power: How to turn employees from weakest link to strongest shield through tailored, engaging, role-specific training. Planning for the Inevitable: Why every leader needs a tested cyber response plan, just like a fire drill. The AI Acceleration: How artificial intelligence is supercharging cybercrime, and what "human in the loop" really means. Take Action: Jane urges leaders to build cyber literacy, leverage free resources like the UK National Cyber Security Centre's Board Toolkit, and take advantage of her free educational content on YouTube and LinkedIn. 👉 Take action: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Jane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janefrankland/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/ Get your free ticket for Risk Europe: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/grcworldforums/1502327/r/risk-europe-slip-safety

How do you take risk assessment from being a paperwork burden to a living, useful tool that actually helps people on the ground? That's exactly what Phil Clarke has been exploring throughout his diverse career, from military intelligence, through environmental health, to leading safety across complex, multi-site organisations. In this conversation, Phil unpacks his philosophy of making risk assessments dynamic, local, and owned by operational leaders rather than just the safety team. He also shares his "Safety Six" model, insights from his doctoral research, and some practical steps you can take right away. Highlights: From army intelligence to safety leader: lessons in operational risk The trap of complexity: why most risk assessments fail to add value Local ownership: why supervisors, not safety teams, should lead the process Templates vs tailoring: striking the right balance for different sites The Safety Six model: communication, localism, AI, review, knowledge, entrepreneur Dynamic assessment: making it flexible enough for real-world variation Competence and culture: the overlooked foundations of safer work Practical first step: focus on the basics before chasing the latest trend 👉 Take action: Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/ Connect with Phil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipjclarke/ Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/ Get free ticket for Risk Europe: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/grcworldforums/1502327/r/risk-europe-website-registration