Qualifications vs. Competence: Is Health & Safety Really a Profession? (with Dr. David Thomas)

Qualifications vs. Competence: Is Health & Safety Really a Profession? (with Dr. David Thomas)

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.

Why Witness Memory Can Mislead Investigations | The Psychology Every Investigator Should Know

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/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-hyde-hesper/] * Samantha Masley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-samantha-masley-62524564/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-samantha-masley-62524564/] * Hesper GRC: www.hespergrc.com [https://www.hespergrc.com] Subscribe for more conversations on health, safety, risk and the human factors that shape workplace outcomes.

Engaging the Sceptics: The Missing Piece in Mental Health & Wellbeing, With Nick Elston

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/ [https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/] * Connect with Nick on LinkedIn: %20https:/www.linkedin.com/in/nickelston/%20%20https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickelston/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickelston/] %20https:/www.linkedin.com/in/nickelston/%20%20 * Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/]

Using Risk to Drive Better Business Decisions, With Graeme Fleming

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/ [https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/] * Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graeme-fleming/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/graeme-fleming/] * Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/]

A Decade of Consequences: How Sentencing Guidelines Changed H&S Forever, With Chris Green

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/ [https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/] * Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-green-70a899a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-green-70a899a/] * Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/]