Andy White, a Lecturer of Health & Safety at Victoria University in New Zealand, joins Colin on the show today to discuss the importance of diversity in approach, why the subject of health and safety is far more exciting than people realise, and how to make sure we're learning instead of blaming.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
There are differing opinions about how safety should be approached in the sector, right now. The most important thing is that the conversations are being held.
Working in the health and safety sector means that you can become part of every discipline in an organisation. For that reason, it is a far more diverse and fascinating pursuit than many realise.
It’s easy to drop into the blame culture, and look past the lessons and learnings in favour of apportioning blame. We do well to pause and reflect on each situation as it occurs.
Procedures and method statements are far better devised when created “on the ground” with the teams who will be working with them. They can instantly communicate any restrictions that may hamper their ability to work, or add insights where needed.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It only takes someone to start thinking differently for people to start engaging with it’
‘What everyone is striving for right now is to be acknowledged’
’There’s great opportunities for research, there’s great opportunities for innovation’
‘Learning, rather than blaming, is so fundamental'
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/the-interesting-health-safety-podcast/id1467771449
Andy White LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-white-11203023/?originalSubdomain=nz
ABOUT THE HOST
Colin Nottage
‘Making health and safety as important as everything else we do.’
This is the belief that Colin is passionate about and through his consultancy Influential Management Group (IMG) is able to spread into industry. Colin works at a strategic level with company owners and board members. He helps business leaders establish and achieve their health and safety ambitions.
He has developed a number of leading competency improvement programmes that are delivered across industry and his strengths are his ability to take a practical approach to problem-solving and being able to liaise at all levels within an organisation.
Colin also runs a company that vets contractors online and a network that develops and support H&S consultancies to become better businesses.
Colin chairs the Construction Dust Partnership, an industry collaboration directly involving many organisations, including the Health and Safety Executive.
He is a Post Graduate Tutor at Strathclyde University and a highly sought-after health and safety speaker and trainer. He has a Post Graduate Certificate in Safety and Risk management, an engineering degree and is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
