Episodes
In this bonus episode of "The Circus of Safety," host Brenton Harrison sits down with safety expert Christl Aggus for a profound discussion on the so-called "dark arts" in innovative safety practices. From unconventional methods and ethical dilemmas to the subtle art of strategic influence, Christl shares her unique insights and experiences from Canada’s safety landscape. Tune in as they explore site-specific health hazard assessments, the importance of soft skills, and the balancing act...
Published 11/18/24
Published 11/18/24
🎪 Welcome back to "The Circus of Safety"! In Episode S2 Ep 21, join hosts Desai Link, Brenton Harrison, and Andrew Evans as they dive into the intriguing concept of "the dark arts" in safety. Discover the subtle skills of influence and persuasion essential for achieving optimal safety outcomes in organisations. Brenton Harrison critiques consultants and introduces the idea of "dark arts" as unseen forces guiding decisions. Desai Link and Andrew Evans weigh in with their experiences and...
Published 11/08/24
🎪 Welcome back to The Circus of Safety! In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Brent Sutton, founder of Learning Teams, Inc., to delve into the world of "Learning Teams" and their transformative potential for organisational safety and operational excellence. Our hosts, Brenton Harrison, Andrew Evans, and Desai Link, engage in a lively discussion with Brent about the critical difference between analysing system flaws and pointing fingers at individuals. Brent shares invaluable...
Published 11/04/24
In Episode 20 of Season 2, "Learning Teams," hosts Brenton Harrison, Andrew Evans, and Desai Link dive deep into the concept and practicalities of learning teams within safety management. Andrew shares insights from "The Practice of Learning Teams" book while Brenton and Desai dissect the method's potential and pitfalls, especially in small organisations. Tune in for discussions on structured conversations, the importance of facilitation skills, and the delicate balance between formal and...
Published 10/27/24
In this bonus episode of "The Circus of Safety," hosts Brenton Harrison and Desai Link dive into an engaging conversation with health and safety consultant Mike Cosman. With 46 years of experience, Mike offers profound insights into the intricacies of lead and lag indicators, the importance of context in risk management, and the often overlooked narratives behind safety data. The discussion challenges conventional mindsets, explores the complexity of safety metrics, and highlights the...
Published 10/18/24
🎧 Welcome to another insightful episode of "The Circus of Safety" 🎩🎪! In Season 2, Episode 19, hosts Desai Link and Brenton Harrison, along with international co-host Andrew Evans, dive into the nuanced world of safety metrics. They unpack the differences between lead and lag indicators, discussing the challenges of measuring and interpreting these crucial safety markers. Hear about the balance between quantitative data and qualitative narratives, the contextual importance of what we...
Published 10/11/24
In this bonus episode of "The Circus of Safety," hosts Brenton Harrison and Desai Link, joined by special guest Drew Rae, delve deep into the world of safety statistics and metrics. Drew discusses cutting-edge research by his PhD candidate, Kevin Geddert, on severity-weighted indexes for improved reporting metrics. The conversation humorously touches on fashion trends, but stays focused on critical safety issues, critiquing traditional metrics like LTIFR and TRIFIR. The episode...
Published 10/04/24
🎪 In this episode of The Circus of Safety, join Brenton, Desai, and Andrew as they dive into the controversial world of safety metrics—LTIFR (Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate) and TRIFR (Total Reportable Injury Frequency Rate). Expect a lively debate on their true value, practical implications, and the challenges of accurate data reporting. With humorous anecdotes, real-world examples, and engaging listener comments, the hosts unravel the complexities behind these numbers and question...
Published 09/28/24
In this bonus episode of "The Circus of Safety," join regular hosts Desai Link, Brenton Harrison and special international guest Andrew Evans as they delve into the intriguing question: "Is self-preservation a risk control?" Streaming from the northeast of England, Andrew brings a fresh perspective on this fundamental safety principle, exploring how training can counteract instinctual fight-or-flight responses. The hosts debate the practical value of safety briefings, psychological...
Published 09/22/24
Step right up, folks! In this engaging episode of "The Circus of Safety," hosts Brenton and Desai, alongside special guest Vanessa Crafts, dive into the challenging yet crucial topic of self-preservation as a form of risk control. Join them as they debate the practicality of incorporating self-preservation into safety protocols, share personal stories, and critique the complexities of modern risk management. With humorous exchanges and insightful discussions, this episode also features...
Published 09/13/24
Step right into The Circus of Safety as Desai Link and Brenton Harrison team up with special guest Derek Toner in this BONUS episode, "The Role of Health and Safety Training." Dive into the evolving world of health and safety, where Derek emphasises the necessity of integrating comprehensive safety training into everyday operations, moving beyond traditional methods. Listen as they explore generational shifts in safety attitudes, the unique competency required for various work...
Published 09/09/24
🎪 The Circus of Safety is back with Season 2, Episode 16, diving deep into "The Role of Health and Safety Training"! Join hosts Brenton Harrison, Desai Link, and Andrew Evans as they unravel the complexities and nuances of health and safety training in the workplace. Special guest Derek Toner of Engaging Solutions adds a humorous twist with his tongue-in-cheek disclaimer! This episode explores the narrow scope of conventional safety training versus the broader need for teaching safe work...
Published 08/30/24
Join hosts Desai Link, Andrew Evans, and Brenton Harrison in this bonus episode of "The Circus of Safety" as they delve into the nuances of professional courtesy in the health and safety sector. Featuring special guest Mark Gummer, a consultant from Auckland and member of the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management, this episode explores the importance of face-to-face communication, the impact of ego on professional interactions, and maintaining courtesy while working with competitors....
Published 08/26/24
Join hosts Andrew Evans, Brenton Harrison, and Desai Link, along with special disclaiming guest Mark Gummer, for an engaging and insightful discussion about professional courtesy in the health and safety industry. This episode delves into the nuances of maintaining ethical behaviour, handling competing interests, and addressing subpar work among professionals. Through lively banter and personal anecdotes, the hosts explore the significance of a code of ethics, the importance of respectful...
Published 08/16/24
🎪 Welcome to a bonus episode of The Circus of Safety! In this instalment, host Brenton Harrison sits down with Ben Redwood, founder of Mutu, a New Zealand startup revolutionising safety and sustainability in the construction sector. They delve into the importance of understanding the right incentives to promote a safety culture within organisations and how Mutu software is saving customers money while increasing margins. Ben shares insight into the delicate balance between rewarding...
Published 08/12/24
In this engaging episode of The Circus of Safety, hosts Brenton Harrison, Desai Link, and Andrew Evans dive into the controversial topic of rewarding people for being safe. With a mix of lively banter and thoughtful discussion, they explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of safety reward systems, questioning whether such incentives truly promote a culture of safety or simply encourage superficial compliance. The hosts share personal anecdotes and insights, touching on the importance...
Published 08/02/24
In this engaging episode of "The Circus of Safety," hosts Brenton Harrison, Desai Link, and Andrew Evans are joined by guest Oliver Evans to explore the vital role people play in health and safety. From discussing the hierarchy of controls to examining the concept of human-centric safety, the team delves into how individuals can make a significant impact by following rules, suggesting improvements, and wearing PPE. We also touch on the differing perspectives within safety roles,...
Published 07/19/24
🎪 **Happy Birthday to Us - The Circus of Safety Anniversary Special! 🎉** Join hosts Andrew Evans, Brenton Harrison, Desai Link, and special guest Oliver Evans as they celebrate the first anniversary of "The Circus of Safety." In this special episode, the team reflects on their podcast's phenomenal year, with 1200+ LinkedIn followers and consistent hits on Spotify. They recap their top shows from the past twelve months, revisit memorable moments, and share key takeaways on capability in the...
Published 07/12/24
Join hosts Andrew Evans, Desai Link, and Brenton Harrison as they welcome health and safety consultant Greg Dearsly in this thought-provoking bonus episode of "The Circus of Safety." Dive into the hectic lives of our hosts and their guest, explore the intricate world of cultural intelligence and safety, and reflect on the critical question: "Are good intentions good enough?" Through spirited debates and real-world examples, the episode dissects the role of good intentions in planning,...
Published 07/01/24
Welcome to Episode 11 of Season 2 of "The Circus of Safety"! Join hosts Andrew Evans, Desai Link, and Brenton Harrison as they dive deep into the complex world of good intentions in safety decision-making and consultation. This episode explores the balance between intentions and effective actions, debates their sufficiency, and highlights real-world examples of intentions gone awry. With discussions ranging from New Zealand's safety protocols to the idea of optimising violations, the...
Published 06/21/24
In our first-ever bonus episode, hosts Brenton Harrison, Andrew Evans, and Desai Link are joined by the insightful Matt Sadgrove, HSEQ Manager for Delta Utility Services. Amidst the usual chaos and banter, we delve deep into the concept of targets and safety. Are safety targets beneficial, or can they lead to unintended consequences? Matt brings a wealth of experience and a refreshing perspective, making a case for clear, achievable goals and how to avoid the pitfalls of vague or...
Published 06/16/24
Join Brenton Harrison, Andrew Evans, and Desai Link on The Circus of Safety as they navigate the complex world of targets, visions, and objectives in risk management and safety. In this episode, titled "Targets in Safety," the hosts dive into the nuances of setting clear objectives, the subjective nature of indicators, and the implications of having well-defined targets versus a broader vision. They also share humorous banter about the difficulty of defining terms, celebrate a listener's...
Published 06/07/24
Join hosts Andrew Evans, Brenton Harrison, and Desai Link in this episode of "The Circus of Safety" as they delve into the crucial role of language in safety discussions. From legal terms to precise documentation, the hosts explore how language shapes safety engagement and behaviour. Tune in for insightful conversations, industry anecdotes, and a light-hearted look at safety and legal implications. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecircusofsafety/message
Published 05/25/24
On this episode of "The Circus of Safety," hosts Brenton Harrison, Andrew Evans, and Desai Link dive into the complex world of safety terminology, debating whether terms like "near miss" effectively communicate the urgency and gravity of safety incidents. A listener joins the discussion, emphasising the importance of incident reporting in injury management and prevention. Amidst witty banter and personal anecdotes, the hosts explore how simplifying language could enhance safety cultures...
Published 05/10/24