Colin is joined by Karl Simons, the Health, Safety, Security and Wellbeing Director for Thames Water, who was recently named as SHP’s Most Influential Person In Health & Safety 2019.

Karl and Colin discuss the importance of culture upon change, and the vital role that senior management play in determining the direction and message of health in the workplace.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Health and safety is a team effort. Through combined creativity, imagination and drive, we can embed a culture of compassion and care.
• The two reasons why people fail to challenge are lack of empowerment and fear of reprisals. Only by establishing a culture of openness and trust can we engender faith and care.
• Change can never truly be attained unless those in the higher echelons of business recognise its importance.
• It is not our job to judge a person based on the nature of their absence. It is our job to ensure and enable their return to work, and to see to it that they thrive.
• It’s not disability that prevents people from thriving in the workplace. It is the work environment itself. It is incumbent upon us to get the best out of everyone.

BEST MOMENTS

‘It reflects the energy and effort that people across the organisation have put in’

‘Behaviour is external. We can see it’

‘You’ve got to create that culture of safe environment’

’There are always steps we can take to make sure people have a fulfilling life at work'  

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Interesting Health And Safety Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/training-competency-creating-effective-plan-process/id1467771449?i=1000452692837 

Karl Simons LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-simons-35b58ab8/?originalSubdomain=uk

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).