Safety Heroes Podcast With Mousa Yassin

Today we have Gokhan Yildiz, Managing Director of DSSD Consultants and we learn about his remarkable transition from a long tenure at Shell, a global giant where he was recognised for his innovative approach, to embracing the dynamic and uncertain world of startups and eventually founding his safety and sustainability consultancy.

Throughout his journey, Gokhan emphasises the importance of continuous learning and the value of stepping out of the comfort zone. His executive education at Harvard Business School heralded a pivotal shift, particularly in appreciating the potential of AI and digital transformation to enhance safety and operational efficiency.

Gokhan's story brings a plethora of insights into the inner workings of health and safety leadership, and leadership as a whole, suggesting that nurturing leadership skills could be a transformative step for professionals in the field;

but also covers some fascinating concepts and programs such as the Hearts and Minds program and the 5 steps of organisational maturity.

And how immersive technologies can engage employees more effectively than traditional methods, marking a significant shift towards adopting new tools for better compliance and safety outcomes. His experience implies a broader application and necessity for innovation in safety training within various industries.

Dive in,
you are in for a treat.

To follow Gokhan's journey, you can find him on LinkedIn.

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If you like this podcast episode, subscribe here and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest from our HSE community and guests. Connect with our CEO and host, Mousa, today to stay updated on Safety Heroes, Pixaera, and more. 

Do you want to be a guest on Safety Heroes, or know someone who would be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message on LinkedIn or email [email protected]. 

This conversation with Thomas Burgdorff from Uniper offers a comprehensive look into the multifaceted world of HSSE. 

Thomas articulates the safety function as inherently people-oriented, focused not just on ensuring one's own safety but on monitoring and supporting others to make safe choices. His emphasis on the importance of selflessness, risk awareness, and the capacity to make a positive impact aligns with broader discussions on the value of safety within organisational structures, countering perceptions of safety as merely a cost centre. 

The dialogue also unfolds around the importance of creating a culture of sharing within companies, where shared experiences and practices contribute to collective learning and improvement; initiatives like the 'care moment project' and systematic sharing of good practices across Uniper, as an example, are aimed at developing a proactive, caring culture that transcends mere compliance with safety regulations. The conversation then goes on to the idea of integrating exchange and collaboration both within and beyond company boundaries, illustrating a broader vision of safety management as a collaborative, evolving field. 

This episode with Thomas Burgdorff presents a nuanced exploration of the health and safety space, highlighting the critical role of diverse experiences, a caring approach, and the importance of continuous learning, sharing, and collaboration.

The discussion offers valuable takeaways for professionals across industries, reinforcing the idea that health and safety are not just regulatory obligations but integral to the well-being of workers and the long-term success of organisations.

To follow Thomas' journey, find him on LinkedIn.

Send us a message!

If you like this podcast episode, subscribe here and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest from our HSE community and guests. Connect with our CEO and host, Mousa, today to stay updated on Safety Heroes, Pixaera, and more. 

Do you want to be a guest on Safety Heroes, or know someone who would be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message on LinkedIn or email [email protected]. 

Maite Garcia Lacuesta, Global Environment, Health and Safety Director at Perfetti Van Melle, a multinational confectionery and gum company shares her journey into safety, driven by personal experiences and a desire to make a difference. The discussion delves into the impact of workplace accidents, the importance of a positive safety culture: “the good contaminates the good”, and the global perspective on workplace safety.
Maite emphasises the role of empathy, understanding, and collaboration in creating safer work environments; the importance of operations learning, and really including the shop floor in conversations.

The episode also highlights the need for holistic safety approaches in organisations, where safety is integrated into all aspects of operations. Maite's insights on curiosity, learning from others, and the long-term importance of prioritising people's well-being provide valuable lessons for building a safety-conscious culture as an integral part of and not in isolation from every other goal within an organisation.

“How can we do this? But also doing it safely!”

To follow Maite's journey, find her on LinkedIn.

Send us a message!

If you like this podcast episode, subscribe here and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest from our HSE community and guests. Connect with our CEO and host, Mousa, today to stay updated on Safety Heroes, Pixaera, and more. 

Do you want to be a guest on Safety Heroes, or know someone who would be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message on LinkedIn or email [email protected]. 

This week, we get to listen to a rich conversation with Dr. Ralf Franke, a leader in environmental protection, health management, and safety with a very unique background. 

Starting as a medical doctor to his pivotal role at Siemens, Dr Ralf Franke emphasised the integration of environmental protection, health management, and safety, and the impact on empowering people beyond the obvious safety measures and really fostering a culture where mental, physical wellbeing, prevention, and an all-encompassing caring package can lead to not only creating safe workplaces but efficient organisations.

He discusses the significance of empathy in leadership and leveraging his unique background as a medical professional to foster understanding, compassion, and leadership skills. 

He also highlights the need for management involvement and responsibility, a local approach to environmental and people protection, and the impact on product development and business performance. 

Through personal stories and experience, Dr Franke shares his vision of risk assessment and incident investigation, the need to rid of bias, and the psychological impact of serious incidents in the workplace.

Finally, he leaves us with some sound advice around the importance of remaining curious, resilient, and embracing new technological advancements like artificial intelligence for enhanced people management.

To follow his journey,  connect on linkedin.

Send us a message!

If you like this podcast episode, subscribe here and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest from our HSE community and guests. Connect with our CEO and host, Mousa, today to stay updated on Safety Heroes, Pixaera, and more. 

Do you want to be a guest on Safety Heroes, or know someone who would be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message on LinkedIn or email [email protected]. 

In this week’s episode, we are talking with Thorsten Müh, Head of process and plant safety at Bayer.

Thorsten shares many insights around the importance of safety leadership and management in organisations “having a seat at the table” and supporting HSE managers in their work.

From personal safety examples bringing light to the function in its most basic form to embracing safety across all functions, the conversation covers aspects around leadership roles in safety, practical insights for implementing safety, and the challenges of recognition in safety functions. 

Thorsten emphasised the need for proactive safety measures, avoiding complacency, and understanding the holistic approach to safety management. 

The episode once more highlights the critical role of safety leaders in fostering a culture of responsibility and the continuous pursuit of improvement in safety practices.

To follow his journey, connect on linkedin.

Send us a message!

If you like this podcast episode, subscribe here and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest from our HSE community and guests. Connect with our CEO and host, Mousa, today to stay updated on Safety Heroes, Pixaera, and more. 

Do you want to be a guest on Safety Heroes, or know someone who would be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message on LinkedIn or email [email protected]. 

In this episode, we are fortunate to have Clinton McDonald, VP Process and Operational safety at BP.

Clinton discussed the complexities of risk management, stressing the importance for anyone working within high risks settings to understand the 'why' behind any set of rules to encourage buy in, and to implement the “how” with fit for purpose set of controls. 

Clinton also touches on how standardisation across the Industry presents a powerful advantage; by simplifying the vast array of risks into key activities and focusing on the key risks that pose the greatest threats to employees, we remove the noise and empower workers to really understand the activities, controls, and rationale behind risk management measures, making it easier for them to prioritise safety in their daily tasks.

And from personal insights on accidents and their emotional consequences to encouraging young professionals looking into making safety leadership their career, this conversation is bound to leave you inspired.

Follow Clint's journey over on LinkedIn.

Send us a message!

If you like this podcast episode, subscribe here and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest from our HSE community and guests. Connect with our CEO and host, Mousa, today to stay updated on Safety Heroes, Pixaera, and more. 

Do you want to be a guest on Safety Heroes, or know someone who would be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message on LinkedIn or email [email protected]. 

In this episode, we have the pleasure of talking to Mandar Phadke from Topsoe about the importance of a safety culture that is evolving well beyond simple compliance.
Mandar shares one of his pivotal safety concepts around the necessary shift in mindset from 'have to' to 'want to', and taking it a step further to “love to”; as we prioritise the health and safety of our teams, families, and friends, demonstrating a true care culture.

He discusses the profound idea within Topsoe that everyone is a “zero-harm leader” in their own right, transcending traditional hierarchies and what it means in today’s safety space and work landscape.
And as we recognise this, we drive our actions with a personal commitment, emphasising the collective obligation we share in safeguarding the health and safety of those within our sphere of influence

Join us as we discuss the collective responsibility we all hold for the safety and well-being of those around us, whether at work, home or in the community and how embodying these principles can drive a culture of care and personal commitment to creating a zero-harm environment.

If you want to connect with Mandar, check out his LinkedIn profile.

Send us a message!

If you like this podcast episode, subscribe here and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest from our HSE community and guests. Connect with our CEO and host, Mousa, today to stay updated on Safety Heroes, Pixaera, and more. 

Do you want to be a guest on Safety Heroes, or know someone who would be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message on LinkedIn or email [email protected]. 

In this episode, we're joined by Marcus Peters,Global Head of Offshore HSE at RWE offshore

Marcus discusses his journey, starting with his transition from the British Navy to the world of offshore  energy.

He explores the unique challenges faced by the renewables industry, the intimate and team-oriented nature of operations, and the significant cultural shift central to its foundation.

Strong of 30 years experience and some “HSE dark days” as he put it, he believes strongly in “safety by design”, the power of conversation, and encouraging people to speak up and be part of the change towards a safer workplace within this complex and demand-driven renewables industry and the need for result within organisations.

An insightful conversation unveiling the inner workings of the renewable energy sector and its path towards safety, sustainability, and global impact.

Follow Marcus' journey on LinkedIn.

Send us a message!

If you like this podcast episode, subscribe here and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest from our HSE community and guests. Connect with our CEO and host, Mousa, today to stay updated on Safety Heroes, Pixaera, and more. 

Do you want to be a guest on Safety Heroes, or know someone who would be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message on LinkedIn or email [email protected]. 

Kenza Akesbi, a seasoned professional with two decades of experience in the health, safety, and environment sector, discusses her journey through multiple industries like mining, F&B, and the dairy industry and shares her insights on proactive safety measures, the impact of major incidents on safety perception, the role of leadership in safety, standardised safety practices with flexibility, and the integration of EHS in operations.

Kenza emphasises the importance of understanding the psychological safety and role of leaders in making a healthier and safer workplace, encouraging leaders to adopt a proactive approach towards incident prevention by asking the right questions before important decisions, creating a safety-focused culture.

Kenza also shares her experiences with incident investigation and the emotional toll it can take;

Don't miss out on Kenza's valuable expertise and journey in the field!

Follow Kenza's journey on LinkedIn.

Send us a message!

If you like this podcast episode, subscribe here and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest from our HSE community and guests. Connect with our CEO and host, Mousa, today to stay updated on Safety Heroes, Pixaera, and more. 

Do you want to be a guest on Safety Heroes, or know someone who would be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message on LinkedIn or email [email protected]. 

In this episode, we are speaking with Dr Marcin Nazaruk, an expert in human and organisational performance;

Marcin takes us through his journey, starting from his psychology background to becoming a leader in the field of safety and human factors.
 
He emphasises the significance of mindset, skillset, and toolset in transforming safety practices and highlights the need for a proactive mindset that goes beyond blaming individuals for unsafe behaviour;
and instead focuses on learning from mistakes.

He also talks about the importance of developing the necessary skills, such as active listening and effective questioning, to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Additionally, Marcin discusses the role of tools and frameworks in systematising the application of these principles.
One key aspect that we touched on too is psychological first aid, which Marcin believes is essential in response to incidents. By looking beyond simple cause and effect, and instead exploring the context and underlying challenges, organisations can take proactive measures to prevent accidents before they happen.

A very different conversation with learnings that are applicable and useful way beyond the realm of the safety space.

Follow his journey on linkedin, learn more on his website, and access also his free email course.

Send us a message!

If you like this podcast episode, subscribe here and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest from our HSE community and guests. Connect with our CEO and host, Mousa, today to stay updated on Safety Heroes, Pixaera, and more. 

Do you want to be a guest on Safety Heroes, or know someone who would be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message on LinkedIn or email [email protected].