The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast

By Colin NottageBusiness Health & Fitness Technology Education

The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast episodes

December 08, 2025Loneliness And The Power Of Connection - with Crystal Danbury
Colin is joined by Crystal Danbury to discuss the pervasive issue of loneliness and social isolation and its deep impact on mental and physical health.
Crystal shares the personal and professional inspiration behind developing her app, "Friendzone," which aims to facilitate genuine human connections based on shared interests and hobbies
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Loneliness is the difference between the level of socialisation you have versus the level you desire, and it can be a significant issue even for people who appear outgoing or have successful careers.

Long-term happiness is strongly linked to the health and maturity of friendship connections outside of immediate family, according to studies like one from the Harvard Business School.

Loneliness has physical health manifestations, with studies showing that people who are lonely are more likely to experience disease and die earlier.

Effective leadership involves genuinely caring for people and fostering an environment where employees feel safe and comfortable enough to share their struggles and daily obstacles, which provides invaluable data for operational improvement.
BEST MOMENTS
"It's always under the surface and many of the people that I've helped over my years... you look at somebody and you think you're not okay. You're saying you are, but I know you're not."
"Loneliness is the difference between the level of friendship and socialisation you have versus the level of friendship and socialisation you want."
"You are more important than that... You have to think about your life, not the role."
"When someone says, 'Hallelujah!'... Thank you for having the confidence to even say this."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast - ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/the-interesting-health-safety-podcast/id1467771449⁠
Project Mollitiam - ⁠https://www.projectmollitiam.com⁠
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).
50 min
December 01, 2025Transforming Workplace Challenges into Opportunities for Growth - with Becky Ray
Colin meets Becky Ray, the owner of Culture Kick Limited, who’s here to talk about the importance of workplace culture, leadership, and the need for reflection in business practices.
Becky shares her journey from traditional health and safety roles to focusing on the human aspects of organisational culture, emphasising the significance of empathy and curiosity in leadership
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Taking time to pause and reflect on frustrations and challenges in the workplace is crucial. Leaders should encourage their teams to identify what is getting in their way and to consider how they can remove, reduce, or reframe these obstacles.

Failure should be viewed as an opportunity for growth and learning rather than something to be feared. Organisations can benefit from analysing failures to uncover insights that can prevent future incidents and improve overall performance.

Safety culture should not be siloed to specific teams or departments. A holistic approach to organisational culture is necessary, as everyone in the company contributes to safety and operational success.

Beyond physical safety, organisations should focus on the mental and emotional well-being of their employees.
BEST MOMENTS
"I think when you're frustrated at work, regardless of what you're doing, you cannot and will not do your best work."
"We can just step off for a tiny bit and just pause and reflect, and then jump back on with a new kind of mindset or approach."
"It's about finding a way that works for the businesses that you work with."
"Frustration is a contagious emotion and we can't keep it in."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast - ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/the-interesting-health-safety-podcast/id1467771449⁠
Project Mollitiam - ⁠https://www.projectmollitiam.com⁠
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).
58 min
October 20, 2025Not When Pouring
Colin discusses the concept of bottlenecks in a business context, inspired by a LinkedIn post. He relates the common belief that the bottleneck is at the top of a bottle to the idea that senior management is always the issue. He counters this by pointing out that when pouring, the bottleneck is at the bottom, using the simple phrase "not when pouring”.
As Colin explains, this requires a shift in the way we think about things…
KEY TAKEAWAYS
A common analogy in business and safety suggests that the bottleneck is always at the top, implying that senior leadership is the primary obstacle, but the host suggests the physical reality of a bottle being poured shows the bottleneck is actually at the bottom.

The core aim for any health and safety professional should be to stop people suffering ill health or injury, and if this is not the main focus, then they have "lost the plot."

The saying that safety is not the absence of events but the presence of defences, a concept often attributed to Todd Conklin, should be interpreted carefully and is not a complete idea on its own.

While the majority of people are a valuable source of solutions in the workplace, professionals should be nuanced and not assume that people are never the problem, as occasionally individuals can indeed be the source of an issue.
BEST MOMENTS
"And so in business, if you're looking for where the bottlenecks are, then you've got to look at the top, you've got to look at the senior management team and the directors, the leaders and all that... And then I think Carsten just summed it up perfectly because he just wrote the words, not when pouring."
"Because fundamentally, I think as we as health and safety professionals, if our aim is not to stop people getting injured or getting killed or getting hurt or getting maimed or suffering ill health, then then we have really lost the plot."
"And and we may well look to the people that are working in the workplace, or probably most of the time, for the solutions in how to get things better, but it might not always be the right place to look, so just be just be wary."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast - ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/the-interesting-health-safety-podcast/id1467771449⁠
Project Mollitiam - ⁠https://www.projectmollitiam.com⁠
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).
10 min
October 06, 2025Is Safety Really A Verb?
Colin challenges the perception of health and safety as a passive noun or mere set of documents, reframing it as an active "verb"—something you must consistently do in your business. He introduces a comprehensive set of "doing" activities for health and safety specialists and business leaders, focusing on learning from near-misses, improving competency, integrated planning, and direct engagement with the workforce
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Health and safety should be viewed as an active verb—something consistently done in the business—rather than just a passive noun, with the health aspect often being overlooked in favour of safety.

Competency must be assessed beyond training certificates and experience, focusing on whether an individual's personal attributes and make-up are supportive of and suitable for the role they are performing.

The planning process (the thought process and discussion) is more valuable than the final plan document, and should be an inclusive activity involving the people who do the work to drive better health and safety outcomes.

Low-quality documentation (like risk assessments) should be avoided by spending more time talking to the workforce and getting a real understanding of their challenges, rather than using shortcuts like AI to produce documents faster.
BEST MOMENTS
"Safety is a verb and an actual fact it's a verb and, you know, it's do, it's something you do."
"What better thing to do than to go out and sit with the people that are working in your workplace and actually talk about the successes that went on yesterday, the day before, the week before, the month before... it instills a much, much more positive approach."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast - ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/the-interesting-health-safety-podcast/id1467771449⁠
Project Mollitiam - ⁠https://www.projectmollitiam.com⁠
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).
21 min
September 08, 2025Where Does Responsibility Lay?
Colin discusses the critical role of health and safety professionals in the workplace, emphasising the importance of influence over implementation. He highlights the challenges faced by these professionals, particularly when they lack a seat at the decision-making table, and stresses the need to build strong relationships with operational teams to effectively manage risks
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Health and safety professionals should prioritise influencing decision-makers rather than trying to manage health and safety directly. This involves building relationships and providing support to those who are responsible for managing risks.

It's crucial for health and safety professionals to be involved at the senior management level to effectively influence decisions. They should present financial implications and risk mitigation costs to highlight the importance of health and safety measures.

Rather than doing tasks for management, health and safety professionals should equip them with the tools and skills needed to make informed decisions. This includes facilitating discussions and providing guidance.
BEST MOMENTS
"If we as a health and safety professional try to take on the responsibility of managing health and safety in a workplace, then we're going to fail."
"You should be working towards building the relationship... so that you have got an opportunity to influence their thinking."
"Don't try to be the person that sorts and solves every problem. Try to be somebody that facilitates other people making better decisions."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/the-interesting-health-safety-podcast/id1467771449
Project Mollitiam - https://www.projectmollitiam.com
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).
10 min
September 01, 2025What Works For You Doesn't Always Work For Others
Colin discusses the importance of tailoring health and safety approaches to the unique needs of each organisation, stressing that while standardised models, such as ISO 9001, can provide value, imposing them without considering the specific context of a business can lead to inefficiencies and frustration
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Start by asking leaders within the organisation what success looks like to them. Understanding their vision and goals is crucial for providing effective support and guidance.

Simply imposing a standardised model, like ISO 9001, can lead to unnecessary bureaucracy and paperwork. Instead, focus on integrating existing processes with the standards to enhance effectiveness.

While it's important to aim high, ensure that the goals set are achievable. Collaborate with the organisation to establish sensible targets that can be realistically met over time.
BEST MOMENTS
"If you just try and impose the structure of 9001 into a business... all you're really gonna do is stuff that organisation up with a load of paperwork."
"Ask them, you know, what does success look like for them?"
"It's about getting something that's really sensible, get an approach that people can look back in six months... and say, we've made a difference."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/the-interesting-health-safety-podcast/id1467771449
Project Mollitiam - https://www.projectmollitiam.com
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).
7 min
August 25, 2025From Likes to Lifesaving: How Social Media Can Transform Health and Safety Conversations
Colin talks to special guest, Ron Gantt, about the complexities of social media and its impact on health and safety discussions. They explore the love-hate relationship many have with social media, emphasising the importance of using these platforms for positive connections and constructive conversations.
The conversation also touches on the dangers of echo chambers created by algorithms, the need for humility in the health and safety profession, and the significance of humanising interactions
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Social media has a love-hate relationship; while it can be a source of negativity and misinformation, it also offers opportunities for connection and positive engagement. It's essential to find ways to use it constructively.

Engaging in face-to-face conversations or video calls can deepen relationships and foster understanding, contrasting with the often dehumanising nature of online interactions.

There is a tendency in discussions, especially in health and safety, to adopt a black-and-white mindset. Embracing nuance and recognising that multiple perspectives can coexist is crucial for effective problem-solving.

The conversation around health and safety should extend beyond immediate physical dangers to include mental health and long-term health issues, such as respiratory diseases, emphasising the need for a holistic approach.
BEST MOMENTS
"I think it's important to remember what social media is. It's a business product, right? So it's designed not so that you can just go there and have fun and explore the world."
"If we never hear bad news, man, we are in trouble because I would guarantee nobody here has it all figured out."
"There's this tendency to be like, oh those other people, they're the evil ones... it's about who they are not about, you know, hey they just have a different perspective."
"If our goal is to stop people from getting killed, we're going to not achieve that goal ever, because 100% of the people that we work with are going to die."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/the-interesting-health-safety-podcast/id1467771449
Project Mollitiam - https://www.projectmollitiam.com
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).
1 hr 13 min
August 18, 2025Understanding Client Needs
Colin shares valuable insights aimed at helping health and safety organisations and consultants enhance their client relationships and service offerings. Drawing from nearly 20 years of experience in consultancy, Colin discusses the importance of understanding client needs, maintaining regular communication, and mapping out services to identify opportunities for growth
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Regularly check in with clients to understand their evolving needs and challenges. Building strong relationships and staying close to clients can help identify opportunities for additional support before they become problems.

Create a comprehensive list of all services offered and assess which ones have been utilised by each client. This can reveal gaps in service delivery and highlight opportunities for further engagement.

Ensure that clients are aware of all services available. Implement an onboarding process that includes ongoing communication about offerings, success stories, and regular updates to keep clients informed.

Establish a system to track important assessments and services that may need to be renewed or updated. Being proactive allows you to remind clients of upcoming needs and position yourself as a reliable solution.
BEST MOMENTS
"You can work really hard to build strong relationships with clients... but just imagine one day, you walk into a meeting and you find out that they've brought somebody else in."
"If you can do really good work for your existing clients, you're actually putting them in a better place."
"Have you ever mapped out your services? If you don't know how many services you deliver, then there's no chance that your clients are going to know."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/the-interesting-health-safety-podcast/id1467771449
Project Mollitiam - https://www.projectmollitiam.com
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).
11 min
August 11, 2025We Put Death Down Far Too Easily
Colin is back for an all-new series of shows, just in time to guide you through the ever-evolving world of health and safety in the workplace.
In this edition he addresses the critical topic of risk assessment, emphasising the often-overlooked implications of categorising risks, particularly those associated with death. He highlights the common practice of using a risk matrix to evaluate likelihood and severity, urging listeners to reflect on the true meaning of a "number five" rating—death
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Risk assessments are often conducted poorly, and it's crucial to take them seriously, especially when they involve severe outcomes like death.

When assessing risks, it's essential to fully comprehend the implications of a severity rating of five (death) and its impact on families, colleagues, and the workplace.

Once a risk assessment indicates a potential for death, there is a duty to ensure that the control measures implemented are effective and genuinely reduce the likelihood of such an event occurring.

All stakeholders, including managers, supervisors, and employees, must believe in and understand the control measures in place; otherwise, they are unlikely to be followed.
BEST MOMENTS
"Risk assessment is one of those things that gets done really, really poorly."
"The minute we put down a five on a risk assessment, the minute we put death on a risk assessment, we've got a duty to really make sure that the control measures... are gonna be effective."
"What sort of impact would it have on the family? What sort of impact does it have on your employees, on the colleagues?"
"We've still got death written on our risk assessment... and I just want you to think about that."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/the-interesting-health-safety-podcast/id1467771449
Project Mollitiam - https://www.projectmollitiam.com
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).
8 min
October 06, 2024Let's Try And Talk A Bit More Positively
Colin reflects on the importance of maintaining a positive mindset in the field of health and safety. As he shares his experiences from the past year, he emphasises the need to shift the narrative from negative to positive, particularly in workplace discussions and risk assessments

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Encourage involving employees in the creation and review of risk assessments and safe systems of work. Their insights can lead to more effective and practical safety measures.

Promote journaling as a powerful method for individuals to express their thoughts and reflect on their experiences, which can help in managing stress and improving clarity.

Recognise the need to prioritise activities that bring joy and fulfilment, such as podcasting, and make a commitment to maintain consistency in these endeavours.

BEST MOMENTS

"We just try and challenge the thinking of people, probably in more of a management position, trying to develop some training and developing processes that really involve a lot of reflection."

"Whenever anybody says they haven't got time, they have. But what you've got to do is you've got to get it prioritised and get it moved back up the agenda."

"Can we actually start to talk about rather than saying what people can't do, actually saying this is what you can do?"

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/the-interesting-health-safety-podcast/id1467771449

Project Mollitiam - https://www.projectmollitiam.com

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).
12 min

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