Safety Heroes - the Health, Safety, and Environment Podcast
The Health, Safety, and Enviroment space is made of everyday people who are real-life heroes, committed to creating a safe environment and engaging safety culture within their companies. Their priority is to ensure each and everyone of their employees gets to return home after a day’s work unharmed, and that both wellbeing and the planet are a core consideration: they are unsung heroes.In fact, you never hear about them when they do their jobs right! We want to celebrate these everyday people and inspire others in that space to look at things differently, improve their safety management plans and...
Bringing AI and Empathy to the frontline: Declan Davis on why safety Is human
Declan Davis isn’t just leading safety from the top—he’s walked the path from the site to the boardroom. As Health and Safety Director at Ferrovial, Declan brings a deeply human approach to leadership, shaped by years of hands-on experience in the field. In this episode of The Safety Heroes Podcast, he reflects on his journey from site engineer to safety director, sharing how his passion for connecting with frontline teams has become the foundation for everything he does.
Declan talks candidly about the moment he realised traditional approaches to safety—long documents, top-down processes, and comp...
Why I Do What I Do: Steff Williams on Putting People First in Safety
In this powerful episode of The Safety Heroes Podcast, we sit down with Steff Williams, Director of Safety for Sonoco Europe and APAC. From his humble beginnings on a farm on the west coast of Scotland to leading safety for over 25,000 employees across more than 300 sites globally, Steff shares how his early values of hard work and care for others shaped his people-first approach to safety. He opens up about his “why”—a deep-rooted drive to prevent serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) in the workplace—and why he believes so many of these incidents are still tragically preventa...
The link between Environmental Policy and Human Health with Kate Donovan
In this episode of The Safety Heroes Podcast, we sit down with Kate Donovan, a passionate environmental advocate and senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Kate shares eye-opening insights on the intersections between environmental law, public health, and corporate accountability, challenging the way we think about sustainability and the role of businesses in shaping a cleaner, safer future.
From the truth about plastic waste to the responsibility of corporations vs. consumers, Kate unpacks some of the biggest environmental challenges we face today. She explains why recycling alone isn’t the solution, how toxic materials in...
Making Safety Instinctive: Claus Rose on Leadership, Trust & Change
In this compelling episode of The Safety Heroes Podcast, we sit down with Claus Rose, Managing Director of SafeSteps24, to explore how safety can become an instinctive part of our daily work routines. Claus shares his eye-opening insights on why traditional change management fails 70% of the time and how organizations can move from simply following compliance checklists to truly embedding safety into behavior. He draws powerful parallels with military training, emphasizing that just as soldiers rely on muscle memory in critical situations, workplaces should cultivate safety habits that become second nature.
Claus delves into the concept of “mu...
"Making Safety Personal": Bridget Todd on building a People-First safety culture
What does it mean to truly make safety personal? In this episode of The Safety Heroes Podcast, Bridget Todd, Global Head of Enterprise Health & Safety at Baker Hughes, shares how safety isn’t just about compliance—it’s about people, families, and the real-life impact of every workplace decision.
Bridget discusses the ‘Make Safety Personal’ initiative, a campaign designed to reinforce that safety is about who you go home to at the end of the day. She highlights how emotional connections, storytelling, and leadership commitment can drive engagement in ways that traditional training often fails to achieve.
The c...
Standardizing Offshore Wind Safety: Kate Harvey & David Griffiths on the G+ Mission
The G+ Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation is a groundbreaking voluntary organization at the forefront of driving change in safety across the offshore wind industry. In this episode, Mousa sits down with two pivotal members of the G+ board: Kate Harvey, General Manager, and David Griffiths, Chair of the Board of Directors.
They share their mission, passion, and pioneering work to develop critical safety resources and standards in this fast-growing industry to ensure every worker returns home safely. Learn about offshore life-saving rules, the critical importance of harmonizing safety standards across the globe, and the data-driven i...
Health is Wealth: Prioritising what truly matters with Arijit Paul
In this episode, Mousa sits down with Arijit Paul, a seasoned HSE leader with over 25 years of experience in the energy industry. Currently serving as the Director of Practices at SLB, Arijit shares his insights into energy transition, sustainability, and digital transformation.
From life on the front lines of oilfield operations to shaping a global culture of safety and innovation, Arijit discusses how his experiences have shaped his passion for human performance principles and their role in empowering teams.
Discover how Arijit overcame challenges in high-risk environments, the lessons learned from a life-changing incident, and...
Pressing pause: mindfulness at work and safety by design with Mick Breet
In this episode, Mousa sits down with Mick Breet, Director of Health, Safety, and Wellbeing for Europe at Danone, to discuss his 17-year experience in the field and his passion for the human element of safety.
Listen as Mick shares the importance of mindfulness in high-stress environments and how it can empower frontline workers to stay present, focused, and, most importantly, safe. He emphasizes the value of understanding safety from a worker’s perspective by listening to their needs on the job and how well-designed, relevant safety programs—like his Stop Think Act campaign—help bridge the gap bet...
One year of Safety Heroes: reflecting on the power of listening, learning, and leadership with Malcolm Staves
It’s been one whole year of Safety Heroes, and what better way to celebrate than to welcome our first-ever guest back to the studio to reflect on a year of inspiring safety conversations?
In this week’s episode, Mousa is joined by Malcolm Staves, Global VP of Health and Safety at L’Oreal, to look back and analyze the key themes that have emerged from the dozens of conversations we’ve had over the past year. From the power of honest, face-to-face conversations with frontline teams to the critical role of leadership in shaping safety culture, they get...
Engaging teams: Ben Legg on reimagining our approach to health and safety
In this week’s episode, Mousa sat down with Ben Legg, an HSEQ expert with nearly 30 years of experience in construction and support services from the UK to the Middle East. He shared how he challenges the traditional safety paradigms, advocating for leaders to engage in real conversations with the workforce to bridge the gap between policy and practice. Throughout the discussion, Ben shared the lessons he’s learned about creating impactful safety cultures by empowering frontline workers and moving away from top-down, compliance-only approaches to HSE.
Tune in to get Ben’s perspective on the importance of bui...
Dr I. David Daniels - From physical safety to addressing psychosocial hazards
In this week’s episode, Dr. I. David Daniels shares his journey from a young firefighter to becoming a leading expert in occupational health and safety, with a deep focus on psychological well-being. Dr. Daniels opens up about his early years in the fire rescue service, detailing the thrilling, varied, and sometimes tragic experiences he encountered over 30 years on the frontline, where he witnessed life-threatening hazards, the loss of colleagues, and the often-overlooked emotional toll on first responders.
One of the central themes is the shift from focusing solely on physical safety to embracing the importance of ...
Melissa Mark-Joyce - Beyond compliance and diversity: building a proactive safety culture
In this episode, Melissa Mark-Joyce, Vice President of HSE at Smiths Group, shares her career journey, which spans over two decades in the oil and gas industry and more recently, in manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.
She reflects on her early passion for health and safety, rooted in her time working in the North Sea, a region known for its advanced safety culture following the Piper Alpha disaster.
Melissa explains how significant incidents, such as the Macondo oil spill, further highlighted the importance of safety in high-risk industries and shaped her understanding of health and sa...
Simone Santos - HSE leadership & managing contractor safety in construction and renewables
In this episode, Mousa Yassin interviews Simone Santos, the Global Head of HSE for Enercon, a leading company in renewable energy solutions.
Simone elaborates on her career journey, starting from her background in environmental engineering and the pivotal moment when she transitioned into HSE. She discusses the challenges and complexities she faced while managing safety in construction projects, especially when working with a wide range of subcontractors from different cultures and backgrounds. Throughout the conversation, Simone emphasises her approach of treating all personnel on site as part of her own team, striving for high safety standards and e...
Dr Jennet Arshimova- a “journey with care”: cultivating empathy and purpose in HSE leadership
This episode is for the books. We welcome Dr Jennet Arshimova, Managing Director of New HSE and Founder of SHE Time as she shares her personal and eventful journey from being a medical doctor to becoming a health and safety consultant.
Jennet emphasises the importance of teaching people to find their own solutions, understanding their strengths, and fostering a safety culture that begins from within. It all starts with the question “why”!
Her belief in empathetic leadership and the significant impact of human-centric values in creating effective HSE programs is central to the conversation.
Jenn...
Marieta Yordanova - Collaboration, leadership, and technology to transform the HSE space
In this week’s episode, Marieta Yordanova, Asahi's International Group Health and Safety Director, shares her invaluable insights gained over 24 years in the industry.
Marieta underscores the fundamental human right to safety at work and emphasises the importance of transparency and collaboration between organisations to enhance safety standards.
Her journey from food engineering to a leadership role in health and safety reveals her passion for systematic processes and people-centred approaches. Through heartfelt storytelling and a deep understanding of the human elements involved in safety, Marieta advocates for engaging people genuinely to foster a culture of sa...
Marco Barsanti - "walk the talk" and embracing technology in HSE
In this episode, we sit down with Marco Barsanti, Senior Vice President of HSSE for asset operations at Uniper where in a matter of 5min covers how the safety mindset and vision transpire into the overall organisation.
He also discusses the role of technology, particularly virtual environments, in optimising both the quantity and quality of engaging employees in health, safety, sustainability, and environmental (HSSE) practices.
Marco goes on elaborating on the company's long-term commitment to fostering a safer, more sustainable workplace by also leveraging digital tools and AI, emphasising the importance of integrating these technologies to m...
EHS Congress minis - James MacPherson on the power of conversation
Here’s another episode of our EHS Congress Mini Series.
Mousa met with James MacPherson, a health and safety professional, managing director of Risk Fluent ltd and the host of the Rebranding Safety podcast.
James shares his insights on the non-competitive nature of safety professionals, the importance of embedding safety into business operations, and his own journey in the safety industry. He offers valuable advice for those at the start of their EHS careers, emphasising the significance of continuous learning, broadening one's perspective, and the power of open dialogue.
Don't miss this short but...
Cristina Gómez-García - Soft skills and proactive indicators in HSE
In this episode, Mousa converses with Cristina Gomez-Garcia, HSE team leader at Siemens GAMESA in the renewable sector.
They discuss Cristina's 20-year career in health, safety, sustainability, and wellbeing spanning multiple industries.
Cristina shares her journey from studying biology, architecture, and occupational risk prevention to leading safety in renewables.
This week’s episode highlights the significance of communication, involving leadership, proactive safety measures, and the evolving landscape of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in making impactful changes within industries.
From the differences between the construction and renewables sectors, to proactive HSE in...
EHS Congress Minis - Dr Jennet Arshimova on impact and empathy in leadership
In this new episode of our EHS congress Minis, we welcome Dr. Jennet Arshimova, founder of SHEtime and Managing Director of New HSE.
Jennet shares her journey in the field of health and safety, emphasising the importance of personal growth as a catalyst for change. She also discusses her work empowering individuals through education and the critical role of empathy in leadership.
Dr. Arshimova's insights remind us that meaningful impact starts within ourselves and that even small actions can create ripple effects in the world around us.
Follow her journey on LinkedIn.
Myriam Perrier - Human-centred safety: shifting paradigms in the HSE space
In this podcast episode, Mousa Yassin welcomes Myriam Perrier, Vice President of Research and Development at Perrier Consulting, to discuss her journey and contributions to health, safety, and environment (HSE) and the integration of human-centred paradigms in safety practices.
The conversation spans across three key concepts:
1. A Passion for Human Rights and HSE: Myriam shares her background and how her passion for human rights transitioned into a deep commitment to HSE. Growing up around her father's business, she initially found health and safety regulations boring but later discovered their profound impact on improving human conditions...
EHS Congress minis - Davide Scotti - On the challenges and bringing passion in the HSE space
In this episode, Mousa interviews Davide Scotti, head of HSE culture, communication, and training at Saipem.
They discuss some of the difficulties HSE professionals face and the importance of leadership in safety.
Davide talks about the main challenges smaller companies face and the duty of big companies to share their knowledge.
He also shares a piece of advice that has stayed with him since the start of his career: listen to find out.
Follow Davide on LinkedIn.
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EHS Congress minis - Kostas Sagias - on culture and safety superpower.
Kostas Sagias is the group Health and Safety director at Carlsberg group.
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We had a short conversation with him during our time at the EHS congress in Berlin in May 2024 and asked him three small questions.
This is our EHS congress mini with Kostas. Enjoy!
To connect with Kostas, 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...
Sukhy Hogwood - Safety by Design and the intertwined nature of Health, Safety, Environment, and Wellbeing and workplace efficiency
In this week’s episode, Mousa Yassin has a fascinating conversation with Sukhy Hogwood, fhrmer Head of HSEW Europe - People & Places Solutions at Jacobs and recently appointed SHEQ Director at Network Rail.
Sukhy recounts her unexpected journey into the health and safety sector, motivated by a tragic accident early on.
Over the past 20 years, she has dramatically broadened safety practices to include mental wellbeing, sustainability, and environmental considerations; and highlights two innovative programs she spearheaded at Jacobs: 'Five in Design,' which integrates safety into design processes, and a comprehensive mental health and wellbeing ini...
Rodrigo Gomes - Building an empowered workforce through trust, simple processes, and felt leadership.
In this week’s episode of the podcast, we welcome Rodrigo Gomes Senior, VP of Global OSH Risk, Governance and Assurance at TK Elevator.
Rodrigo shares his journey from an engineering intern to a VP, emphasising his passion for safety and his experience being both hands on and academic.
He discusses the importance of trust, communication, and simplicity in safety leadership, focuses on the idea of safety transformation, and elaborates on the evolving role of safety professionals in organisations. Rodrigo also touches on the challenges of managing a decentralised workforce and the potential future impact of...
Rosie Russell - Thriving under pressure: leadership techniques for balancing stress, supporting mental wellbeing to create organisational success
In this powerful episode, Mousa Yassin welcomes Rosie Russell, Director of Environment, Health, Safety, and Sustainability at MeiraGTx and co-president of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management.
Rosie shares her unique journey from being a research chemist to a prominent figure in health and safety, emphasising the importance of building up others, understanding behaviours, and fostering a collaborative work environment.
Rosie discusses her mission to ensure health and safety are seen as facilitators within organisations, not blockers. She provides profound insights into the psychological aspects of workplace culture, highlighting how stress, mental health, a...
Remy D.J. Wierenga - From embracing the 5 Human Performance Principles to the AI revolution - A conversation on the past, present, and future of the HSE field
Today we have Remy Wierenga, Group Safety Director at Refresco as our guest and we dive deep into Human Performance Principles and how AI will become an increasingly powerful support tool in keeping people safe. And both for these make for a fascinating episode.
Remy shares his insights on the evolution of safety practices, emphasising the significance of focusing on human and organisational performance, and the transition from a blame-focused culture where we set ourselves for failure if we frame the worker as the main control system, to one that seeks to understand and mitigate error through...
Graeme Lannigan - Continuously redefining and improving education “format” and “design” to achieve impactful safety training
In this engaging episode of the podcast, our host Mousa Yassin sits down with Graeme Lannigan, passionate about the field of safety learning and the Global HSSE Learning Manager at bp.
The conversation this week focuses on a specific topic surrounding safety training and learning and is full of personal experiences, giving some great insights into the essential role of training as part of the general HSE space within an organisation.
With a career spanning 20 years, starting as an apprentice seafarer at 16, Graeme shares his journey to becoming a pivotal figure in safety training.
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Esil Mertoglu - Empowerment through safety initiatives: the intersection of Purpose, Inclusion, and Leadership in HSE
This week, Mousa Yassin talks with Esil Mertoglu, Senior EHS Manager at Adient, and explores her journey as an environmental health and safety leader. Esil's extensive experience spanning over 18 years in multinational manufacturing companies reflects her profound passion for advocating safety as well as championing diversity and inclusive initiatives, especially around women's rights. As a dedicated leader, Esil shares her insights on shaping strong leadership within the HSE community, emphasising the importance of leading with purpose and empowering individuals.
We get to dive into Esil's career trajectory, uncovering pivotal moments that shaped her commitment to safety and...
Claus Rose - Diversity in thought and background, incident learning, and Industry collaboration to build better ehs practices
In this episode, we dive into the multifaceted world of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) with guest, Claus Rose, Senior Executive, EHS Separation Management Officer at GE Vernova.
With over three decades of groundbreaking work, from his early days in the armed forces to leading initiatives in renewable energy, Claus shares his journey into becoming a visionary in the EHS realm.
His work in spearheading the Global Wind Organisation and transforming safety practices showcases his deep commitment to advancing the field.\
Claus underscores the vital importance of diversity of experience in EHS, the t...
Davide Scotti - Creating engaging health and safety leadership programs for mature hse cultures, and influence behaviour change, at work and at home.
In this episode, host Mousa Yassin engages in an insightful conversation with Davide Scotti, Corporate Head of HSE Culture, Communication & Training at Saipem.
Davide shares his journey from his early career beginnings in the oil and gas industry to becoming a pivotal figure in health and safety culture, within his organisation but also across Italy.
Working for Saipem for over 18 years, he has been instrumental in evolving their safety culture through innovative programs that blend emotional engagement with effective leadership training, making Saipem a model for safety performance in the industry.
Davide delves in...
Gokhan Yildiz - Nurturing leadership skills across all functions and embracing Tech’s transformative impact on the Health & Safety space
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...
Dr Thomas Burgdorff - Learning from the “good stuff” and the realisation that HSSE & profit considerations cannot be mutually exclusive
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 co...
Maite Garcia Lacuesta - “the good contaminates the good”: how the HSE function relies on collaboration, conversation, and curiosity
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...
Dr Ralf Franke - From medical doctor to environment, health, & safety: a career-defining journey of curiosity, empathy, resilience & preparedness
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 i...
Thorsten Müh - fostering a safety culture where top leadership actively seeks to “have a seat at the safety table”
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 proa...
Clinton McDonald - Understanding the why and mastering the how: practical strategies and powerful insights for a strong safety strategy
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...
Mandar Phadke - Pushing the safety culture mindsets beyond a “have to do” right to a “love to do”
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...
Marcus Peters: empathy, empowerment, and how all good things start with a conversation.
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 ch...
Kenza Akesbi - Proactive safety: building a culture of prevention and performance
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...
Dr MARCIN NAZARUK: “Learning from Normal Work” or the science behind creating meaningful, tangible change in the safety space
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 e...
