safetyCast

"Critical risk" usually brings up images of high-hazard, industrial sites. But what about the risks that don't come with a hard hat? 

In this episode of The Safety Cast, host Craig Bleakley sits down with Nada Wentzel, CEO of The Jonah Group, to explore exactly what critical risk means when we move beyond physical hazards. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in high-consequence industries like aviation, mining, and oil, Nada breaks down the science behind human decision-making under pressure.

We're diving deep into the fascinating concept of "limbic risk", exploring why our brains default t...

Storytelling in H&S: The “Why” Behind Getting Home Safe

In the world of health and safety, the traditional toolkit relies heavily on facts, figures, checklists, and compliance forms. But if you’ve ever watched a team’s eyes glaze over during a typical safety induction, you already know the hard truth: data alone doesn’t change behavior.

In this episode of SafetyCast, Craig Bleakley sits down with Heidi Lance, Director of Real Learning New Zealand, to explore how safety leaders can move away from passive box-ticking and build genuine cultural connection. Drawing from her e...

From Public Health Concern to Workplace Risk: Tackling Loneliness

Did you know the World Health Organisation considers loneliness to have a health impact comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day?

Disconnection from colleagues, limited visibility of your impact, feeling underappreciated, and a reluctance to ask for help are all symptoms of a major emerging risk in modern work environments. While technology keeps us constantly online, it is often reducing the meaningful human interaction we actually need. It has become such a global crisis that countries like Japan and the UK have even appointed dedicated Ministers of...

Wellbeing as a Driver of Safety and Organisational Resilience

In today’s modern workplace, wellbeing is no longer a "nice to have" or a standalone initiative, it is a critical driver of safety, performance, and true organisational resilience. But as we move further away from the peak of the pandemic, how do health and safety leaders ensure these crucial efforts evolve rather than fade away?

In this episode, ecoPortal’s Craig Bleakley sits down with Dr. Natalie Flatt, psychologist and co-founder of Connect Psych Services. Together, they unpack the clear link between mental health, human perf...

From Compliance to Connection: The Psychology of a High-Trust Safety Culture

Trust is the foundation of culture in every workplace. When it’s strong, people speak up, collaborate, and manage risks together. When it’s low, silence and disengagement take hold, quietly eroding both safety and wellbeing.

In this insightful session, Clive Lloyd — Psychologist, Principal Consultant at GYST, and author of the best-selling book Next Generation Safety Leadership — joins Craig Bleakley, ecoPortal’s Safety and Risk Consultant, to explore how leaders can intentionally build the foundation of trust. We explore why trust is not just a soft ski...

Rethinking Risk: A Dynamic Framework for Health and Safety Leaders

Frameworks are essential tools for health and safety leaders, providing a clear structure for decision-making, aligning teams on priorities, and ensuring risks are managed consistently across an organisation. But what happens when traditional models like the Hierarchy of Controls (HOC) reach their limitations?

In this insightful session, Crystal Danbury, Director of Group Safety, Insurance & Occupational Wellbeing at Sainsbury's (UK), joins Peter Jenkins, ecoPortal’s UK Country Manager, to introduce a more dynamic framework centred on Identification, Understanding, and then Accepting, Mitigating, or Removing risk. We ex...

Psychological Safety: The First Line of Defense Against Psychosocial Risk

Psychosocial risks are now front and centre in workplace safety conversations. But what can psychology teach us about preventing issues like stress, burnout, and fatigue, which are often rooted in poor work design, unhealthy environments, or harmful behaviours?

In this insightful session, Dr. Natalie Flatt, psychologist and co-founder of Connect Psych Services, joins ecoPortal’s Craig Bleakley to demonstrate how psychological safety can act as both a protective factor and a control mechanism. We unpack evidence-based approaches to embed psychological safety within health and safety pr...

Designing for Wellbeing: Mastering Psychosocial Risk

Workplaces today are grappling with a rising tide of stress, burnout, and harassment. As regulators set new expectations for managing mental health, psychosocial risks have shifted from a “personnel issue” to a critical safety challenge. How do organisations move beyond reactive measures to design work that actually prevents harm?

In this insightful and practical episode, Vanessa Cooper, Principal Advisor at WorkSafe New Zealand, and Terry Buckingham, Wellbeing Lead at ASB Bank, join ecoPortal’s Craig Bleakley to explore how to identify and manage psychosocial issues before they escalate. We unpack...

Behind the Counter: Rethinking Safety Amid Retail Violence

As public-facing workplaces feel the pressure of rising aggression, the threat of customer violence and retail crime has evolved beyond isolated incidents. From organised attacks to growing instances of staff-targeted abuse, the safety landscape is shifting rapidly. How do employers protect their frontline teams without compromising the customer experience?

In this urgent and insight-led episode, Michael Plunkett, Head of Safety at Kmart & Target, joins ecoPortal’s Craig Bleakley to unpack the growing challenge of protecting both staff and customers. We explore real-world obstacles, from location-specific risk assessments to...

Cybersecurity and Safety in the Age of AI

As AI adoption accelerates across safety-critical sectors, the line between digital security and physical safety is blurring. While AI offers immense potential as an ally for safety, it also introduces sophisticated risks that can compromise data, people, and operations. How do organisations secure their digital perimeter without hindering operational performance?

In this forward-focused episode, we explore the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, and workplace safety. Host Sam Williams sits down with investigator Brian McKay (ICAM AU) to unpack the real-world risks emerging from the exponential growth of AI...

AI in Safety: Responsible Innovation for Smarter Risk Management

AI is reshaping the way organisations manage risk, providing smarter, data-driven insights that improve workplace safety, compliance, and decision-making. But with evolving technology comes new challenges—how do we adopt AI responsibly while ensuring real impact?

In this episode, we explore AI-driven risk assessment, data analytics, and how AI is acting as a co-pilot for safety professionals worldwide. We dive into real-world applications, including AI-driven heatmaps and chat functionality, while addressing the critical questions of transparency, accuracy, and ethical use.

Key themes:

Sm...

The Disruptor Mindset: How Women are Reshaping Safety Leadership

In this essential safetyCast episode, we explore the evolving role and impact of women in Health & Safety. Featuring three of New Zealand's top female H&S leaders—Kristy Nicholson (Lockton), Deborah Douglas (ASB), and Nicola Knobel (Plunket)—this dynamic panel discussion explores their leadership journeys, the challenges they've faced, and the strategies they use to drive real change.

Through real-world insights and their own lived experiences, this panel challenges the status quo. They discuss why H&S needs "the disruptor mindset" and how leveraging key strengths like...

Beyond the Bottom of the Hill: Proactively Tackling Workplace Violence

In this essential safetyCast episode, we address the undeniable increase in violent and aggressive behavior in customer-facing workplaces. Featuring two of New Zealand's top retail safety leaders, Grace Cooper (Former GM of H&S at The Warehouse Group and currently Director of The Safety SOULutions) and Jo van den Berg (from Foodstuffs North Island), this conversation explores how to move beyond reactive measures that are often "the ambulance at the bottom of the hill".

Together, we challenge the traditional approaches to safety. Michelle and Jo share why...

Retail Crime: The New Frontline in Health and Safety

In this crucial safetyCast episode, we confront the escalating issue of retail crime and its transformation into a major health and safety crisis for customer-facing industries. Featuring insights from Lisa White, Head of Protective Services at Bank of New Zealand (BNZ), this conversation explores the real-world challenges of protecting employees from increasing aggression and violence.

Together, we go beyond the staggering financial costs to uncover the deep psychosocial impact on frontline staff. Lisa shares BNZ’s practical strategies for managing these evolving risks, from de-escalation techniques and staff tr...

The Ambiguity of Wellbeing: Rethinking Mental Health in the Workplace

In this safetyCast episode, we unpack the complex and often misunderstood concept of "wellbeing" and what it truly means for mental health in the workplace. Featuring insights from EY’s Roberto C Garcia and Samantha Thomas, this conversation explores why a strategic, clearly defined approach to mental health is essential for building healthier, more engaged organisations.

Together, we discuss how leadership, governance, and measurable initiatives can shape effective psychosocial risk management, and why it’s time to move beyond vague wellbeing programs toward real cultural impa...

In this episode of safetyCast, we dive into the complexities of crafting an effective mental health strategy in large, diverse workplaces.

Listen to Conor Duffy, founder of Psychosocial Safety Solutions and former Head of Health & Safety at Kmart Australia. In this episode he unpacks the building blocks of a successful psychosocial strategy that supports every level of the organisation, from head office to the frontline.

Conor shares practical, experience-backed insights into:

Embedding psychological safety into your broader WHS strategy

The role of initiatives like EAPs and Psychological First Aid

...

How the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is reshaping safety reporting

In this episode of safetyCast by ecoPortal, we explore how the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is transforming the way organisations think about, and report on, health, safety, and wellbeing.

Featuring Matthew Cowie and Samantha Thomas from EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services team, this conversation unpacks what the CSRD means for organisations across Australasia and beyond. You’ll hear real-world case studies, practical tips, and expert insights on how to integrate HSW into your sustainability reporting, far beyond the basics of internal comp...

🎙️ Transforming Safety Culture
In this episode of safetyCast, we sit down with Tim Hudson, Operational Risk Management Consultant at Hudson Global Consulting, to explore what it really takes to build and sustain a strong safety culture in today’s evolving workplaces.

From leadership commitment to employee engagement, Tim shares insights drawn from decades of global experience helping organisations embed safety into the way they work. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining an existing approach, this episode offers practical tools, real-world examples, and strategies to help you shift mindsets, behaviours, and systems toward safer outcomes.

If yo...

In this episode, Dr. Megan Tranter shares how strong leadership shapes safer, healthier workplaces. Drawing from her global experience at Amazon, PepsiCo, and more, she explores how EHS leaders can drive culture, strategy, and impact beyond compliance. Perfect for professionals looking to elevate their influence in Health and Safety. Listen here!