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 building trust and curiosity, asking the right questions, and leveraging technology that reduces friction rather than creating digital clutter from safety training and procedure material. Explore the critical role of leaders and the need for them to have a firsthand understanding of the dangers their frontline workers face to ensure they can address those hazards head-on and provide a safer working environment faster and more effectively.Listen to Ben’s take on safety leadership and engaging your team.  Follow or connect with Ben Legg 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, 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 psychosocial safety—the hidden emotional and psychological risks that workers face. He shares personal stories, including the struggles of being a Black man in a predominantly white field and the emotional weight of losing 30 colleagues, either in the line of duty or due to long-term trauma-induced suicide, noting that suicide has become the leading cause of death for first responders.Another key theme is the importance of leadership in fostering psychological safety. Dr. Daniels explains how empathy, acceptance, and understanding are vital to creating safe spaces, not just for physical well-being but also for mental health; again outlining the fact that the bottomline success of a company is more intertwined with psychological safety than people seem to believe.Dr. Daniels closes with a personal mantra that sums up his outlook: "Life is empty and meaningless—we make meaning out of it". His message is a call to action, urging individuals to take control of their own psychological health, understand what truly brings them peace and joy, and create environments where both physical and psychological safety are prioritised.Dr Daniels' LinkedinPsychological hazards are real book presale.Dr Daniel's website - ID2 SolutionsSend 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, 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 safety's critical role in business success. Having recently transitioned to a global role at Smiths Group, Melissa, a big believer in standardisation, emphasises the transferable nature of safety practices across industries and the need for continuous learning and collaboration to improve workplace safety worldwide.Melissa also discusses the evolving nature of health and safety, moving beyond compliance-driven mindsets toward a more holistic, proactive approach that prioritises employee well-being and engagement, as well as leadership participation across different areas of the business.She stresses that empowering individuals and fostering a strong safety culture directly contributes to business success, as motivated, healthy employees drive performance.Melissa also touches on her own experiences with diversity and inclusion (E,D&I) as a woman and a person of colour, noting that while diversity has become more visible in recent years, inclusion remains the bigger challenge. She indeed advocates for creating psychologically safe workplaces where diverse voices are heard and valued, as this inclusivity enhances decision-making and innovation. Her insights underscore the critical role of leadership in driving safety and inclusivity within organisations, as well as the importance of learning from both successes and failures within organisations and between organisations, in creating safer, more effective workplacesSend 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, 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 effective communication to mitigate risks.The discussion delves deeply into the intricacies of contractor safety competence, with Simone highlighting the need for rigorous training and supervision to ensure safe operations on construction sites. She also shifts focus to her current role in the renewables sector, explaining how the dynamics of installing wind turbines and managing production facilities pose unique challenges. Simone also shares a poignant personal story about a severe accident involving one of her team members that underscores the significance of safety in the workplace. 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 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.Jennet's reflections on how her medical background has shaped her approach to health and safety are truly insightful. She underscores the need for a holistic, evidence-based approach and the importance of vulnerability and empathy in leadership. The episode is packed with real-world examples and practical advice on fostering a culture of care and responsibility within organisations, and empowering everyone to be a leader, not just the hierarchical leadership. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership, safety, and personal growth.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, 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 safety that extends beyond compliance to touch hearts and minds.Marieta discusses the critical role of leadership in embedding safety within organisational culture, emphasising that safety cannot be isolated but must be intertwined with productivity, quality, and overall operational efficiency. She elaborates on the importance of modernising safety practices through technology and digitalisation to attract younger generations and streamline safety processes. Moreover, Marieta's reflections on involving and listening to employees highlight a collaborative effort to identify and address safety concerns, making safety a shared responsibility. Her vision for the future focuses on celebrating successes and fostering an environment where safety measures are not imposed but embraced by all, making a conscious effort to involve the shop floor in creative solutions and initiatives in relation to Safety, creating a safer and more cohesive workplace.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 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 meet future demands. Additionally, he shares his personal vision of using a 'superpower' to inspire and connect with people on a deeper level, highlighting the softer human elements of HSSE. Marco’s insights provide a comprehensive look at the importance to “walk the talk” and how modern technology can shape culture and improve overall safety standards.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].

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 insightful conversation that delves into the nuances of safety culture and provides practical tips for making tangible improvements in workplace safety.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, 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 indicators and positive mindsets, Cristina shares her holistic views on the space with an emphasis on the social aspect of the function.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 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.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].