The Circus of Safety Podcast

Does everything in safety need to be so black-and-white? In this episode of The Circus of Safety, Brenton, Des, and Andy spin the infamous wheel to tackle the problem of binary thinking in the health and safety profession. With their trademark mix of practical insight, tongue-in-cheek banter, and a dash of philosophical musings [plus a brief detour into polygamy and quantum mechanics], the trio qu...

Step right up for another wild ride under the Big Top! In Season 3, Episode 12 of The Circus of Safety, Brenton, Des, and Andy return from hiatus and dive headfirst into the chaos of "Doing Safety Efficiently." With their signature blend of practical insights, tongue-in-cheek banter, and razor-sharp observations, the trio tackles the age-old question: how can we make safety processes les...

It’s our birthday! 🎉 Join Brenton, Des, Andy, and special guest Oliver as The Circus of Safety celebrates two years of taking a practical, tongue-in-cheek look at all things health and safety. In this special anniversary episode, the crew reflects on their wild ride so far—recounting hilarious moments, recapping their most popular episodes, and debating the topics that matter most in the world of...

Step right up for another wild ride under the Big Top of workplace safety! In this episode of The Circus of Safety , Brenton, Des, and Andy spin the infamous Spinning Wheel of Death and land on a truly divisive topic: Is zero harm stupid? With their signature blend of pragmatism, sharp wit, and a healthy dose of laughter, the trio dives into the realities [and absurdities] of the "zero harm&q...

Get ready for another wild ride under the Big Top with The Circus of Safety! In this episode, Brenton, Des, and Andy are joined once again by Jeff Sissons to unravel the latest round of health and safety reform announcements making headlines across New Zealand. With their trademark mix of sharp insight, irreverent humour, and utter chaos, the crew tackles everything from the infamous traffic cone...

🎪 Step right up for Episode 8 of The Circus of Safety's Season 3! This week, Brenton, Des, and Andy tackle the age-old question: If a model is never used well, is it still a good model? From the New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society conference highlights to tongue-in-cheek debates about safety models, methodologies, and a surprising detour into zero-harm philosophies, the trio bring their...

Step right up for another wild ride under the Big Top! In Season 3, Episode 7 of The Circus of Safety, Brenton, Des, and Andy tackle the mysterious world of risk perception. Why do some people cross the street without a second thought, while others wait for the light? How do our backgrounds, experiences, and even ignorance shape the way we see—and misjudge—risk at work and in life? Expect plenty o...

Step right up for another wild ride under the Big Top with Brenton, Desai, and Andy! In this episode, the crew tackles the tricky topic of “weaponising safety”—how safety rules, policies, and language can be twisted for the wrong reasons, whether to win workplace arguments, push agendas, or gain leverage. Expect plenty of laughs, honest confessions, and real-world stories from across Australia and...

In this episode of The Circus of Safety, hosts Andrew Evans, Desai Link, and Brenton Harrison are joined by Jeff Sissons, the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management [NZISM], to dive into the hot topic of regulatory safety reform. The discussion takes off with the impact of recent health and safety announcements by the Minister, the challenges around reducing compliance f...

In this bonus episode of "The Circus of Safety," hosts Desai Link, Brenton Harrison, and Andrew Evans are joined by esteemed guest Greg Smith, a prominent work health and safety lawyer from Western Australia. Tune in as they dive deep into the significance of documentation in safety procedures. They explore the common belief that "if it's not documented, it did not happen,"...

Welcome to another lively episode of "The Circus of Safety"! In this episode titled "The Commercialism of Safety," Andrew Evans rejoins Brenton Harrison and Desai Link after a brief hiatus. The trio dives into a spirited discussion on the commercialisation of safety, exploring themes like fear, FOMO, and the ethics of marketing safety products and services. Tune in as they shar...

In this episode of "The Circus of Safety," hosts Brenton Harrison and Desai Link are joined by special guest Matt Sadgrove to tackle the intriguing topic of neurodiversity in safety. As they navigate this complex subject, the conversation explores the importance of inclusivity, the role of communication, and the benefits of embracing diverse perspectives in safety practices. While admitt...

In this episode of "The Circus of Safety," titled "Are We Over Culturing," hosts Brenton Harrison, Desai Link, and Andy Evans, dive into the elusive concept of culture in occupational health and safety. They explore whether organisations are focusing too much on defining and cultivating 'safety culture' without fully understanding or agreeing on its definition. Through...

Welcome back to "The Circus of Safety" for Season 3, Episode 1! In this episode, hosts Brenton Harrison, Desai Link, and Andrew Evans are joined by Oliver Evans as they reunite after a refreshing summer break. Dive into the intriguing discussion of "working safely versus safely working," where the team explores the nuances of safe work practices and how to effectively engage wo...

Join Hosts Desai Link, Brenton Harrison, and Andrew Evans for the season finale of The Circus of Safety, featuring special guest Oliver Evans. In this engaging episode, the team unravels the complexities of documentation in safety practices and its real-world implications. Explore thought-provoking discussions on the paradox of evidence, the role of oral testimony versus documented proof, and the...

🎪 Has Academia Taken Over Safety? 🎪 Join hosts Andrew Evans, Brenton Harrison, and Desai Link as they dive deep into the intersection of academia and safety practices in this thought-provoking episode. They explore whether their podcast discussions could be considered academic content and ponder the legitimacy of using non-traditional sources for safety insights. Amidst humorous banter about AI'...

In Season 2, Episode 22 of The Circus of Safety , Andrew Evans, Desai Link, and Brenton Harrison dive into the complex relationship between safety and efficiency . They explore how organisations with poor safety records can benefit from prioritising safety, the intricate balance between safety and productivity, and the challenges of multitasking in the context of maintaining safety standards. The...

In this bonus episode of "The Circus of Safety," host Brenton Harrison sits down with safety expert Christl Aggus for a profound discussion on the so-called "dark arts" in innovative safety practices. From unconventional methods and ethical dilemmas to the subtle art of strategic influence, Christl shares her unique insights and experiences from Canada’s safety landscape. Tune in as they explore s...

🎪 Welcome back to "The Circus of Safety"! In Episode S2 Ep 21, join hosts Desai Link, Brenton Harrison, and Andrew Evans as they dive into the intriguing concept of "the dark arts" in safety. Discover the subtle skills of influence and persuasion essential for achieving optimal safety outcomes in organisations. Brenton Harrison critiques consultants and introduces the idea of "dark arts" as unsee...

🎪 Welcome back to The Circus of Safety! In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Brent Sutton, founder of Learning Teams, Inc., to delve into the world of "Learning Teams" and their transformative potential for organisational safety and operational excellence. Our hosts, Brenton Harrison, Andrew Evans, and Desai Link, engage in a lively discussion with Brent about the critical difference b...

In Episode 20 of Season 2, "Learning Teams," hosts Brenton Harrison, Andrew Evans, and Desai Link dive deep into the concept and practicalities of learning teams within safety management. Andrew shares insights from "The Practice of Learning Teams" book while Brenton and Desai dissect the method's potential and pitfalls, especially in small organisations. Tune in for discussions on structured conv...

In this bonus episode of "The Circus of Safety," hosts Brenton Harrison and Desai Link dive into an engaging conversation with health and safety consultant Mike Cosman. With 46 years of experience, Mike offers profound insights into the intricacies of lead and lag indicators, the importance of context in risk management, and the often overlooked narratives behind safety data. The discussion challe...

🎧 Welcome to another insightful episode of "The Circus of Safety" 🎩🎪! In Season 2, Episode 19, hosts Desai Link and Brenton Harrison, along with international co-host Andrew Evans, dive into the nuanced world of safety metrics. They unpack the differences between lead and lag indicators, discussing the challenges of measuring and interpreting these crucial safety markers. Hear about the balance...

In this bonus episode of "The Circus of Safety," hosts Brenton Harrison and Desai Link, joined by special guest Drew Rae, delve deep into the world of safety statistics and metrics. Drew discusses cutting-edge research by his PhD candidate, Kevin Geddert, on severity-weighted indexes for improved reporting metrics. The conversation humorously touches on fashion trends, but stays focused on critica...

🎪 In this episode of The Circus of Safety , join Brenton, Desai, and Andrew as they dive into the controversial world of safety metrics—LTIFR (Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate) and TRIFR (Total Reportable Injury Frequency Rate). Expect a lively debate on their true value, practical implications, and the challenges of accurate data reporting. With humorous anecdotes, real-world examples, and engagi...