I’ve had a pretty varied journey, working in everything from construction, EV manufacturing to energy (oil & gas to BESS - battery storage energy systems).
Over the years, I had the opportunity to develop an international career, leading SHEQ & Sustainability in safety-critical working environments as well as 2 tech unicorns in the UK (Arrival & Zenobe).
This unique exposure to challenges and opportunities allowed me to see firsthand how much things need to evolve in terms of workplace safety. That’s why I started Shield360—to help companies move beyond traditional safety practices and use tech to make their workplaces safer, smarter, and more efficient.
It’s all about bringing digital transformation to safety in a way that adds real value. You can learn more about what we’re up to here or connect with me on Linkedin here.
When I say the future of safety is digital, I really should rephrase it because the future has arrived. As new technologies emerge faster than ever, industry 4.0 becomes a reality in many sectors.
In my view, safety can’t stay behind and should really embrace technology to address old issues like the staggering and unacceptable statistics about workplace injuries and fatalities that doesn’t seem to trend down, according to the ILO.
Safety digital means it is embedded in the operations workflow. Think real-time data, AI-driven insights, and predictive tech that stops incidents before they happen. Safety won’t have to be reactive—you’ll just be on top of things, proactively preventing risks and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
I think all technologies have a role in making workplaces safer and smarter to some extent. Some are of course in the mainstream media, like artificial intelligence, for example. There’s a clear hype around that because some applications and use cases are not yet well defined.
I really like to see the real-life application of computer vision and wearable devices to monitor worker fatigue for example.
The real game changer in my view is yet to come - agentic AI applied to safety. Think about an army of digital safety managers highly trained to execute the boring, compliance stuff that keeps safety people behind computers? These agents never get sick, don't go on vacation and work 24/7 - not to mention the ability to process data and make orchestrated decisions - with human oversight, of course.
We’re closer than most people realise. AI is already analysing huge amounts of data and giving us insights we didn’t have before. The next step is getting comfortable with AI as a trusted partner.
Over the next few years, I expect to see AI systems that are not just supporting safety decisions but actively recommending actions in real-time. It’s all about making the job easier, not replacing the human touch.
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Working at oil and gas giants as well as tech startups have really shaped the way I see safety management. In my experience, the toughest shift is moving from a reactive mindset to a proactive one.
Safety teams have been used to responding to incidents, but digital tools allow them to anticipate and prevent those incidents. It’s about embracing the idea that tech isn’t just a tool—it’s a partner that can help them work smarter, not harder.
So my main advice to my fellow safety professionals is to embrace the change, get used to the idea of using AI and constantly getting upskilled since things are moving fast.
Great question! It may sound weird but safetytech implementation should really start offline. This is where strategy comes to play a huge role. It’s not about selecting a shiny tech and going full on it but first understanding the problems through data analysis, speaking with people from top to bottom and getting them onboard. I always focus on demonstrating the tangible benefits. People are more likely to buy in when they see that tech can save them time, reduce risk, and simplify their work. When you show them how it can actually improve their day-to-day tasks, that’s when the resistance starts to fade.
The first thing to stop is relying on manual processes. If you’re still using paper forms, spreadsheets, or old-school compliance checks, you’re already behind.
Digital tools can free up your team’s time to focus on the important stuff, like risk management, coaching and spending more time with “boots on the ground”.
A bad strategy is about not having a clear strategy to get started - which is very common for most organisations. Over 70% of digital transformation initiatives fail due to strategic issues according to McKinsey.
A bad strategy is one where the tech doesn’t solve any real problems. It’s just technology for the sake of technology. To fix it, companies need to start with a clear understanding of what challenges they’re facing—then find tech that directly addresses those pain points and strategically deploy resources. It’s all about alignment.
One of the fastest wins comes from automating the tedious stuff, like compliance tracking and reporting. By cutting out the manual work, safety managers can focus on more important tasks, and that frees up a ton of time. Plus, the improvements in efficiency show up almost immediately.
Definitely. I’ll never forget when we implemented a digital safety system with a major oil and gas company. We were able to reduce incident reporting time from days to hours, and the impact it had on their operations was massive. It felt great to see how much smoother everything ran, and how much safer the teams were.
Data literacy and understanding how to use AI in safety are absolutely critical. With so much data coming in from different systems, safety professionals need to know how to interpret and use that data to make informed decisions. That’s going to be a game-changer in the next few years.
No one needs to become AI experts, just getting the basics right will place safety professionals in the right position to stay relevant in the digital age.
I’d tell them it’s not about learning complex tech—it’s about learning how to use tools that make your job easier. It's a powerful combination having someone’s extensive experience with tech tools to augment their ability to make a positive impact.
Technology isn’t here to replace anyone; it’s here to take care of the repetitive, time-consuming tasks so you can focus on the bigger picture.
Once they see how much time they can save, the skepticism tends to fade - but it needs one’s to have an open mind approach.
Sustainability and safety go hand in hand. Digital tools can help help reduce waste, extend the life of equipment, and improve operational efficiency—all of which contribute to sustainability.
A safe workplace is also a more productive one, and a productive workplace is one that’s more sustainable. The tech we see emerging to improve safety often has a positive environmental impact too.
Start small. There are plenty of affordable tools that can automate basic safety tasks like reporting and compliance tracking.
You don’t need to invest in big, expensive systems right away—just get started with something that will make a real difference in your day-to-day operations. For example, if you’re already using Microsoft 365, think about boosting performance with Microsoft Co-Pilot - an AI tool to put things in automation mode.
It’s all about flexibility and having a North Star. You need a strategy plan that can be customised to meet the specific regulations and safety cultures of each country or region.
Training and clear communication are key to making sure everyone’s on the same page, no matter where they are.
