The SHiFT Conference & Expo was held in Coventry this year with over 300 health and safety professionals from across the fibre telecoms world - and it did not disappoint. From candid reflections to cutting-edge tech, it was a packed day of learning, connecting, and rethinking the role of health in health and safety.
Here’s a rundown of the standout moments that really hit home for me:
Health: The Harder Conversation – Mike Calcutt, HSE
Mike Calcutt opened with a stark reminder: while we’ve come a long way with safety, the health side of the equation is still lagging. Why? Perhaps because it can be awkward, harder to measure, and as a result, too easily swept under the carpet?
Drawing on his time as a Health and Safety Inspector, Mike highlighted how the conversation around health needs a shift—from reactive to proactive. Health, like safety, is about reducing exposure to risk, but it’s still playing catch-up. He made a heartfelt appeal: “Please help us fix the health problem.” There is so much to do, but it feels like real momentum is building.
Mike raised some thought-provoking points around generational gaps in how health risks are perceived - many younger workers, for example, don’t recognise traditional risks (like asbestos) in the same way. At the same time, an ageing workforce brings a higher risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Health risks, he reminded us, are not one-size-fits-all.
One comment that really stuck with me was that workplace stress is not just a problem in isolation, but is all about how it compounds with other risks, creating a complex challenge for all. Food for thought for any organisation serious about wellbeing.
Work Is Safer On The Body, But Tougher On The Mind – Heather Beach
Heather Beach, from the Healthy Work Company, brought the wellbeing conversation to life. Through real-world examples from her global wellbeing consultancy, she showed how education, clear boundaries, and mutual respect can make all the difference.
She urged leaders to talk together and agree on a model for better boundaries that work, from actually taking lunch breaks to drawing the line after hours, and, crucially, opening up honest conversations about what’s acceptable. Her standout quote for me: “We have made work safer on the body, but harder on the mind.”
With her extensive experience in senior leadership roles within fast-paced, global media companies, coupled with her expertise in wellbeing, Heather offers a unique and insightful perspective on the intersection of performance and mental health. She also left us with a book recommendation — Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks, a nudge to rethink how we spend our time and protect our mental wellbeing.
AI in Health and Safety: The Opportunity Is Now – Karl Simons OBE, FYLD
Karl Simons (formerly Chief Health, Safety and Security Officer at Thames Water) gave an eye-opening overview of how AI is reshaping safety. He’s now working on real-time risk assessments powered by AI, and if it sounds futuristic, it is. But it’s also here, and it’s coming fast.
Less than 3% of the workforce truly understands AI, yet it’s set to become foundational in the safety landscape. With over 7,000 languages globally, and Alexa understanding just nine, we’ve still got a way to go - but the potential for machine learning is staggering.
Karl’s key takeaway: AI won’t replace humans, but it can spot patterns, predict problems, and help us stay ahead of risk in real time— if we’re brave enough to adopt it. He gave a live demo of FYLD, which creates real-time risk assessments (amongst many other things!) using phone video and voice. The output was incredible, surely this is the future.
Working At Height Still Tops The Risk Charts – Dr Shaun Lundy
Dr Shaun Lundy gave us a firm reminder of the very real and ongoing risks of working at height. It may not be a new risk, but it remains one of the most critical areas of concern across construction and telecoms - and unfortunately, it still accounts for many injuries and fatalities.
With all the new tech and innovation in the air, Shaun's talk was a grounded call to revisit the basics, ensure systems are up to date, and never become complacent about the risks we think we already know.
Huge congratulations to Roger Causley and the SHiFT team— Rob Kelly, Victoria Chadwick, Mike Jones, Jonathan Mee, Max Sholl, and Melanie Worrall - for delivering an event that mixed challenge with inspiration, and innovation with practicality. And a big shoutout to Alan Trueman, who was instrumental in launching the group and is now standing down after his time at the helm. Fantastic effort, Alan!
SHIFT’s mission to elevate safety and health standards across the fibre telecoms industry is making serious progress, and the conversations sparked this year show just how ready the industry is to take things up a level.
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James Irwin is a Director at Irwin and Colton, a leading recruitment specialist in health, safety, and environment.
For a confidential discussion about your career or assistance with your recruitment needs, call us today on 01923 432 632 or email james.irwin@irwinandcolton.com.