In this podcast episode, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the concept of risk appetite versus zero harm and the confusion it creates at board levels because they're trying to put all of their risk issues into a single statement.They discuss how a risk appetite is about balancing risk and reward, whereas zero harm is about nothing bad happening, and this gets uncomfortable when applying risk appetite to human safety. The outline the commonly applied risk paradigms and how a synthesis of risk appetite in commercial and safety practice does occur in project due diligence.For more information about Richard & Gaye's due diligence work, head to https://www.r2a.com.au

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss Code of Practice and WHS/OHS confusion in relation to a presentation they delivered to the Dam Owners and Operators' Forum in Queensland recently, called "How do we do ALARP? Meeting a duty of care."  They explain how the Code of Practice doesn’t align with WHS/OHS legislation and if you conduct an “augmented ALARP” as suggested by the ANCOLD (Australian National Committee on Large Dams) Guideline it does not promote innovation or an efficient due diligence process. and that this exists in a number of industry guidelines. They also discuss the Oroville & Edenville Dam breaks (USA), how risk is multidimensional, how many industry guidelines have the same issues, and considering reciprocity as part of diligent decision making. Discover more about Richard and Gaye’s work at https://www.r2a.com.au.

In this episode of the Risk! Engineers Talk Governance podcast, Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the relationship between art and engineering.  They draw parallels between the roles of artists and engineers, highlighting the importance of composition, execution, and management in both fields. They outline the different types of engineers, such as creators, managers/consultants, and specialists, and the need for all three types in successful engineering organisations. Richard emphasises the importance of recognising and focusing on one's strengths in order to have a satisfying and successful career.  Their conversation also touches on the challenges of small businesses, the role of innovation, and the limitations of relying solely on standards in engineering. If you’d like to learn more about Richard and Gaye’s work, head to https://www.r2a.com.au.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss control and reasonableness in WHS/PHS legislation. They explain that the WHS/OHS legislation is a statutory statement of the common law duty of care and a defence against negligence, and that there’s two primary controls for negligence defence: no power defence (lack of control) and doing every reasonably practicable thing to address the matter. The aspect of control is built into the reasonableness decision in the legislation. The episode also covers:the importance of not getting caught up in arguments about responsibility and instead taking collective responsibility for addressing hazards. Lord Atkin's question "Who is my neighbour?" and how the legal ruling relates to design process and retrospective design review. the benefits of the due diligence approach in bringing key stakeholders together to collectively address safety issues.  The Criminal Manslaughter booklet mentioned can be found at https://www.r2a.com.au/store/p/r2a-criminal-manslaughter-directors-booklet For more information on Gaye and Richard’s due diligence work at R2A, head to https://www.r2a.com.au/

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss R2A's preferred approach to due diligence.  They explain why they start with a top-down approach, usually starting with the military intelligence, threat and vulnerability technique. And how often organisations who have started with a bottom-up process have been floundering for some time, come to R2A to cut through the detail.Richard and Gaye also discuss:·      importance of selecting the right tools and techniques for the job,·      need for multiple perspectives and approaches to ensure a comprehensive analysis, ·      importance of bringing key stakeholders together and the challenges of working in silos, ·      need for preparation and adaptability in the due diligence process. Please note the matrix mentions is available in all R2A publications. You can find these at https://www.r2a.com.au/storeIf you'd like to learn more about Richard & Gaye's due diligence work at R2A, head to www.r2a.com.au or get in contact at admin@r2a.com.au.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss their recent success (as Expert Witnesses) at VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) and how design trumps risk assessment. They discuss their case involving an application for a building permit in the outer safety zone of a major hazard facility. WorkCover advised against building two new dwellings due to increased population and societal risk. However, Richard and Gaye, as expert witnesses, argued that proper safety and design measures, such as laminated windows and steel roofs, could mitigate the risks.  The VCAT decision supports R2A’s position, and emphasises the importance of, working out the credible worst-case scenarios and then designing for it.  You can listen further about this VCAT hearing in Season 2 episodes 1 & 2 of our podcast. If you’d like to learn more about Richard & Gaye, visit www.r2a.com.au.  Please submit any feedback or topic ideas to admin@r2a.com.au.

In this episode of the podcast "Risk! Engineers Talk Governance," due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the topic of design analysis versus risk analysis. They explore the difference between ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable) and SFAIRP (so far as reasonably practicable) and how the interpretation of these concepts has caused confusion and problems in various industries.  They also discuss the importance of safety in design and the need for a retrospective design review to ensure that all reasonable practical precautions are in place. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in consequence modelling and design review, as well as the need for quality assurance and independent checks in governance processes.  The episode concludes with a reminder that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to risk analysis and that different tools and techniques can provide different insights into due diligence issues. If you’d like to learn more about Richard & Gaye, visit www.r2a.com.au.  Please submit any feedback or topic ideas to admin@r2a.com.au – we’d love to hear from you.

In the final episode of Season 2 of the Risk! Engineers Talk Governance podcast, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the de-engineering of technical roles in organisations and engineering education and philosophy. They reflect on their experience as expert witnesses at a recent hearing where technical knowledge was lacking in person, and they highlight the importance of having engineers involved in and/or advising on technical roles. They also discuss the de-engineering of organisations and the shift towards a more compliance-focused approach. They touch on the need for engineers to have a global view and the importance of questioning and thinking critically.  Also discussed is the lack of emphasis on ethics in the engineering profession and the need for a holistic approach to problem-solving and the role of engineering philosophy in driving change. The episode concludes with a reminder of the importance of thinking and the need for engineers to embrace a philosophy of change. If you’d like to learn more about Richard & Gaye, visit www.r2a.com.au.  Please submit any feedback or topic ideas to admin@r2a.com.au – we’d love to hear from you.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss nuclear power safety with reference to Finland.  Gaye shares her personal experience as an exchange student in Finland and her connection to the Olkiluoto Power Station. They discuss Finland's approach to nuclear power, including their focus on managing nuclear waste with a whole-of-life appreciation for nuclear power, and that they involve the community as stakeholders in decision-making. They also highlight Finland's commitment to safety and their precaution-based approach rather than risk-based.  If you’re like to learn more about Richard & Gaye’s due diligence engineering work, head to www.r2a.com.au.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the importance of safety culture for women's personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace.  Gaye shares her experience of encountering ill-fitting and uncomfortable PPE during her consulting career, which led her to advocate for better-fitting PPE for women. She explains the journey of founding Apto PPE, a women's and maternity fit-for-purpose safety workwear business, with the support of R2A. They discuss the challenges of getting proper fitting PPE for women in the market and the slow uptake of these options.  They also highlight the importance of organisations prioritising the safety of women onsite; that from a WHS/OHS legislation perspective the objective is to achieve the highest level of protection, organisations need to ask: “Is this reasonably practicable?” The answer should be “Why not?”; not “Why would we?”  For more information on Apto PPE head to www.aptoppe.com.au.For information on Richard and Gaye's due diligence work, head to www.r2a.com.au.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss whether the WHS legislation and Risk Management Standards have hindered critical thinking in organisations.  They observe that some organisations have become stagnant and resistant to change, relying on third-party consultants to handle risk management instead of actively engaging in the process themselves. They emphasise that risk management should be a line management function and that organisations need to adopt processes and procedures rather than simply outsourcing them.  They also discuss the importance of curiosity in risk management and the need for organisations to embrace a variety of tools and techniques to gain different insights into risk issues. They caution against relying solely on single processes and techniques, as they may not capture all potential risks, particularly rare critical ones.  If you have any feedback, please email the team at admin@r2a.com.au. For more information on Richard & Gaye’s consulting work, head to www.r2a.com.au.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss Safety Integrity Level (SIL) allocation and its implications under WHS legislation. They discuss their long history of working with IEC /AS 61508 and that their biggest caution is around Part 5 because it uses target levels of risk and safety as the basis for the SIL allocations. They share that they’ve seen SIL ratings work really well and, at other times, where there's been a misunderstanding of what SIL is. They explain the importance of getting the context right, put your hazard in, identify what your critical hazard is, and then look at all the controls that can be put in place. And often they're the civil design sort of things and mechanical designs before you even go to the electronic systems.If you’d like more information about Richard and Gaye’s work, head to www.r2a.com.au

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the journey to WHS (Work Health and Safety) criminalisation and the evolution of the risk management profession over the past few decades.  Richard discusses his working history and experience watching the application of risk management change from the 1980s to 2010s from engineers to psychologists and culture, to the lawyers.They highlight the increase in prosecutions in the last 18 months under WHS legislation, particularly targeting small and medium-sized organisations, and recent cases, such as the Dreamworld incident and the White Island explosion, with the introduction of criminal manslaughter provisions. Overall, Richard and Gaye emphasise the importance of considering all reasonable practical precautions to ensure safety in organisations, rather than solely relying on compliance audits.  If you’d like further information on Richard and Gaye’s work as due diligence engineers, head to www.r2a.com.au.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss their work as change agents for safety culture. They reflect on feedback after a recent presentation at the Australasian Marine Pilots Institute (AMPI) Conference, and how they reflected their importance in reminding industry of how to review safety.They discuss that engineering is about driving change to improve safety, and that's what they at R2A do. Engineers are not supposed to do the same thing again and again and just focus on Standards. That you need to design for what you need to do and then you check against the standard to make sure you haven't missed anything. If you’d like to learn more about R2A and Richard and Gaye’s work, head to www.r2a.com.au.This episode also touches on Apto PPE, Gaye’s women’s and maternity PPE range which you can find out more about at www.aptoppe.com.au

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss project governance due diligence. They highlight their unique approach that has incorporated a military intelligence approach and the importance of focusing on critical success outcomes and vulnerabilities rather than threats. The also emphasise the need for early involvement of key stakeholders. They also discuss the airport rail link project in Victoria and the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, and touch on the limitations of Monte Carlo simulations in identifying high consequence, low likelihood events. For further information on Richard & Gaye's work, including their Project Due Dilligence booklet, head to www.r2a.com.au

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the continuing controversy surrounding ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) and SFAIRP (So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable) and explain why they believe there is a difference between the two concepts. They also recap (further to E1 S2) their experience at a recent VCAT case in Victoria where major hazards were assessed based on consequence rather than quantified risk. They conclude that ALARP no longer exists in Victoria - something they're very happy about. Please note, it is important to consult with your legal counsel and if they're comfortable with the approach and the method for technical issues. For further information on Richard & Gaye's consulting work, head to www.r2a.com.au

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance podcast, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss a recent case they were involved in as expert witnesses at the VCAT Tribunal. The case involved a young couple who wanted to build two townhouses on a property that was within a major hazard facility contour line. The local council rejected their planning permit based on advice from WorkSafe. The couple sought help from R2A (Richard & Gaye's consulting business), who advised them on safety measures to address the hazards associated with the facility. The episode also discusses the importance of safety in design and how implementing safety in design measures in new developments near major hazard facilities can lead to a safer and more resilient community.For more information on Richard & Gaye due diligence engineering www.r2a.com.au or for their women's & maternity workwear range www.aptoppe.com.au.

In this final episode of Season 1 of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Gaye Francis & Richard Robinson discuss one of the topics they are asked most: ISO 31000, the Risk Management Standard.  They outline the consequences of ISO 31000 that it does not meet the requirements of the WHS Legislation/OHS Act in Australia & New Zealand, that organisations cannot keep using target levels of risk and safety to make safety decisions -- you can use it as a reporting tool. For more information on Richard & Gaye's due diligence consulting work, head to www.r2a.com.au. Gaye is also founder of Apto PPE www.aptoppe.com.au that sells fit-for-purpose women’s and maternity safety workwear.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Gaye Francis & Richard Robinson discuss the contest of ideas and if Australia has gone backwards in embracing SFAIRP. They also observe how many Australian Standards contradict WHS legislation/OHS Act and how Standards appear to be stopping people and organisations demonstrating SFAIRP. For more information on Richard & Gaye's due diligence consulting work, head to www.r2a.com.au. Gaye is also founder of Apto PPE www.aptoppe.com.au that sells fit-for-purpose women’s and maternity safety workwear.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Gaye Francis and Richard Robinson discuss the current New Zealand trial on the White Island Volcanic Eruption.The White Island volcano erupted on 9 December, 2019 resulting in 22 deaths. Charges were brought against various parties involved alleging breaches in New Zealand's workplace health and safety laws.This is one of the first big test cases of the WHS and Workplace Health and Safety laws in Australia and New Zealand. And the outcomes will be fascinating will set a precedence.You can find other episodes of the podcast on all major platforms including Apple, Spotify, Amazon and Google. Please subscribe so you don't miss an episode and give us a rating to help spread the word.For more information on Richard & Gaye's due diligence consulting work, head to www.r2a.com.au. Gaye is also founder of Apto PPE Women's & Maternity PPE www.aptoppe.com.au.