What really causes workplace injuries, and how can you prevent them before they happen? In this episode, Chris G chats with Desai Link, a former lawyer turned safety expert from New Zealand, about what actually works when it comes to jobsite safety. From hiring the wrong people to tools being misused, Desai shares real stories and advice that every business owner and crew leader needs to hear. You’ll learn why training alone isn’t enough, what to do after something goes wrong, and how to build a safety-first culture without slowing down the work.

Desai Link is a certified occupational health and safety professional and a qualified lawyer, bringing a rare mix of legal insight and hands-on safety experience. Since 2010, he has worked across high-risk industries such as transport, construction, oil and gas, and hospitality, managing safety programs for workforces of up to 800 people.

Currently serving as a Group HSE & Risk Manager, Desai is also the author of Beyond the Incident, a practical guide for workplace incident investigations. His work focuses on moving beyond blame and checklists to understand the real causes of accidents. He’s also the co-host of the Circus of Safety podcast, where he shares honest conversations about safety, risk, and building better workplace cultures.

Connect with Desai:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desailink/

Grab a copy: https://tinyurl.com/447sea7f


Episode highlights:
(0:00 ) Intro
(1:11 ) Desai’s journey: From forklifts to law to safety
(1:51 ) The best way to stop accidents before they happen
(3:12 ) Staying safe and staying legal
(4:25 ) When should you hire a full-time safety person?
(5:36 ) Training vs. competence
(6:40 ) What Beyond the Incident is all about
(7:57 ) Real story: the fake carpenter and a serious injury
(10:15 ) What to do right after an incident
(12:01 ) Weed at work: what counts as being “under the influence”?
(16:25 ) Who should respond on site when something happens
(18:24 ) Workers’ comp: how it works in different places
(23:25 ) When equipment is the real problem
(26:19 ) #1 safety tip for business owners
(27:53 ) Safety and culture go hand in hand
(29:35 ) Where to find Desai Link and his resources
(30:23 ) Outro

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