Ep1: From catching criminals to catching risks
In the debut episode of The Risk Factor, Alan Smith, COMET’s Head of Investigations, takes us through his remarkable transition from a three-decade career in law enforcement to industrial investigations. Alan reflects on his time with Grampian Police, where he handled major incidents in the North Sea, including the devastating Bourbon Dolphin capsize in 2007.
Shifting from criminal to industrial investigations required a complete change in perspective. In this conversation with Ryan Duff, Aberdeen Features Lead at Energy Voice, Alan opens up about the cultural differences and challenges he faced in the private sector. He delves into the shift from solving "whodunit" cases to uncovering the "why" behind industrial accidents, offering valuable lessons on how investigative approaches vary between sectors.
Alan also discusses how his experience has shaped his work at COMET, emphasising the importance of addressing systemic issues over individual blame. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation on the critical nature of investigations in high-risk industries and why uncovering root causes is essential to preventing future incidents.
Tune in to hear Alan’s expert insights on preventing industrial accidents, managing human error, and much more.
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