Fear, Sharks, and Why “Safety First” Is a Lie

Professor Andrew Sharman has been terrified of water since childhood, yet he dives with great white sharks several times a year. After nearly 30 years helping organisations in around 130 countries keep people safe, he also thinks most companies have safety backwards.

Andrew shares how he faces fear before every dive, why "safety first" rarely survives a deadline, and how zero accident targets can push problems out of sight. He explains what the Deepwater Horizon disaster reveals about perfect safety records, why employees stay silent about danger, and the questions leaders should ask instead.

He also opens up about the 206 workplace deaths he's supported organisations through, stepping in to help a stranger at a bus stop, and how becoming a dad changed the risks he takes.