In the latest episode of The Changing Safety Podcast, host Paul Clark chats with Bruce Durham, Director of Human Performance at Huddle Culture, about how the health and safety (EHS) profession can evolve from one rooted in fear and reactivity to one inspired by curiosity, communication, and genuine human connection. With more than 30 years in behavioural and performance psychology, and experience spanning from the RAF to elite-level combat sports, Bruce brings a unique perspective to how people perform under pressure and how organisations can better engage their teams to achieve lasting improvement.
Why do we focus on the negatives?
Bruce points out that most organisations pour their energy into reacting when something goes wrong. After an incident or near-miss, meetings are called, processes are reviewed, and fingers are often pointed. Yet, when things go exceptionally well, the same urgency to learn is missing. “We rarely stop to ask, why did that go so well, and how can we repeat it?” says Bruce. “Overperformance has become so normalised that it often goes unnoticed. We have conditioned ourselves to only react to failure instead of investigating success.”
He believes this focus on failure and punishment drives disengagement. The EHS profession, he argues, has leaned too heavily on fear to influence behaviour, warning of injuries, fines, and fatalities, rather than tapping into motivation, pride, and performance. “Fear might grab attention,” he says, “but it is rarely what drives real, lasting change.”
Shifting the focus, from safety to performance
For Bruce, the solution lies in reframing how safety is positioned. Instead of leading with compliance, organisations should lead with performance, wellbeing, and purpose. “If you tell a workforce you are launching a new safety programme, many will switch off before you finish the sentence,” he says. “But if you talk about improving performance, reducing stress, and helping people enjoy coming to work, suddenly everyone is listening.”
This approach does not mean ignoring safety, it means recognising that people perform safely when they feel valued, supported, and engaged. In other words, the best safety outcomes are often a by-product of a healthy, motivated workforce.
Creating the campfire environment
A recurring theme throughout Bruce’s work, and a powerful metaphor he uses, is the idea of the campfire environment. “Historically, humans have always gathered around fires to share stories, ideas, and wisdom,” he explains. “In modern workplaces, we have lost that. Instead of conversations, we have PowerPoints. Instead of listening, we reply.”
EHS professionals and leaders need to rediscover that campfire culture, spaces where people can speak freely, share insights, and connect on a human level without fear of being judged or shut down. True progress, he says, comes when people can offer without fear.
This requires courage, curiosity, and emotional regulation, particularly from those in leadership positions. “It is about being able to listen, even when you disagree,” Bruce says. “To create an environment where people can express how they feel, not just what they think.”
Building a more positive safety culture
How do we move towards this positive, people-first vision of safety? Bruce suggests starting with three elements: excitement, desire, and intrigue. Safety does not have to be dry or procedural, it can be engaging, creative, and even fun. By using storytelling, gamification, and imagination, safety professionals can reignite curiosity and make people want to be part of the conversation.
Most importantly, Bruce believes the profession must become more confident and collaborative. “We need to earn our place at the top table,” he says. “Not as subservient voices, but as courageous disruptors who challenge, innovate, and help people perform at their best.”
A legacy of better conversations
When asked what legacy he would like to leave behind, Bruce’s answer was simple but powerful: “For people to be able to have a chat, to share their feelings without fear, and to truly listen to one another. At the core of all progress is good conversation.”
If we can create workplaces where curiosity replaces fear, and conversation replaces compliance, we do not just build safer environments, we build better ones.
You can listen to the full podcast below:
About the host
Paul Clark is the Founder and CEO of Global Series, a leading events organisation bringing together EHS professionals and thought leaders to share ideas, best practices, and innovations. Through initiatives such as The Changing Safety Podcast, Paul provides a platform for open dialogue, learning, and collaboration within the global health and safety community.
About the guest
Bruce Durham is the Director of Human Performance at Huddle Culture, specialising in behavioural and performance psychology. With a career spanning over three decades, Bruce has worked with elite athletes, corporate teams, and leaders across multiple industries to enhance performance, resilience, and wellbeing. His Think. Feel. Act. programme helps organisations build happier, higher-performing teams by focusing on human connection, mindset, and authentic communication. Learn more at huddleculture.com or connect with Bruce on LinkedIn.
