Risk! Engineers Talk Governance

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss why effective due diligence arguments need to be relevant, reasoned, and concise. They share their frustrations with overly complex safety documentation that fails to deliver clear, defensible arguments, and explain why safety cases should be brief yet comprehensive enough to stand up to legal scrutiny. Drawing from their extensive experience as expert witnesses and consultants, they offer practical advice on creating effective safety documentation that not only satisfies the courts and makes sense to lawyers and Boards, but actually improves safety outcomes at optimal cost.The episode starts with them explaining (following a question from their producer) how safety approaches shifted from target-based risk assessments to the SFAIRP (So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable) principles with the OHS Act in Victoria, and why it was necessary. For further information on Richard and Gaye's consulting work with R2A, head to https://www.r2a.com.au.Gaye is also founder of women's safety workwear company Apto PPE if you'd like to check out the garments at https://www.aptoppe.com.au

In this episode, of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis revisit the distinction between SFAIRP (So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable) and Target Levels of Risk and Safety.  They explain how target levels of risk continue to be problematic in engineering despite being legally unsupportable under WHS/OHS legislation and share examples of regulators and engineers still using outdated approaches and discuss why this confusion persists, pointing to issues with Standards and educational institutions that continue teaching these methods.They clarify that SFAIRP asks "Are all reasonable practical precautions in place?" while target based approaches rely solely on calculated risk levels. Through real-world examples including expert witness cases and engineering consultations, they demonstrate how the SFAIRP approach leads to better safety outcomes and alignment between stakeholders and warn engineers and organisations still using target levels of risk for safety issues. This conversation follows their original discussion in Season 1 Episode 1: SFAIRP vs ALARP (listen at https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2180928/episodes/13021822-sfairp-vs-alarp-risk-engineers-talk-governance-podcast) While the table they refer to is available in their Criminal Manslaughter – How Not To Do It booklet, available online at https://www.r2a.com.au/store/p/r2a-criminal-manslaughter-directors-booklet Richard and Gaye also run public and in-house workshops on the topic. For further information on Richard and Gaye's consulting work with R2A, head to https://www.r2a.com.au.Gaye is also founder of women's safety workwear company Apto PPE if you'd like to check out the garments at https://www.aptoppe.com.au

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineering experts Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss why Standards are not the solution.  They explore why following Standards can be problematic, outlining key issues: 1.     Using Standards out of context;2.     There's no explanation for rationales;3.     They don't cover all things; and4.     They are often lagging indicators.They share a number of examples within SIL, AS1940 and AS61508 that demonstrate the issues if you do blindly follow the Standard. The episode concludes with their answer to an often asked question: If you don't design to Standards, how do Engineers design? The text they mention is Engineering Due Diligence (Concepts, Applications, Tools & Techniques) that can be purchased online at https://www.r2a.com.au/store/p/r2a-engineering-due-diligence-textbook  For further information on Richard and Gaye's consulting work with R2A, head to https://www.r2a.com.au.Gaye is also founder of women's safety workwear company Apto PPE if you'd like to check out the garments at https://www.aptoppe.com.au

In this episode of "Risk! Engineers Talk Governance," due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss Insurance Criteria and its history and modern relevance, particularly focusing on the Highly Protected Risk (HPR) engineering process.Richard shares his experience training with Factory Mutual in the US and explains how the HPR approach originated in the 1840s with Zacharia Allen, a cotton mill owner who re-engineered his facility to minimise fire risks. When his insurance company refused to offer discounts for these improvements, Allen created a mutual pool with other safety-conscious factory owners, establishing an engineering-based approach to insurance rather than a purely financial one.The conversation explores key concepts like Normal Loss Expectancy versus Maximum Foreseeable Loss, highlights common design flaws in Australian Standards, and emphasises that engineers must think beyond merely following standards to truly understand what they're trying to protect. The episode concludes with takeaways about designing for specific needs rather than blindly applying Standards.This conversation follows the R2A text Engineer Due Diligence (Concepts, Applications, Tools & Techniques) that can be purchased online at https://www.r2a.com.au/store/p/r2a-engineering-due-diligence-textbook. For further information on Richard and Gaye's consulting work with R2A, head to https://www.r2a.com.au. Gaye is also founder of women's safety workwear company Apto PPE if you'd like to check out the garments at https://www.aptoppe.com.au

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss: How to prevent catastrophic project blowouts. They discuss the three key considerations when undertaking project due diligence and preventing catastrophic project blowouts as: Ensure your scope is right, have identified your critical success outcomes are and all key stakeholders understand what the prize is and agree.Undertake a completeness check of threats. Project due diligence is not a risk assessment, it's about controls, and putting in controls to protect against threats.  Review the project on a regular basis and at key milestones. If there are any scope changes being proposed, you need to question what it will actually do to your project and where it's at now. Redefine the project scope, as appropriate, but ensure changes are communicated transparently and clearly. This discussion follows R2A's booklet: How To Prevent Catastrophic Project Blowouts (A Practical Guide for Directors). You can purchase online at https://www.r2a.com.au/store/p/project-governance-booklet-directors For further information on Richard and Gaye's consulting work with R2A, head to https://www.r2a.com.au.Gaye is also founder of women's safety workwear company Apto PPE if you'd like to check out the garments at https://www.aptoppe.com.au

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis this season's theme of "Difficult Conversations Engineers Need to Have About Risk". Key discussion points include:Risk is multidimensional. Risk covers a big domain that has lead to confusion.There are three different types of risk, but R2A's focus is typically on safety risk and project risk – downside risk.Commercial industry like to focus on upside, downside risk (risk and reward, risk appetite and innovation), but Engineers should focus on downside risk.Innovation and Risk Management is good but not at the expense of zero harm and the WHS/OHS legislation.Often innovation is the solution to the problem but cannot compromise safety.Innovation cannot be encouraged as the focus of Risk Management.Safety risk shouldn't been seen as an obstruction; safety is non-negotiable.Don't just choose one technique because if you do, and particularly if you ignore the WHS legislation requirements, you're going to set yourself up for a pretty serious fall.  For further information on Richard and Gaye's consulting work with R2A, head to https://www.r2a.com.au. Gaye is also founder of women's safety workwear company Apto PPE if you'd like to check out the garments at https://www.aptoppe.com.au 

In this first episode of Season 5 of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis provide an overview of their new booklet "Risk Management and Negligence - Due Diligence Essentials for Engineers". They discuss the importance of engineers to understand their responsibilities around risk management and due diligence, and the need to communicate this effectively to senior decision-makers. The booklet covers:You can't always be right but you can be diligentWhat it means to be an engineer todayThe risk management swampMethods to drain the swampDue diligence domainsThey also discuss this season's theme of difficult conversations engineers need to have and their plans for an in-person event to further discuss this topic. For further information on Richard and Gaye's consulting work with R2A, head to https://www.r2a.com.au.To purchase the new booklet, head to https://www.r2a.com.au/store/p/due-diligence-essentials-engineers-bookletAll other books are available at https://www.r2a.com.au/storeGaye is also founder of women's safety workwear company Apto PPE if you'd like to check out the garments at https://www.aptoppe.com.au

In the final episode of Season 4 of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis wrap up the key theme of the season of due diligence as a governance process. They also provide another industry example in Dam Safety, and discuss the relevance of WHS/OHS legislation and the state of prosecutions.Key take-aways include: The due diligence process is a governance process that focuses on high consequence, low likelihood events rather than risk management.Dam safety highlights how regulators focus on the worst-case scenario of a dam failure rather than likelihood.The due diligence process involves four key tasks: completeness checks, identifying critical issues, determining reasonable controls, and implementing a quality assurance system. WHS/OHS legislations must be integrated across safety decisions. WHS prosecutions seem to be more prevalent in jurisdictions where it's been in place a while, with regulators more likely to prosecute smaller to medium-sized organisations due to the increased likelihood of winning. For further information on Richard and Gaye's consulting work with R2A, head to https://www.r2a.com.au.Gaye is also founder of women's safety workwear company Apto PPE if you'd like to check out the garments at https://www.aptoppe.com.au  Look out for Season 5 coming soon!

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss due diligence for bushfires.Richard has been involved in advising on bushfire risk and controls since Ash Wednesday in 1984, while both Richard and Gaye as R2A were involved with bushfire assessments post Black Saturday in 2009.  Their discussion highlights:Bushfire season is getting longer, and the ability to prepare for it is getting shorter. Volunteer firefighters are also declining.Bushfire best practice for local planning for protection has adopted a vulnerability approach – criticality rather than likelihood.From a due diligence viewpoint, we know we cannot stop bushfires. But, what are all the controls that we can put in place?  Often it's not the threat of the bushfire itself, but the interaction of a community or people with the bushfire – the vulnerability of peri-urban areas.Building codes have been updated to improve bushfire resistance, but challenges remain around prescribed burning and access of remote areas during fires.Prepare your property, but be ready to evacuate early on high-risk days, as access can quickly become blocked. For further information on Richard and Gaye's consulting work with 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 due diligence in the electrical and power industry.They discuss due diligence and risk management considerations in the sector, with examples that focus on renewable energy sources like wind turbines and the potential role of nuclear power in Australia's energy mix. Key points include:The need to carefully assess and document the safety and emergency protocols even for foreseeable events like fires.The trade-offs involved in designing effective systems which can sometimes introduce new risks.The challenges of transitioning to a more distributed, renewable-heavy electrical grid, including the need for reliable baseload power and the shifting seasonal demand patterns in Australia.The thorough, "cradle-to-grave" approach taken by Finland in developing nuclear power, which may serve as a model for Australia.The difficulty of developing a coherent, long-term national energy policy due to the political complexities involved. Find out more about Richard and Gaye's consulting work at https://www.r2a.com.au.The full episode on Nuclear Power is Episode 9, Season 2 of this podcast.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the obligations for engineers under the WHS legislation (OHS Act in Victoria) and understanding the importance of their role if things go wrong.They discuss the fact that Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation is the overarching legislation in Australia that must guide engineering design and decision-making, and their surprise at this lack of awareness and how many still (wrongly) use Standards as a design basis.They emphasise that engineers are central to upholding WHS requirements, as they are the designers responsible when things go wrong and that the engineering design process needs to be a top-down, holistic approach that considers all relevant stakeholders and objectives, not a bottom-up siloed approach. Find out more about Richard and Gaye's consulting work at https://www.r2a.com.au.    

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the application of due diligence in the Marine Pilotage industry. They discuss various consulting work they've done with Marine Pilots across Australia and New Zealand ports, and summarise the key take-away that the process is no different for pilotage due diligence reviews than any other (industry's) due diligence review. That is, There needs to be an argument as to why all the credible critical issues have been identified. In a port, they typically look at all the user groups and what activities they're doing. Look at all the controls that can be put in place, which are reasonable in the circumstances. Always needs to be a quality assurance system to make sure that what is being put in place are sustained and managed accordingly. But, noting, there will be site specific or port specific issues so the controls put in place may be different. Find out more about Richard and Gaye's consulting work at https://www.r2a.com.au.   

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the new booklet titled "Due Diligence Essentials for Engineers" being authored by Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis. They talk about the need for the booklet being that Engineers are becoming more involved in the governance process in providing information to boards, directors and senior people. Engineers are ones aware of the critical things that can go wrong and what boards need to know about for their due diligence obligations under the WHS/OHS legislation.Other areas of discussion include:Whilst most engineers aren't directors and, therefore, don't have the due diligence obligations as spelt out by the WHS legislation, the legislation is specific about duties of designers.Engineers can not rely on Standards or Codes of Practice to absolve themselves of liability.When should engineers elevate issues to higher levels of decision-makers, and the importance of transparency in their decision-making process.Engineers can't be right all the time, but can be diligent. And with Registration of Engineers, due diligence provides a tool to be able to say they've done everything that is reasonable in the circumstances to make whatever they're working on safe. For more information about Richard and Gaye's consulting work, head to https://www.r2a.com.au/The books mentioned in this episode can be found at https://www.r2a.com.au/storeIf you'd like to be kept up-to-date with R2A news, including the launch of “Due Diligence Essentials for Engineers”, sign up at https://www.r2a.com.au/newsletter 

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the differences between the "laws of man" and the "laws of nature" in the context of due diligence engineering. Drawing on their experiences as Expert Witnesses in the Australian and NZ judicial systems, the conversation covers the following key points:A brief history of Common Law.The adversarial system in common law, where lawyers argue different sides of a case before a judge or jury, differs from the inquisitorial system in civil law jurisdictions.The principle of "innocent until proven guilty" is a logical consequence of the adversarial system, rather than a fundamental legal principle.The Scottish legal system has a third verdict of "not proven" in addition to "guilty" and "not guilty", which the speakers suggest is a more pragmatic approach.Expert witnesses in court proceedings have a duty to the court rather than the party who hired them, which can lead to challenges when presenting evidence.Engineers need to manage the laws of nature first and then satisfy the laws of man in the courts. Find out more about Richard and Gaye's consulting work at https://www.r2a.com.au.  

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the application of the due diligence process to the aviation industry. Richard discusses his recent presentation to the Australian Aviation Wildlife Hazard Group where he used the expert witness view: What is it that could have been done and if it had been done, would it have stopped it going wrong? Key take-aways:- Hazards and vulnerabilities in aviation, - Why R2A stays away from the term risk and adopts the military approach which is to say threat, - Preferred communication tools, and - The point of the due diligence process, which legislation requires, is demonstrating you were diligent and demonstrated you cared; that you did everything reasonably practicable you could in the circumstance. Find out more about Richard and Gaye's consulting work at https://www.r2a.com.au.   

 In this episode, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss controls and liability when it comes to AI and robots. OHS/WHS legislation require achieving the highest level of hazard control that is reasonably practicable. AI/Robots present potential controls to address many safety issues and can be implemented to improve safety. They discuss a number of examples where AI and robots are already enhancing safety and removing people from dangerous tasks, and when it comes to due diligence, organisations would need to demonstrate why it is not reasonably practicable to use them. The chat also covers how AI provides situational awareness and information to support human decision-making. Quality assurance processes are still necessary to ensure the robustness of AI-generated information. And that the use of AI technology also raises questions about liability, ethics, and morals.If you'd like to find out more about Richard and Gaye's consulting work, head to https://www.r2a.com.au.Find out more about their publications at https://www.r2a.com.au/store.Find out more about their training at https://www.r2a.com.au/education 

In the first episode of Season 4 of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the judicial need for reliable knowledge and the need to demonstrate causation. They highlight some of their Expert Witness examples to demonstrate how for the courts to come to a decision, they have to not only have an understanding of what went wrong, but if there was something that could have been done that would've prevented the incident. And if this hasn't been made clear, then making a decision becomes very complicated. From the point of view of the courts, if things don't happen because there's a causal link to which you can assign liability or responsibility, how can they make a decision? They finish by talking how often it's due process and, on a certain level, it is more important to have a decision society can live with rather than actually getting it right. If you'd like to find out more about Richard and Gaye's consulting work, head to https://www.r2a.com.au.Find out more about their publications at https://www.r2a.com.au/store.Find out more about their training at https://www.r2a.com.au/education 

In this special Risk! Engineers Talk Governance episode, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the recent IT outage that affected systems worldwide and the importance of criticality and resilience. Main take-aways include:The outage was predictable and foreseeable. It was a critical incident.You can't gold plate a single system so that it won't fail. The importance of redundancy – ensuring you've got another independent system that doesn't rely on the primary system.Engineering organisations are required to look at the credible worst case scenarios that can happen and what you can do and put in place to make sure that they're managedYou need to positively demonstrate due diligence about what you're doing. And due diligence means that you take into account the credible critical issues. When doing these reviews, you have to talk with the senior decision makers, who understand the business' critical requirements. If you'd like to find out more about Richard and Gaye's work, head to https://www.r2a.com.au.The book they refer to is Due Diligence Engineering and can be purchased online at https://www.r2a.com.au/store/p/r2a-engineering-due-diligence-textbook. 

In the final episode of season three of the Risk! Engineers Talk Governance podcast, due diligence engineers Richard Roberson and Gaye Francis discuss the theme of criticality and design in the context of climate change and sustainability due diligence.  They discuss:The consequences of redirecting rivers for irrigation, Why the Victorian Government built the, to now, unused desalination plant, and argue if they should be considering the potential impacts of global warming,Three possible design solutions: Sun shields, increasing cloudiness, and fertilising the Southern Ocean to address climate change, andHow knowledge, technology and costs of design solutions are constantly changing.  The textbook where the three design solutions are highlighted is R2A's Engineering Due Diligence which you can find at https://www.r2a.com.au/store/p/r2a-engineering-due-diligence-textbook For more information on Richard and Gaye's due diligence work, head to https://www.r2a.com.au/.  And if you have any comments, feedback or topic ideas for Season 4, email us at admin@r2a.com.au.

In this episode of the Risk! Engineers Talk Governance podcast, due diligence engineers and Co-Directors at R2A Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis, discuss town planning disasters and the need for consequence planning.  This follows Gaye's recent conference paper at the International Public Works Conference where she detailed the VCAT decision around the major hazard facility and the planning law associated with it. But in this podcast, they reflect on other natural hazards like floods, bushfires, dam breaks and how town planning can address (or fail to address) these before they happen. The biggest question they ask is rather than a focus on recovery, why aren't we building resilience into our infrastructure and/or seeing how we, as a community, build to be able to withstand some of these disasters? And how this is a shift from thinking from risk planning to consequence planning.  They also discuss the mismatch between town planning requirements and WHS/OHS legislation.  If you'd like to learn more about Richard & Gaye's work, head to R2A at https://www.r2a.com.au 

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis from R2A discuss how standards stifle innovation.  They highlight the frustration of engineers who are designing to standards rather than focusing on solving the actual problem at hand. They argue that standards are often lag indicators and may not keep up with the rapidly changing world and provide examples of how standards can lead to shortcuts being taken and hinder the adoption of new technologies.  If you'd like more information about Richard and Gaye, head to https://www.r2a.com.au

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.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Gaye Francis and Richard Robinson discuss the Rail National Safety law and the confusion with how it stands in relation to WHS legislation, and why if you satisfy the requirements of the WHS legislation, you have, in turn, satisfied the requirements of the Rail Safety National law. You can find 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.You can access the full conference paper at https://r2a.com.au/demonstrating-sfairp-conference-paper-core-2023/And if you'd like further information on the Rail Safety workshop they run in partnership with Engineering Education Australia, head to https://eea.org.au/courses/rail-safety-national-law-ohs-legislation-engineer-designer-obligations.For more information on Richard & Gaye's due diligence work, head to www.r2a.com.au and www.aptoppe.com.au.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Gaye Francis and Richard Robinson discuss the language of risk, why confusion reigns in organisations, and why they avoid using the term of risk altogether.You can find 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.In this episode, Gaye and Richard refer to their text Engineering Due Diligence that you can buy online at https://r2a.com.au/product/r2a-engineering-due-diligence-textbook/For more information on Richard & Gaye's due diligence work, head to www.r2a.com.au and www.aptoppe.com.au.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Gaye Francis and Richard Robinson discuss land use planning and major hazards. They share some work they've been involved with and how design engineered controls are very reliable, and there are precautions and mitigations that responsible parties can put in place to protect themselves against major hazards facilities.You can find 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 work, head to www.r2a.com.au and www.aptoppe.com.au

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Gaye Francis and Richard Robinson discuss regulations and licence to trade, the difference between the two and some of the confusion and difficulties it's causing for organisations, especially in major hazards.In their chat, they highlight the need for organisation to have their legislative requirements met and also their license to trade, and that managing and balancing both in an effective and efficient way is a big battle. And, ultimately, it doesn't work long-term to simply satisfy the regulator whilst ignoring the legal (legislation) issues.For more information on Richard & Gaye's work, head to www.r2a.com.au and www.aptoppe.com.au.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Gaye Francis and Richard Robinson discuss the role of Standards, why it's important to understand the different types of Standards, the information they contain, and why some Standards may not satisfy your legal obligations under the OHS/WHS legislation. You can find the podcast on all major platforms including Apple, Spotify and Google Podcasts. 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 work, head to www.r2a.com.au and www.aptoppe.com.au.

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Gaye Francis and Richard Robinson discuss the role of risk managers and who the function of risk actually belongs to within an organisation. And why having a really good risk advisor (internal or external) on your project makes a huge difference.You can find the podcast on all major platforms including Apple, Spotify and Google Podcasts. 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 work, head to www.r2a.com.au and www.aptoppe.com.au.

In this episode of the podcast Risk! Engineers talk Governance, due diligence engineers Gaye Francis and Richard Robinson discuss the difference between SFAIRP & ALARP.ALARP versus SFAIRP is still creating a lot of confusion within the risk industry and organisations, this discussion clarifies the difference and why organisations must work towards SFAIRP....the Act actually goes to some trouble and the precursor tool is the Victorian OHS Act 2004 has it in there… a particular clause or section that says you must achieve the highest level of precaution as is reasonably practicable.  So whilst it doesn't define SFAIRP, it does define reasonably practical. And then another portion of the Act says you've gotta achieve the highest level that you can and that's what the SFAIRP principle's all about.Find out more about Richard & Gaye's due diligence and SFAIRP work at www.r2a.com.au.Gaye is also founder & managing director of Apto PPE Women's & Maternity Hi Vis Workwear. For more head to www.aptoppe.com.au

In this special introduction episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, meet your hosts Gaye Francis and Richard Robinson who outline their due diligence engineering experience and why they are starting the podcast .You can find out more about Richard & Gaye's due diligence and SFAIRP work at www.r2a.com.au.Gaye is also founder & managing director of Apto PPE Women's & Maternity Hi Vis Workwear. For more head to www.aptoppe.com.au