Make Work Safer – Lessons from Juliana Bley at EHS Congress
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Overview
At the EHS Congress 2024 in Berlin, Juliana Bley – a psychologist, TEDx speaker, and expert in workplace safety and mental health – shared powerful ideas about how we learn and grow in the world of health and safety. Speaking with the Rebranding Safety Show, Juliana explained why we need more conversations, empathy, and real human connection to create safer workplaces.
Make Work Safer: Lessons from Juliana Bley at EHS Congress
1. Learning Is a Lifestyle, Not a One-Time Event
Juliana believes learning doesn’t stop when we leave school. In fact, it should never stop. She explains we are lifelong and lifewide learners. That means we remember all the time and from many places, not only in classrooms but also from podcasts, YouTube videos, real conversations, and experiences at work.
“Learning is a lifestyle. It’s something we do everywhere, with everyone.”
2. Dialogue Is the Most Powerful Learning Tool
Juliana says that real change comes from talking and listening to each other. When we connect through conversation, not only lectures or training slides, we build trust and truly learn. This is especially true in adult learning, where relationships matter more than sharing information.
At Risk Fluent, we know safety talks often feel dull. But Juliana’s message is clear. Make them meaningful by having real conversations, not mere instructions.
“The power of a conversation is massively underappreciated.”
3. We Need Emotionally Safe Spaces to Learn
People learn best when they feel safe, heard, and respected. Juliana suggests building emotional safety first. Then, people are more open to learning and sharing ideas. This includes allowing space to make mistakes without blame. Learning becomes a shared journey, not a test.
“We need safe spaces where people can fail, talk openly, and build trust.”
4. Traditional Training Isn’t Enough
Juliana challenges the idea that safety training should only be lectures or PowerPoint slides. Instead, we need experiences that engage all parts of a person, including their heart, mind, and hands.
She suggests using tools such as:
- Storytelling
- Case studies
- Games
- Apps
- Videos
- Simulations (like VR)
Nevertheless, she warns that if the training doesn’t meet a real need or connect with the learner, it’s only entertainment, not education.
“Training is not always the right solution. We must match the tool to the real problem.”
5. Start with Purpose, Then Design the Experience
Before jumping into any training, Juliana says we must ask, Why are we doing this? What’s the goal? What do workers really need?
She uses tools such as the Empathy Map from design thinking to understand people’s challenges before designing any learning journey. This human-centred approach makes learning more effective and engaging.
“If you don’t like apples, why would I put them in your meal plan? We must design learning with the learner.”
6. Safety Needs to Make Sense to Workers
If workers don’t see value in safety messages, they won’t listen. Juliana encourages safety leaders to become sense-makers. They should help people understand why safety matters in their everyday work. When safety feels meaningful, people pay attention.
“Make safety something people want to learn about, not something they have to.”
7. Try It Yourself – Juliana’s First Step
Want to put this into practice? Juliana’s advice is to join a training programme where you experience human-centred learning firsthand. One of her favourites is The Art of Hosting, a global community that teaches leadership, dialogue, and co-creation.
Once you feel what great learning looks like, you’ll be ready to bring those ideas into your workplace.
Final Thoughts
Juliana Bley’s message is simple but powerful. We need to change how we teach safety. Less lecturing, more listening. Less pressure, more purpose. Real conversations build real change.
At Risk Fluent, we believe in making safety human again. Let’s move from rules to relationships and from boring slides to meaningful dialogue.
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Has over 12 years of experience in safety and fire across various industries like healthcare, housing, and manufacturing. As the Managing Director at Risk Fluent and host of the “Rebranding Safety” podcast and YouTube channel, he is committed to making safety discussions engaging. James’s innovative approach and dedication to rebranding safety have made him a respected figure in the field.