Rebranding Safety with Sam Goodman – Implementing HOP with SME’s

Overview

In this blog, we explore a high-energy chat between James McPherson from Risk Fluent and Sam Goodman, known as The Hop Nerd. They unpack the messy world of health and safety. If you’re part of a small business, this one’s for you. Learn how to stop chasing perfection and start building real safety, from the ground up.

Rebranding Safety with Sam Goodman – Implementing HOP with SME’s

Health and safety can feel overwhelming. You’ve got forms to fill, rules to follow, and barely enough time to get the job done. Safety doesn’t need to be perfect. It only needs to make sense.

James and Sam agree on one thing. Safety isn’t broken because people do things wrong. It’s broken because we expect perfect systems in messy workplaces. This is especially true in small businesses, where money’s tight, time is short, and every team member wears a dozen hats.

Real Safety for Real Workplaces

You don’t need fancy language or expensive systems. What you need is a safety setup that fits your business, not someone else’s.

• Forget the jargon. You don’t need “Safety II” or “Safety Differently.” Think – what could go wrong, and how do we make sure people don’t get hurt?
• Don’t copy big business. Big companies have money and time to experiment. Most small firms don’t. Focus on what works for you, not what’s trendy.
• Start where you are. Are you waiting until you have perfect policies before making safety changes? You’ll be waiting forever. Start small. Learn. Improve as you go.

“If you’re waiting to get everything perfect before doing the ‘new stuff,’ you’re just going to redo it all later.” — James McPherson

Why Small Businesses Need a Different Approach

Here’s a wild stat. 99.9% of UK businesses are small or medium-sized. Most safety ideas are built for the 0.1%, the big corporations.

James and Sam argue that real safety conversations need to focus on the 99.9%. That’s you. The local builders, shops, trades, and start-ups are trying to do things right without going broke.

What can you do?

• Use your team. The people doing the job know what’s risky and what works. Talk to them.
• Focus on impact. Don’t just write risk assessments because the law says so. Write them so they help keep people safe.
• Ask the right questions. Instead of saying “be careful,” ask, “what can we change so things don’t go wrong in the first place?”

Let Tech Spot the Patterns

Here’s a smart idea from the chat. Computer vision (AI + cameras) can help you spot patterns and fix issues before someone gets hurt.

For example, an AI tool noticed deliveries were stacking up near the shop entrance every Monday. Nobody had time to clean up, and it became a trip hazard. With that info, the team spread deliveries over more days. Simple fix, better safety.

You can download the full white paper they talk about here (link in the original video description) for ideas you can use.

Takeaways

• You don’t need a fancy name for good safety. Just do what makes your team safer today.
• There’s no perfect order to things. Start doing safety well now, not after writing 200 pages of policy.
• Listen to the people doing the job. They’re the experts in what really happens at work.
• Avoid the “one-size-fits-all” trap. Your business is unique—your safety system should be too.
• Use tools (like AI) to learn, not to blame.

Do You Need Help Putting This Into Practice?

Risk Fluent helps small businesses and safety teams create practical safety systems that work in the real world. We don’t only talk about it. We partner with you to make it happen.

• Whether you’re just starting or already running a safety team, we can help.
• Join The Health and Safety Network for weekly support calls, advice, and a community that gets it.

Visit healthandsafetynetwork.com to learn more.

Final Thought

Safety isn’t about being perfect. It’s about getting better every day. Focus on real risks. Start small. Keep learning. And most of all, treat people like people.

“People aren’t the problem. But yeah, sometimes they’re a pain in the ass and that includes us.” — Sam Goodman