When it comes to health, safety, and well-being at work, the message doesn’t need to be complicated - it just needs to land home. And more importantly, it needs to stick.

That’s the approach of Simon Smith , General Manager at adi Healy Compressor Services , who believes that keeping people safe is the most important thing any team does, every single day.

Simon makes health and safety a constant part of the conversation - but not in a doom-and-gloom kind of way. He keeps things straightforward, clear, and memorable. The tone may be light, but the message is anything but. “Safety,” he says, “is the foundation that everything else rests on.”

Over time, Simon has learned that the biggest risks often come from mindset, not the task itself. That’s why one of his guiding rules is simple: don’t be a hero. “Most accidents happen when people push too hard or cut corners. And we all know what happens to the hero at the end of a cowboy film.”

Instead, he encourages his team to pause, think, and act with care. That moment of reflection can be the difference between a job done safely and one that isn’t. Every team member has the option, and their backing, to say the work is not going ahead.

At adi, safety is more than a monthly toolbox talk - it’s woven into the culture. And it’s not a one-way conversation. “Team feedback is vital,” says Simon. “It tells us what’s working and what needs to change to better support people’s wellbeing.”

For Simon, this work is also personal. “I want people to retire healthy and active, to not look back wishing I’d done things differently.”

Looking back at when Simon earned his National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) certificate at age 26, he reflects, “It taught me to look at a task from all angles.”

Simon shares; “Those early into their careers have fresh ideas to bring to the table but desire experience in the field – while more seasoned professionals have experience and knowledge but may have developed outdated habits. This is where we can keep learning with each other. It takes self-awareness on both sides - and the courage to speak up.”

Simon also recognises the unique challenges across experience levels. Younger workers may take risks, believing they’re invincible. More experienced ones might stick to outdated habits.

One story he shares speaks volumes. On a project for a luxury car manufacturer, one of the engineers on Simon’s team, Matt Wilkes, was managing activity in the contractor compound when a client’s health and safety advisor entered the area without wearing a hard hat. Matt immediately asked him to leave the compound and return with the correct PPE. What could’ve been an awkward moment turned into one of mutual respect - the advisor returned fully equipped and congratulated Matt for taking ownership.

That moment perfectly captures what Simon sees as one of the most powerful responsibilities of any leader: to lead by example.

“If you say safety comes first, you have to show it does.”

This philosophy is at the heart of Simon’s leadership - a balance of accountability and relatability. “People forget boring safety briefings,” he adds. “But they remember the punchlines, the stories, and the real moments that matter.”

Ultimately, Simon believes health and safety is about people - making sure everyone goes home safely. That’s a message worth repeating, especially during Health & Safety Week.

His final thought?

“Take it seriously - because once you've seen the aftermath of an accident, you’ll never see safety the same way again.” Everyone can have an input and a voice, to stop something before it goes terminal.

Because it's not just about what happens in the moment - it's about the recovery, the ripple effects, and the lives it impacts.

So, let’s keep the conversation going. Let’s keep looking out for one another. And let’s keep showing that safety doesn’t slow us down - it keeps us moving forward.