Glen Carlin Interview

As the propelling force behind Carlin Ltd, Glen remains deeply intertwined in the company’s everyday functions to ensure it stays true to its course. With a career spanning over two decades in health and safety, Glen recalls his initiation into the field: starting at a Southampton warehouse where the managing director’s training recommendation led him to pursue a safety management course. His proactive approach soon saw him step into the role of health and safety advisor after the previous one moved on.

From early on, Glen embraced a thirst for knowledge and self-improvement. What started as a job soon transformed into a passion-driven career. “It went from being a task and a tick box to something I was invested in,” Glen shares. “The focus shifted to delving into the nitty-gritty, striving for excellence, enhancing standards, and not just moving through tasks.”

Glen speaks of his motivation to delve into varied aspects of health and safety, taking on challenges across multiple sectors including groundworks, marinas, logistics, tunnel construction, and reinforced concrete frameworks. While he found value in working directly for major organisations because of the challenging environments they presented, over time his desire was for more direct engagement with people and teams on the ground. His aspiration was to drive change and nurture collaboration within businesses rather than be caught up in the political agenda’s outside of his control.

Considering National Careers Week (4-9 March), we asked what advice he would provide emerging professionals, Glen underscored the importance of understanding people and their behaviours. “Having an affinity for working with individuals rather than adopting a stringent rule-based approach is key,” Glen points out. “It’s crucial to comprehend the ‘why’ behind things to reach mutually agreeable outcomes. People don’t intentionally set out to cause mishaps or resist compliance; often they may not recognise or fully grasp the risks or ramifications of their actions.” Glen acknowledges that despite prevalent beliefs regarding health and safety roles being paper-laden professions no teenager dreams of pursuing a career in health and safety at 16, but if you possess an innate curiosity about human behaviour coupled with attention to detail, you can thrive in this field. For those willing to exercise initiative and who have persistence and determination in spades, he assures that it is an incredibly fulfilling path that truly makes an impact.

When quizzed about common misapprehensions surrounding health and safety regulations, Glen clarifies these notions succinctly: “The process isn’t about drowning in paperwork; nor is it about achieving absolute perfection before beginning any task.” He explains that risk management involves identifying potential issues and introducing practical measures rather than awaiting flawless conditions.

Confronting another myth head-on, Glen states that consultations don’t happen exclusively behind closed doors or detached from reality. On the contrary, he believes that direct interaction with those executing tasks offers invaluable insights leading to more sensible controls and overall making tasks more manageable. His philosophy advocates for practical engagement over attempting to plan for every conceivable scenario without firsthand observation of the work at hand.

Finally, we explored the evolving relationship between technology and safety protocols. Glen noted that while a multitude of apps and consultancies offer specialised programs boasting various functionalities, it’s rare to find a one-size-fits-all solution. The key lies in customising how these innovations integrate with your operations for maximum efficiency, which might entail a blend of traditional methods and digital advancements.

He also cautioned against becoming overdependent on sophisticated systems. Sometimes, simplicity reigns—opting for a straightforward form paired with direct communication can outweigh the perceived convenience of high-tech alternatives in terms of practicality.