Ep1: From catching criminals to catching risks

About this episode

Alan Smith discusses his transition from law enforcement to industrial investigations and the insights gained from his experiences.

In this first episode of The Risk Factor , Alan Smith, Head of Investigations at COMET, shares his incredible journey from a 30-year career in law enforcement to the world of industrial investigations. Alan takes us through his time with Grampian Police, where he investigated serious incidents in the North Sea, including the tragic capsize of the Bourbon Dolphin in 2007. Alan’s transition from criminal to industrial investigations required a major shift in mindset, and in this conversation with Energy Voice Aberdeen features lead Ryan Duff, he discusses the challenges and cultural shocks he encountered when moving to the private sector. From tackling the "whodunit" of criminal investigations to understanding the "why" behind industrial accidents, Alan offers valuable insights into how the approach to investigations changes across sectors. Alan also reflects on how lessons learned in the field, like the importance of identifying systemic failures rather than individual blame, have shaped his work at COMET. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on what makes investigations in the high-risk industry sector so vital and why understanding root causes is key to preventing future…

People in this episode

Guest: Alan Smith

Topics covered

• law enforcement
• industrial investigations
• accident prevention
• systemic failures

Keywords

• Bourbon Dolphin
• Grampian Police
• energy sector
• investigative techniques

Mentioned in this episode

Products: the Bourbon Dolphin

Books & works: The Risk Factor

Places: the North Sea

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