Taking place on Thursday, 19th September, the Safety Expo 2024 is Aberdeen’s largest QHSE event, dedicated to raising awareness of advancements in the sector and shining a spotlight on talented local businesses.
As part of the event, an impressive line-up of speakers is set to engage, inspire, and lead discussions on better processes and improved wellbeing. One of those speakers is Emma Cook.
Emma is a global keynote speaker on sleep and fatigue, and has spoken at OEUK, INTERSEC Dubai, Step Change in Safety, IOSH and CIPD conferences. With more than a decade of research backing her insights, Emma not only explores why we need sleep but also educates on how to achieve better sleep through her platform, Purely Balanced.
Ahead of her presentation at this year’s Safety Expo, Emma shares her story and emphasises why QHSE events like this are essential, particularly for professionals in the energy sector.
In recent years, there’s been a lot of discussion around the importance of sleep, but what inspired your focus to become a specialist in this area?
“Over the last decade, conversations around sleep have increased significantly, and there’s been a lot more research into how it affects our day-to-day lives, as well as our mental and physical health. But back in my late teens and early twenties, there was hardly any information available.
“As someone who has personally experienced chronic sleep deprivation, and realising the significant impact it had on both my mind and body, I decided at the age of 26 to learn more about it. I’m the kind of person who gets fixated on things, so I quickly became determined to understand how sleep and fatigue were linked to other issues.
“During my journey, I took part in training courses - such as a Diploma in Holistic Therapy and Anatomy and Physiology, amongst others - which is where I discovered my drive to help people. I began working with women, providing holistic practices to support their wellbeing, and it was during this time that I had a client who worked for the local council. This client was delivering a mental health campaign and asked me to present, but I felt strongly that sleep should be included in the campaign material as by this time, I was certain it was the root cause of so many issues. My client then encouraged me to lead that aspect myself.
“Around this point, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released facts and figures showing that reduced fatigue can naturally improve mental health. After this, I officially launched my business.
“From there, the rest is history. Word spread about my presentation, and I was invited to speak at various organisations. Since then, I’ve continued to study and learn more to ensure I’m as up to date as possible with research and findings.”
Why do you think raising awareness of this topic is important within the QHSE industry?
“Fatigue is a major factor that affects everyone, not just people who work, it’s an issue in both personal and professional lives. The reason that it’s so important within this sector is that a fatigued person can potentially have adverse reactions which can lead to problems within the workplace, this could include errors in judgement or applying less logical thinking.
“If you address fatigue, and therefore its root cause, you can improve focus, concentration, mood, and even regulate the central nervous system. There’s nothing else, other than a good night’s sleep, that can naturally enhance all these aspects together.”
What are you most looking forward to about The Safety Expo, and why do you think this is a must-attend event?
“QHSE in general has a massive impact on the energy industry. In this sector, there are incredibly long 12-hour shifts offshore, people working away from their families, rotations, and night shifts - all of which can negatively impact someone’s wellbeing. These factors alone can lead to individuals adopting irregular sleeping patterns, which, as mentioned previously, can result in decreased performance.
“The Safety Expo offers businesses access to a variety of tools, new knowledge, and awareness of the latest technologies, all of which could transform how QHSE and employees' health and wellbeing are managed internally.
“There’s a saying, ‘a workplace only runs as well as its team and a team only runs well if it's well rested’. But when it comes to a topic like QHSE, how do you inspire and educate? I genuinely think that’s why this event is a must-attend, because it presents valuable information in an engaging and entertaining way. Nobody wants to read PDFs all the time - this is a chance to break the stereotype and bring excitement to this field.”
What do you think Safety Expo attendees and exhibitors will gain from your talk?
“Where to begin! My presentation is actually a ‘how to’ session, so listeners will receive both practical and educational training that will improve their sleep.
“I don’t believe in just covering ‘how to switch off’, I include what to do if you’re not sleeping and what could be affecting it. We’ll also go over how to wake up better and battling mid day slumps, so everyone should leave with at least one valuable takeaway that they can apply immediately!
“Throughout my career, I’ve often asked the question on stage: ‘How seriously are sleep and fatigue management taken within the energy industry?’ The overwhelming response? They’re not.
“Sleep and fatigue management, along with health and safety, are often discussed in long, tedious meetings. The typical advice? Walk 10,000 steps a day, drink two litres of water, sleep for seven hours, and turn off your phone. But that’s not the answer. I encourage people to continue living their lives as they are, because sleeping better shouldn’t mean changing your entire routine, instead, I give them one simple change to implement before going to bed.
“The feedback? It’s been incredible. I can’t wait to share all of this with Safety Expo attendees in September.”
Emma Cook has the following accreditations and qualifications:
Level 3 Education and Training
Registered IOSH (Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) Training Provider
Training Level: Healing Power of the Mind
Masters Level: The Art of Finding Stillness and Calm
HUET BOSIET MIST & Vantage Card
Diploma in Holistic Therapy and Anatomy and Physiology
CIPD QCF Level 3
You can see Emma speak at the Safety Expo at P&J Live on Thursday 19th September. To book your free ticket, click here.
To find out more about the event, click here.
