Mike Palmer: safety is a team effort – it isn’t something you can impose on people

The power of positivity: delivering safety with a smile

Mike’s career spans the Royal Air Force, nursing, construction and health, safety and wellbeing leadership, but one principle has guided his career: looking after people.

Tell us a bit about your career journey and how you ended up in health and safety?

I’m originally from Cardiff, South Wales, and joined the Royal Air Force at 17. After 12 years in the military, I moved into nursing before discovering the construction industry through a role working with cranes and powered access equipment. 

That sparked a deeper interest in safety within construction, which led me to join Mott MacDonald in 2019. Today, I support health, safety, wellbeing, security and crisis management activities across the Middle East and South Asia.  

While the industries were very different, my career has centred on the same thing: looking after people. That has always motivated me.

How have your military and sporting backgrounds influenced your approach to leadership and safety?

The biggest lesson from my experience in the military and rugby is that success is always a team effort, and that requires humility. The same is true of safety.  

Building a strong safety culture requires everyone to play their part. It’s not about individual achievement or ego, it’s about bringing people together, listening to different perspectives and creating shared ownership.

How do you maintain a consistent approach to safety across different regions?

What works in one country may not work in another. We apply the same principles, share international best practice and help raise standards, while respecting the local context. That balance is what makes the work challenging but also rewarding.

What steps have you taken to enhance on-site safety during the regional conflict in the Middle East?

We wanted to provide our colleagues, with greater protection than conventional site offices so we introduced reinforced shipping containers as emergency shelters across our project sites.  

With steel roofs, strengthened with sandbags, they provided a practical solution that offered clear benefits over standard site accommodation for our employees, clients and partners. What I’m most proud of is that we didn’t wait to be asked.

How did COVID-19 have a lasting impact on our approach to health and safety?

The biggest change was the importance placed on wellbeing. 

COVID-19 encouraged managers to check in more regularly with their teams and take a greater interest in how they were coping, both personally and professionally. 

We’re much better at having those conversations than we were before. Sometimes simply asking, “How are you?” and genuinely listening can make a difference.

How are digital technologies making project delivery safer? 

Digital tools are helping us identify hazards earlier and build safety into designs, reducing risks during construction. We’re also exploring how artificial intelligence can be used to analyse project reporting, identify trends quicker, and enable designers to manage risks more proactively.

How do you influence safety culture across such a diverse organisation?

Safety isn’t something you can impose on people. You need to help them understand why it matters, explain the benefits and create buy-in. 

Sometimes people see safety as an additional process or a barrier to progress. In reality, when work is planned and delivered safely, it’s often more efficient, better organised and produces better outcomes.

What advice would you give to anyone considering a career in health and safety?

Remember that health and safety is about people first. Technical knowledge is essential, but listening, building relationships and creating environments where others can succeed is what really makes the difference. 

If you enjoy helping people, it’s an incredibly rewarding career. There’s no greater achievement than making sure everyone gets home safely.

How does Mott MacDonald’s employee-owned model give people a voice?

Recently, I’ve taken on an additional role joining Our Voice, a forum which listens to colleagues from across the business and brings insights into senior leadership discussions.  

I’m enjoying being part of a diverse group of employees, who make up the forum, from different levels, roles and regions in our business. I feel it’s a really important addition to our employee ownership model, strengthening how we listen to our people.

Is there anyone who has particularly influenced you at Mott MacDonald?

Throughout my career there have been experienced people who took the time to guide and support me, and I’ve always tried to do the same for others. Laura Hague, group safety manager, has been a fantastic role model and I’ve always admired her ability to lead with positivity.  

We often say we do “safety with a smile” and I think that’s important. People are far more likely to engage with you if you approach them positively and constructively.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? 

Sport has always been a huge part of my life. Although I can no longer play rugby after back surgery, I am still involved with the Dubai Hurricanes Rugby Club and enjoy travelling to watch major rugby tournaments with friends and family. 

One of the things I enjoy most about Mott MacDonald is the sense of community beyond the day job. Whether it’s football, padel, cycling, cricket, wellbeing initiatives or social events, there are plenty of opportunities for colleagues to connect, build friendships and support one another.