Delaying Decisions to Avoid SFAIRP

Delaying Decisions to Avoid SFAIRP

Author: Richard Robinson & Gaye Francis March 29, 2026 Duration: 13:06
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss Delaying Decisions to avoid SFAIRP (So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable). Their conversation covers: if lack of a decision is the result of ignorance and poor governance rather than deliberate strategyhow the elimination option often gets tested far too late in the design processwhy briefing board members and their legal counsel on WHS legislation obligations is...

Ever found yourself wondering why safety and risk management in engineering feels so tangled, expensive, and disconnected from actual results? That’s the exact territory explored in Risk! Engineers Talk Governance. Hosted by Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis, both seasoned due diligence and risk engineers who co-direct the consultancy R2A, this podcast cuts through the complexity that’s grown around the industry. They’ve watched, with a practical engineer’s eye, as fields like OHS and WHS have ballooned into a costly business in themselves, often leaving organisations out of pocket without seeing meaningful improvements. What sets their conversations apart is a foundation in real engineering practice-they come from the tools-and-dirt side of things, not just a policy manual. Each episode digs into governance frameworks, decision-making, and compliance, but always through the lens of applied engineering logic and on-the-ground experience. It’s for professionals in technology, business, and management who are tired of checkbox exercises and want to hear frank discussions about making risk management sensible, effective, and value-adding again. You’ll get their direct, no-nonsense perspectives on bridging the gap between boardroom obligations and operational reality, making this podcast a unique resource for anyone tasked with building safer, more resilient organisations without the pointless overhead.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 75

Risk! Engineers Talk Governance
Podcast Episodes
Difficult Conversations Engineers need to have about Risk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:27
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis this season’s theme of "Difficult Conversations Engineers Need to Have About Risk". Key discuss…
Risk Management & Negligence - Due Diligence Essentials for Engineers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:26
Drop us a note In this first episode of Season 5 of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis provide an overview of their new booklet "Risk Management and Negligence - Du…
Bush Fire Risk, Due Diligence & Mitigation Controls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:39
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss due diligence for bushfires. Richard has been involved in advising on bushfire risk and…
Due Diligence in the Electrical & Power Industry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:15
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss due diligence in the electrical and power industry. They discuss due diligence and risk…
Obligations for Engineers under WHS/OHS legislation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:14
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the obligations for engineers under the WHS legislation (OHS Act in Victoria) and under…
Due Diligence in Marine Pilotage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:01
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the application of due diligence in the Marine Pilotage industry. They discuss various…
Due Diligence Essentials for Engineers - R2A's New Booklet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:35
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the new booklet titled "Due Diligence Essentials for Engineers" being authored by Richa…
Laws of Man vs Laws of Nature in the Due Diligence Context [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:05
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the differences between the "laws of man" and the "laws of nature" in the context of du…
Aviation Industry & the Application of the Due Diligence Process [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:48
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the application of the due diligence process to the aviation industry. Richard discusse…