The SOM Podcast

In this episode of the SOM Podcast, Steve Randall interviews occupational health physiotherapist Katherine Roberts about her benchmark research comparing practice in the UK and Australia., supported by the Society of Occupational Medicine’s Jubilee Travel Fellowship.

She highlights the structural differences in funding models and titling pathways between both countries. Her insights reveal how establishing a modern capability framework could transform workforce development and professional recognition for physiotherapists in the UK.

Key Takeaways
Systemic Differences: Australia’s state-based workers' compensation schemes fund occupational health services directly, creating significantly more inherent opportunities for physiotherapists compared to employer-paid systems in the UK.
Shared Training Challenges: Both Australian and UK occupational health physiotherapists rely heavily on informal experiential learning and peer mentorship rather than structured career pathways.
Credentialing Models: Australia utilizes a formal titling process through the Australian Physiotherapy Association to demonstrate competency, whereas the UK’s ACPOHE system is less robustly structured.
Need for Standardized Frameworks: Both countries lack a modern capability framework aligned with contemporary practice, which is vital for defining scope, improving professional recognition, and guiding career development.
Value of Research Grants: The Jubilee Travel Fellowship served as a critical catalyst for the research, providing initial momentum and credentials that facilitated securing future PhD funding.
In addition to the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM), which awarded her the Jubilee Travel Fellowship, Katherine also thanked:
The University of Exeter: They supported her benchmark research study and provided the official ethical approval required to conduct it.
Academic Supervisors: She highlighted the direct support of Dr. Leanne Wood and Professor Sarah Dean from the university.
Professional Associations: She engaged closely with both ACPOHE (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Occupational Health and Ergonomics) in the UK and the APA (Australian Physiotherapy Association) during her research trip to Adelaide.

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

In our latest Mini-CPD episode, Steve Randall speaks with audiologist Trevor Chapman about how artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming workplace hearing health.

Trevor breaks down how validated machine learning algorithms enable faster, highly consistent hearing screenings without replacing human clinicians. The discussion covers practical applications, including proactive Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS) testing, cutting-edge hearing aid tech, and tackling the stigma surrounding hearing loss in the workplace.  

Key TakeawaysSpeed & Accuracy: Machine learning algorithms allow hearing screenings to be conducted faster while maintaining the accuracy of a specialized clinical environment.
Human-in-the-Loop: AI doesn't replace staff; it frees up nurses and technicians to focus on broader patient assessments and questionnaire reviews while human oversight handles red flags (e.g., HSE Category 3/4 alerts).
Proactive TTS Testing: Testing hearing before and after noise exposure (every 4 hours) helps measure Temporary Threshold Shift, assessing whether PPE is effective or if equipment needs noise-reduction modifications.
Destigmatizing Hearing Loss: Normalizing routine workplace hearing screenings helps reduce the stigma around hearing aids and prevents broader health issues like social isolation, depression, and cognitive decline.
Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn. The FastAG website.

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

Our monthly SOM News Update brings you the latest stories and insights from SOM and the wider OH world. Hosted by Steve Randall.

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Links mentioned in the podcast:

The SOM Leadership Conference 2026

The BMJ is calling for young people to get mental health and employment support before they receive a formal diagnosis. 

Campaigners are calling on the Health and Safety Executive to recognise work-related suicide as a reportable workplace death. 

SOM EVENTS
GDPR and implementation of diversity issues in a workplace, Monday 7th September 1-2pm - register here
Are Fit Notes for Purpose?, Monday 28th September 12-1pm - register here
JAOHL/SOM joint webinar: "Women's Health at Work", Tuesday 29th September 12-1.30pm  Register here.

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

In this episode, host Steve Randall sits down with occupational medicine specialist Jalees Razavi to tackle the widespread, critical issue of workplace burnout in 2026. Jalees debunks the common myth that burnout is merely an individual psychological flaw or a "mood issue," reframing it strictly as a structural, organizational failing.

The conversation explores how constant digital accessibility, understaffed environments, and superficial "wellness gimmicks" worsen chronic stress. Jalees breaks down the distinct types of burnout, explains the danger of misdiagnosing it as depression, and outlines the practical, upstream organizational changes needed to foster true recovery.

Key Takeaways
The Myth of Multitasking & Accessibility: Modern technology has created a state of constant accessibility. The continuous urge to check social media or work emails prevents the brain from entering a natural state of rest, acting as a primary driver for burnout.
Burnout is Structural, Not Personal: Burnout is a physical state of the body, not a mood issue. While individual factors exist, workplace burnout is primarily caused when the structural design of a job produces injury.
The Pitfalls of "Wellness Gimmicks": Superficial solutions like yoga classes, breathing techniques, or gym memberships often act as short-term PR or "damage control" rather than solving the root issues. In fact, forcing wellness activities into an already overloaded schedule can add to an employee's stress.
The Dangerous Misdiagnosis: Burnout often hits high performers first. Because it causes persistent fatigue and lower performance, patients are frequently misdiagnosed with depression and improperly prescribed antidepressants when the actual issue is severe occupational burnout.
Upstream Solutions: To truly address burnout, organizations must focus on four main upstream levers: managing workload, increasing employee control, allowing for real recovery, and maintaining ethical alignment. Simple tweaks, like implementing three-month task rotations, can dramatically improve employee retention and health.
Resources
Connect with Jalees Razavi on LinkedIn
Jalees’s book: The Anatomy of Burnout

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

Our monthly SOM News Update brings you the latest stories and insights from SOM and the wider OH world. Hosted by Steve Randall.

--

Links mentioned in the podcast:

Supporting workers with fertility treatment and pregnancy loss: https://www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/Fertility_Treatment_and_Pregnancy_Loss_June_2026.pdf

Keep Britain Working Update: https://www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/KBW_The_Story_So_Far_June_FINAL.pdf

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.