A must-read for everyone working in high-risk environments.

Convenience works everywhere in the world… except safety!

This book is a powerful wake-up call. What may seem like a quick, easy, or efficient choice in the moment can have devastating consequences when it comes to safety.

This concept comes vividly to life through the gripping account of Theo Venter's personal journey. His story, shaped by a life-altering convenient choice, reveals how a seemingly harmless decision driven by convenience almost killed him.

Alongside Theo's compelling story, you'll gain precise insights and practical tools that will radically transform your safety culture forever. This eye-opening read will change the way you think about risk and safety, ensuring that convenience never takes precedence over workplace lives.

“Convenience Kills brings the truth out into the open and puts it firmly on the agenda.”

The book "Convenience Kills" by Theo Venter and Ken Roberts explores the concept of 'Convenience' as a pivotal factor behind workplace incidents and accidents. The authors argue that the pursuit of convenience often leads to making choices that, while seeming easy or efficient at the moment, can have dire consequences in terms of safety. This idea is illustrated through the narrative of Theo Venter's personal experience with a life-changing accident, where a decision made from convenience nearly cost him his life.

The book delves into the often-overlooked impact of 'Convenient choices' in workplace safety, suggesting that these choices fly under the radar of traditional safety measures. It criticises the conventional approach to safety, which often focuses on compliance and procedures without adequately addressing the human tendency to choose convenience in "the heat of the moment". The common approach to safety is becoming obsolete and seen as insufficient in dealing with the root causes of many workplace incidents today.

Moreover, the book examines the concept of the 'Performance Trap,' highlighting how the conflation of performance with perfection leads to safety issues. When workers are overly focused on task completion and performance targets, they unwittingly overlook safety considerations. This perfectionist mindset, driven by a desire for convenience and efficiency, can lead to a disregard for potential risks and an underestimation of the importance of safety measures. The authors advocate for a balance between performance and safety, emphasising the need for a workplace culture that allows room for human fallibility and prioritises collaborative solutions over individualistic, convenience-driven approaches.

Join me on a powerful journey as I recount the moments before, during, and after my life-changing accident. I’ll reveal the emotions I felt, the voices in my head, my struggles with depression, and thoughts of suicide—everything. This is a raw, honest look at how I survived and found strength in the darkest moments. —Theo Venter
Print length 130 pages
Language English
Publication Date 5 April 2022
Dimensions 15.24 x 0.76 x 22.86 cm
ISBN-10 0648508625

About the authors

Theo Venter

Theo is the only person known to have survived 22,000 volts and 1,200 amps through the heart and lived to see another day.

Theo now shares his story in the hopes of ensuring all workers can return home safely to their family and loved ones, having presented to hundreds-of-thousands of people around the world.


Ken Roberts

Having first stepped foot on a mine site at the age of 16, Ken is an industry veteran with over 45 years experience in project/construction management, safety, and personal development.

As a Cultural Transformation Leader running programs for mining giants like BHP, Ken’s mission is about inspiring engagement, accountability, and team spirit within diverse work teams.