Humanising Safety and Embracing Real Risk
Much ado about nothing? Section 44 of the WA Mines Safety & Inspection Act Article by Greg Smith first published HERE For a long time now I have been concerned about how section 44 of the Mines Safety & Inspection Act is marketed to the WA mining industry as an important part of supervisors’ obligations. Section 44 is, for the most part, an administrative provision that does not c … [Continue reading...] about Much ado about nothing? Section 44 of the WA Mines Safety & Inspection Act
Can There be a Feminist Safety? Yesterday the media ran hot with the advent of the first female star of Dr Who . The reports extracted every ounce of gender stereotyping possible in the name of journalism. What it highlighted was the continued misunderstanding in our society of feminism, gender and confusion about social politics. Feminism is not just about being female and masculinism is not … [Continue reading...] about Can There be a Feminist Safety?
Safety Isn’t Sexy, and it Shouldn’t Be! It’s amazing how some people in safety spend more energy trying to rebrand and market the product than reflect and change the nature of the product. Everyone knows that the word ‘safety’ conjures up associations with words like ‘dumb’, ‘embuggerance’, ‘dollard’, ‘checklisting’, ‘policing’ and ‘bullying’. If you want to kill conversation at a party just tell … [Continue reading...] about Safety Isn’t Sexy, and it Shouldn’t Be!
Selective and Slow Harm is not Zero Harm Every time I go onto a zero harm site it is interesting to see what they stock in vending machines and what language is spoken on site about selective methods of harm. The three most culturally accepted substances of harm are sugar, salt and alcohol. The consumption of these substances is culturally endorsed on every zero harm site I have visited. Indeed, … [Continue reading...] about Selective and Slow Harm is not Zero Harm
Accidents Happen Because You Don’t Put Safety First This is the language and logic of Worksafe Victoria (http://worksafenews.com.au/news/item/571-farmers-urged-to-put-safety-first-as-fatalities-soar.html). Apparently farmers put safety last or second and that’s why farmers get injured. If only farmers got the hierarchy right there would be no harm. If only this simplistic, binary and naïve appr … [Continue reading...] about Accidents Happen Because You Don’t Put Safety First
