1% Safer than What?
1% Safer than What?
I was told today there is now something called ‘the 1% safer movement’, really? What is this industry that frames everything by a number? What is this psychosis with numbers? (https://safetyrisk.net/its-always-a-number/) and what does this mean? If I am 1% safer now than I was yesterday and then the next day I’m 1% less safe, what does this mean? Perhaps it means that I’m a fallible human and ought to get used to it the fluctuations of fallibility and stop talking nonsense to people (https://safetyrisk.net/believe-the-impossible-and-speak-nonsense-to-people/) . More meaningless gibberish from an industry that doesn’t know what to do. More slogans and nothing practical that works. If ever these was an industry less professional that doesn’t know what to do, it’s safety.
Why is it that this industry cannot get a grip that numeric are not a representation of safety? (https://safetyrisk.net/injury-rates-and-the-danger-of-eating-sultanas/) It never ends, this fixation with attribution of metrics that have no connection to safety. When you don’t know what to do it seems to be: pickles, Hazardman, meerkats, Mums for Safety and now 1%, but don’t actually do anything that would make a difference (https://safetyrisk.net/meerkat-mythology-in-safety/). Don’t do anything that actually works (https://www.humandymensions.com/product/it-works-a-new-approach-to-risk-and-safety/). Then call something ‘different’ and retreat back to systems and measurement, engineering and science like last time. It seems the best route to non-safety is a competition for marketing mayhem.
For those that actually want to improve safety, the best way to start is to move away measurement, numerics and the delusions of zero ideology. If you want to know how to move away from zero so that safety improves, then here is a book to help: https://www.humandymensions.com/product/it-works-a-new-approach-to-risk-and-safety/
I know, lets start a 1% better dad movement, what would that look like. How would we measure that:
· Perhaps cleaning the dishes more earnestly next time
· Perhaps vacuuming the floor more often
· Maybe listening 1% more
· Or maybe drinking less and playing with the kids more
And how could you quantitatively measure that? You can’t, and why would you want to. I can see it now, a new movement, ‘I’m a 1% better dad’. Yuk! Just wait till tomorrow.
Anything that really matters like: love, trust, care, helping and listening, that actually improve safety cannot be measured, these are higher goals. Only people who desire lower order goals (https://safetyrisk.net/goals-and-vision-in-safety/) fall for numeric nonsense of 1% safer.
If you desire higher order goals and actually want to improve safety then you have to leave numeric nonsense behind. The only way to improve safety is to walk away from the ideology of numerics, language numeric and zero ideology and start focusing of people and doing what works.
Prof. Robert Long
Latest posts by Prof. Robert Long (see all)
- Enactive Thinking in Performance as Meeting – Free Workshops - August 19, 2026
- How Safe is Too Safe? - August 17, 2026
- Enactive Cognition in Safety – Free Workshops - August 17, 2026
- The Satire of Safety Extremism - August 15, 2026
- Our Colours Never Fade - August 14, 2026
It is important to note that this latest trend is just another reframing of the zero vision discourse. You can see the connection her: https://www.safeopedia.com/one-percent-safer-through-vision-zero-and-marginal-gains/2/8831
The not so hidden agenda is the same marginal goals discourse of zero, all in denial of fallibility human personhood. The same discourse in measurement, same actions that don’t work and, multiple contradictions. Listen to the discourse in the video, all discourse framed by numbers and percentages.