Suffering - Sometimes There Is No Reason In general when a puzzle sits in front of safety, it must solve it and in safety all problem solving is deemed good. There is little talk of faith, sustaining contradiction, suffering, uncertainty, paradox, wisdom, discerning or doubt when one must find a … [Read more...] about Suffering – Sometimes There Is No Reason
Accidents and Incidents
We need to make sure this can never happen again
We need to make sure this can never happen again Can you picture this scenario? Manager: So Ben, I’ve just read through the incident report and I see you injured your back when you ran the forklift into the bollard. I need to ask you a few questions as we need to make sure this type of incident … [Read more...] about We need to make sure this can never happen again
When the Target Drives the Method
When the Target Drives the Method I was in a group at a conference recently where the presenter paraded out statistics on injury rates. We were shown graphs, charts and symbols all paraded in trends and patterns. Then right at the end the presenter said: ‘and this is why we are all motivated for … [Read more...] about When the Target Drives the Method
A Philosophy of Safety
A Philosophy of Safety Philosophy is about the study of existence, beliefs and ideas. The word ‘philosophy’ actually means the ‘love of wisdom’ and has been ascribed to the work of Pythagoras. The word ‘wisdom’ is not a word one hears very much in the safety industry that is far more consumed by … [Read more...] about A Philosophy of Safety
A Much Better Way To Think About Incident Investigations
I’ve recently seen and done a few incident investigations which really fell short of any mark except for ticking the box on the form that says ‘investigation completed’. There are ongoing debates about whether ICAM is better than TapRoot or if that is better than Root Cause Analysis or BowTie or … [Read more...] about A Much Better Way To Think About Incident Investigations
Dealing with Incidents
Dealing with Incidents Most approaches to incident investigation focus on technique and process. This is important, gathering facts and compiling important information is critical. However, what most approaches don't consider the range of biases that come with being human. In particular, it is … [Read more...] about Dealing with Incidents
Numerology and Psychic Numbing
Numerology and Psychic Numbing Numerology is the belief in a mystical relationship between numbers and events. I can remember as a kid being challenged by the coincidence between numbers and events, later learning that the fascination between numbers and proofs dates back to the Early … [Read more...] about Numerology and Psychic Numbing
There’s a Hole in Your Investigation.
There’s a Hole in Your Investigation. Any fatality is sad news for family and loved ones of those who have died. It is even more sad when there are no definitive answers for cause. Many who die working alone cannot be interviewed, one can never know the root cause. Root cause is the concoction that … [Read more...] about There’s a Hole in Your Investigation.
Pearly Shells
Pearly Shells It’s over six years since the Paspaley drift diving fatality off Broome in April 2012 and the recent coronial inquest in the Perth Coroner’s Court recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. by Bernard Corden Always go too far because that’s where you’ll find the truth Albert … [Read more...] about Pearly Shells
Work as it is actually performed: investigating when nothing happens
Latest Post by WHS Lawyer Greg Smith, co-author of Risky Conversations. Greg asks the question: “What do your philosophy and implementation of incident investigations say about you?” . Asking “what went right” may seem like a positive thing to do but safety is full of paradoxes and all you may be … [Read more...] about Work as it is actually performed: investigating when nothing happens
