Acceptable Risk as a Decision Making Process By Dr Rob Long We should all know that the assessment of risk is a subjective process, determined by hundreds of social and psychological factors. The idea that risk assessment is a rational process via assessment of frequency, consequence and severity … [Read more...] about Acceptable Risk as a Decision Making Process
ALARP
HSE Performance – Back to Basics
Many organisations publicly declare their commitment to safety; have safety values, safety mission statements and many other ways of trying to demonstrate commitment but their practices show otherwise. Managing Organisational HSE Performance and Prevention of Workplace Fatalities – Back to … [Read more...] about HSE Performance – Back to Basics
The Repression of Uncertainty
The Repression of Uncertainty The belief is that the solution to every safety problem must be a rational systems process, hence the ever growing overload of paperwork in the workspace driving new cultural problems of ‘tick and flick’, overconfidence and ‘dumb down’ thinking. The most common words … [Read more...] about The Repression of Uncertainty
Safety Surveys, Bias and Predictability
Safety Surveys, Bias and Predictability Rob’s new Book: “Following-Leading in Risk” is a MUST READ if you think you already know about Leadership. CHECK IT OUT This week Safe Work Australia released a report on Attitudes Towards Risk Taking and Rule Breaking in Australian Workplaces . The report … [Read more...] about Safety Surveys, Bias and Predictability
How Do You Interpret Safety?
How Do You Interpret Safety? All safety is interpreted. There is no such thing as objective safety. The Act and Regulation are interpreted, just as are the Standards. Lawyers in safety know that precedent, case law and previous rulings give substance to the meaning of the Act, … [Read more...] about How Do You Interpret Safety?
The Dehumanization of Safety
The Mechanistic Worldview and the Dehumanization of Safety By Dr Rob Long There should be no great surprise to anyone regarding the number of trade offs we have made by accepting the mechanistic worldview of safety. The narrative in safety over recent history has shifted away from humanizing … [Read more...] about The Dehumanization of Safety
Confirmity in Conformity
Confirmity in Conformity Safety is the industry of conformity. This is despite the fact that many of the things people believe they must conform with are mythical. In the very brief history of safety we now have the situation where the dominant Safety worldview is mechanistic, focused on - safety … [Read more...] about Confirmity in Conformity
Accidents Happen Because You Don’t Put Safety First
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 … [Read more...] about Accidents Happen Because You Don’t Put Safety First
ALARP is NOT Zero Tolerance, The Key to Psychosocial Health
Being sensitive to the language in risk and safety is so important when seeking to understand such things as ethical practice, legal compliance, Psychosocial Safety and risk assessment. As much as safety would like to maintain the delusion of objectivity, there is no objectivity when it comes to … [Read more...] about ALARP is NOT Zero Tolerance, The Key to Psychosocial Health
Risk Homeostasis Theory–Why Safety Initiatives Go Wrong
My favourite quote is in relation to racing drivers on normal roads and why they have more crashes and get more fines: “At their level of skill, driving like an average driver may be intolerably boring. Imagine being a master of Beethoven and all you are allowed to play is “Twinkle, twinkle, little … [Read more...] about Risk Homeostasis Theory–Why Safety Initiatives Go Wrong