Envisioning Risk You can’t see things you have no attraction to. You can’t see things without the motivation to see them. You can’t see things without the expertise to interpret what you see. You can’t see through things without critical envisioning. You can’t envision risk without a mindset that … [Read more...] about Envisioning Risk
Zero as a Semiotic
Zero as a Semiotic When we look at the image (semiotic) of zero there is much that is going on unconsciously. The idea of zero in risk and safety may have originally started as some naïve quest for no injuries but it has evolved to become the iconic anchor for a religious movement. The Spirit of … [Read more...] about Zero as a Semiotic
Tinkering at The Edges or Shaking Foundations
Tinkering at The Edges or Shaking Foundations So much of what gets paraded as ‘innovative’ or ‘visionary’ in safety is little more than tinkering at the edges. I watch the parade of safety awards and it seems the ‘tinkering at the edge award’ is the most popular. I get calls and emails from people … [Read more...] about Tinkering at The Edges or Shaking Foundations
What Can Marx Say to Safety?
What Can Marx Say to Safety? It’s important to understand that the Social Psychology of Risk (SPoR) emerges from traditions in Marxism, Post-Structuralism, Semiotics and Deconstruction. This is represented graphically (semiotically) as follows: Marxist and Post-Marxist theory is most observable … [Read more...] about What Can Marx Say to Safety?
Ends and Means in Safety
Ends and Means in Safety As long as what I do gets a safety outcome, it doesn’t matter what I do to get it. This is the declared philosophy of safety ‘ends justifies the means’ ideology. As long as the outcome is zero the means to get it doesn’t matter. Wrong! The ends never justify the … [Read more...] about Ends and Means in Safety
No Gurus, No Stars, No Heroes Needed in Safety
No Gurus, No Stars, No Heroes Needed in Safety The discourse of gurus and heroes in the safety industry draws attention away from everyday realities (https://safetyrisk.net/everyday-safety/) of tackling risk. The endless quest for silver bullets and ‘safety programs’ is a distraction from the basic … [Read more...] about No Gurus, No Stars, No Heroes Needed in Safety
Well Being is a Social Challenge
Well Being is a Social Challenge These days I have quite a number of friends who live alone and for a number of reasons like it that way. However, the challenges of old age, retirement and loneliness are real regardless of Internet activity. Within the Health sector and community services the … [Read more...] about Well Being is a Social Challenge
Standing on the Myths of Safety
Standing on the Myths of Safety Most people confuse the definition of myth with fable, when this is not the case. When I use the word ‘myth’ in the tradition of Social Psychology its meaning is synonymous with symbolic reality. In Social Psychology a myth and symbol are the flip side of the same … [Read more...] about Standing on the Myths of Safety
Intuitional Ways of Knowing in Safety
Intuitional Ways of Knowing in Safety One of the miracles/mysteries of human decision making is the way we embody knowledge through heuristics. Some of the many heuristics humans use for fast and efficient decision making are listed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heuristic. However, this list … [Read more...] about Intuitional Ways of Knowing in Safety
The Fear of Learning in Risk
The Fear of Learning in Risk There is no learning without risk and no risk without learning. I find it interesting when Safety gets on the learning bandwagon that confuses learning with cognitive knowing and training with education. There is no component of the WHS curriculum that deals with the … [Read more...] about The Fear of Learning in Risk