The ‘Feeling’ and ‘Being’ of Safety What one thinks and feels about safety is defined by a worldview/ontology (theory of being). Any discussion about safety is therefore a philosophical discussion and a very subjective discussion at that. The idea that safety is a definable quanta is nonsense that … [Read more...] about The ‘Feeling’ and ‘Being’ of Safety
Please Don’t Use the ‘F’ Word in Safety
Please Don’t Use the ‘F’ Word in Safety It seems the moment one falls for the zero cult a whole range of ‘f’ words become anathema. Safety is so good at being noisy about words of perfection and judgement but also good at being selectively silent about a range of ‘f’ words. This is how all taboo … [Read more...] about Please Don’t Use the ‘F’ Word in Safety
The Heinrich Hoodoo
The Heinrich Hoodoo If there was ever a disastrous start to the birth of an industry it has to be safety. When Herbert Heinrich published Industrial Accident Prevention in 1931 he launched an industry that would be obsessed with numerics, metrics, counting and misattribution. Most of what Heinrich … [Read more...] about The Heinrich Hoodoo
Deconstruction and Reconstruction for Safety
Deconstruction and Reconstruction for Safety The discipline of Social Psychology has a unique evolution that emerges out of the disciplines of: Critical Theory, Cultural Theory, Semiotics, Poetics, Social Politics, Ethics, Post-Structuralism, Neo-Marxism, Education, Dialectics, Discourse Analysis, … [Read more...] about Deconstruction and Reconstruction for Safety
The Politics of Safety Legitimization
The Politics of Safety Legitimization It is always interesting to watch commercial TV run these Top 10 shows as if they are an assessment of worth or value. When ratings seem to be low, out they trot with some ‘Top 10 Movies of all time’ or ‘Top 10 fails of all time’ etc. Then the show draws … [Read more...] about The Politics of Safety Legitimization
An Ethic in Error for Safety
An Ethic in Error for Safety The mistakes quadrant below is similar to the Unknown Knows quadrant or any other Johari window semiotic that seeks to understand something. Generally one names the criteria one wants along the x and y axis to explain various differentiations on a topic. The window … [Read more...] about An Ethic in Error for Safety
The Fallacy of Marginal Gains and Nudges
The Fallacy of Marginal Gains and Nudges One of the characteristics of safety marketing is the continual clutching at straws to motivate and move people towards safety. We see this in the endless campaigns for: pickles, Mums for Safety, Hazardman, meerkats, sexy sofie etc.. It seems anything is … [Read more...] about The Fallacy of Marginal Gains and Nudges
Oh no! Safety has been Here!
Oh no! Safety has been Here! There’s nothing quite like that sinking feeling when you are inadvertently assaulted by the crusade of Safety. Just when you thought you were free to learn, discover, play and relax, you get confronted yet again by the Safety monster. It seems Safety lurks in every … [Read more...] about Oh no! Safety has been Here!
The Imagination and Curiosity in Risk
The Imagination and Curiosity in Risk There is nothing in the risk and safety literature that tackles the power of the imagination, dreaming, curiosity or the unconscious. Combined, these faculties, capabilities and intuitive heuristics take us into alternate states of knowing, being and decision … [Read more...] about The Imagination and Curiosity in Risk
Believe the Impossible and Speak Nonsense to People
Believe the Impossible and Speak Nonsense to People The next comedy moment is brought to you by zero vision, Hans-Horst Konkolewsky — President International ORP Foundation, Vision Zero Ambassador (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=preheDbNb1Y). Just listen to the language: · ‘Young movement’ · … [Read more...] about Believe the Impossible and Speak Nonsense to People