Military Metaphors in Safety Check out Rob’s new book: Following-Leading in Risk Weick (1979) tells us that organizing is ‘a consensually validated grammar for reducing equivocality by means of sensible interlocking behaviours’. Wow, what a definition and so much jammed into that definition. What … [Read more...] about Military Metaphors in Safety
Shopping for Safety
Shopping for Safety The bell on the door buzzed as I entered the shop, a large emporium with worn cedar shelves signifying construction in the last century. I loved the smell of these old shops with dusty stock on the shelves that hadn’t moved for years, some with old price tags in pounds, … [Read more...] about Shopping for Safety
Culture and Subculture, Which is Safety?
Culture and Subculture, Which is Safety? The SIA BoK chapter on Organisational Culture came out this week. I read with interest that there was no intentional discussion of subcultures in the paper. Of course with so much sunk cost the club will surround the wagons and defend, that’s what it does. … [Read more...] about Culture and Subculture, Which is Safety?
Nonsense Curves and Pyramids
Nonsense Curves and Pyramids Safety likes nothing more than curves and pyramids, nothing so exciting as parading out the Bradley Curve or Heinrich’s Pyramid to get the troops excited about failure and loss. The Bradley Curve was created by DuPont in 1995 to try and benchmark notions of culture and … [Read more...] about Nonsense Curves and Pyramids
Hearing Voices
Hearing Voices In the midst of the busyness of work and life there is much to be said for the value of volunteering. Volunteering is a great way to learn about following and serving and especially helpful for executives who become absorbed in an alternate reality that says the stock market, KPIs … [Read more...] about Hearing Voices
It’s Not a Secret, We Just Don’t Talk About It
Another VERY interesting article by Dr Robert Long about choosing your words, slogans and messages with great care. I was only reading last night about the “elephant in the room” idiom!. If you liked this article then you should read the whole series: CLICK HERE. I highly recommend you check out … [Read more...] about It’s Not a Secret, We Just Don’t Talk About It
There’s Nothing Better than a Blitz
There’s Nothing Better than a Blitz What a strange industry is safety, every time something goes wrong or an event occurs the assumption is that people have forgotten, are stupid or aren’t vigilant enough (or all three). Then the solution is to have a ‘blitz’. When I hear the word ‘blitz’ I think … [Read more...] about There’s Nothing Better than a Blitz
The Colour of Safety
The Colour of Safety It’s been a while since I bought a set of colouring pencils, but I bought a set this week. Oh, you say, that’s not unusual, you probably bought them for your grandchildren? Actually, I bought them, for myself. You will see at the end of this blog what is unique about the … [Read more...] about The Colour of Safety
When You Don’t Know About Safety Hire a Marketing Agency
When You Don’t Know About Safety Hire a Marketing Agency It seems to be the trend that when you don’t know about safety you engage a marketing agency. This is certainly the case with Melbourne Metro (Dumb Ways to Die) and with Worksafe ACT (Hazardman). The real problem with agencies that don’t know … [Read more...] about When You Don’t Know About Safety Hire a Marketing Agency