Framing Folly and Fantasy in Safety Research by published in the Orthomolecular Psychiatry Journal shows that humans can be primed by colour. Advertisers and political strategists know that colours can ‘frame’ the way people receive a message. The choice of a red or blue tie is most important for a … [Read more...] about Framing Folly and Fantasy in Safety
The Embodiment of Christmas
The Embodiment of Christmas One of the messages of Christmas is the importance of embodiment. It is in our bodies that we experience the necessities of being human as well as the joys of being human. It is through our bodies that we know the fullness of fallibility and the many ambiguities of … [Read more...] about The Embodiment of Christmas
Being Safe with Psychometrics
Being Safe with Psychometrics I read with interest this article sent to me on ‘Risk Type, compliance and personal responsibility’ under the heading ‘Culture and Behaviours’. As we know there is no such thing as objective psychology nor objectivity in the evaluation of risk. Several questions … [Read more...] about Being Safe with Psychometrics
I’m a Safety Basher
This is the response I often get whenever I offer criticism and offer free constructive alternatives to traditional safety. Rather than actually listen to or read the criticism, and the substance of the criticism, the response is usually name calling. It is interesting that I never receive a call, … [Read more...] about I’m a Safety Basher
12 Non-Rules for Life (and Safety)
12 Non-Rules for Life (and Safety) Disposition beats rules. Matthew tells us when the disciples endeavoured to trap Jesus into an opinion on the many Commandments of Judaism, he said there was only one rule: ‘love one another as you love yourself’. This is not to say that rules are not important … [Read more...] about 12 Non-Rules for Life (and Safety)
A Scaffolder’s Journey in SPoR – A Podcast
Lovely to hear the positive story about how SPoR provides constructive and positive approaches to tackling risk. This is the story of a scaffolder Travis Stephens from Perth, Australia, talking about what SPoR does in practice, for those who want to listen and learn. The podcast is here, … [Read more...] about A Scaffolder’s Journey in SPoR – A Podcast
Harming People in the Name of Good
We learned recently that there are always by-products in messaging. After all, the medium is the message. And we learned that despite good intentions that significant harm was caused. The reality is, it doesn’t matter how much passion you have or how much good will or intention, unless the … [Read more...] about Harming People in the Name of Good
Unthinkable
Unthinkable As we listen to the responses to the Australian Cricket team ball tampering affair we hear that most people think that the team was thinking rationally about cheating. Many attribute the work of conspiracy to the issue as if the senior players ‘planned’ rationally to cheat. Only a few … [Read more...] about Unthinkable
If You Want to Know About Culture, Don’t Ask Safety
The last 4 books I have read from Safety branded as being about culture, were not about culture and not much about safety and risk. Such is safety code (https://safetyrisk.net/deciphering-safety-code/). The four books were: Busch (2021) The First Rule of Safety Culture. Gilbert, Journe, … [Read more...] about If You Want to Know About Culture, Don’t Ask Safety
Emergence and Fallibility – A Video
A conversation about how events ‘emerge’ and the nature of fallibility is essential for understanding risk. The discussion is based upon the SPoR Emergence tool and the free book Fallibility and Risk. Unfortunately, you don’t hear the language of fallibility anywhere in safety because such language … [Read more...] about Emergence and Fallibility – A Video
