The recognition of heuristics as the foundation for all human decision making is critical to skill development and implementation of SPoR (https://safetyrisk.net/spor-and-disposing-of-bad-myths/) in the workplace. One of the silly myths of behaviourism in safety is the complete ignorance of … [Read more...] about Tackling the Challenge of Heuristics in Safety
Behaviour Based Safety
How Do Workers Make Decisions?
How Do Workers Make Decisions? This is the question on the tongue of Safety but has no idea of an answer. I saw a video recently about ‘predicting behaviour in safety’. This was a slick piece of multimedia that probably cost hundreds of thousands of dollars with executives speaking and sports … [Read more...] about How Do Workers Make Decisions?
Why Safety is Attracted to Behaviourism
There is no doubt that simplistic back and white binary thinking and methods are attractive. Who wants complex or ‘wicked’ when a simple delusion will do. All you have to do is place such a worldview over reality and make it fit your assumptions and then ensure you never talk about any of the … [Read more...] about Why Safety is Attracted to Behaviourism
Is BBS Credible?
Is Behavior Based Safety (BBS) Credible? or, ‘Don’t Mention the War’ Another controversial little gem by Dr Robert Long – If you liked this article then you should read the whole series: CLICK HERE. I highly recommend you check out Rob’s new book “RISK MAKES SENSE” – click on image to read … [Read more...] about Is BBS Credible?
Science and Acts of Faith in Safety
Science and Acts of Faith in Safety The language of scientific ‘proofs’ is the language of positivism, behaviourism and empiricism. Such a language often gives away a discourse of control, power and security in the face of uncertainty. It is one thing to seek knowledge ‘scientifically’ and … [Read more...] about Science and Acts of Faith in Safety
Culture Silences in Safety – Stress, Personality and Behaviours
In all the mythology projected by BBS (the darling of safety) you never read about the subjectivities of perception, aberrations of behaviour or how personality/temperament determination enactment. The crazy assertion of BBS is that behaviours in themselves are somehow objective, when they are not. … [Read more...] about Culture Silences in Safety – Stress, Personality and Behaviours
Motivation and de-Motivation in Safety
One of the delusions of Behaviourism is that guilt and punitive consequence are motivational. The opposite is the case. There is endless research to demonstrate that the assumptions of Behaviourism don’t work. It’s quite straightforward: humans are not machines and not the sum of inputs and … [Read more...] about Motivation and de-Motivation in Safety
Wisdom Based Safety
In a appreciative response to a blog on A Philosophy of Safety John Phillips used the phrase ‘Wisdom-Based Safety ‘(WBS), what a wonderful expression. What a delightful expression and far better than the brutalism of BBS. More on WBS later. There are two most profound indictments of the … [Read more...] about Wisdom Based Safety
Observation is neither neutral or objective
One of the grand delusions of Safety observations and behaviourism are that observations are objective. They are not! Here are some critical questions one should consider when thinking about safety observations: What are you observing? Who are you observing? Do they know you are … [Read more...] about Observation is neither neutral or objective
No Paradigm Shift with BBS
The cardinal rule in safety is to present what you are not by stating what something is, then claiming the myth created as true. Then anchor a symbol and ritual to that myth and it becomes the new truth. Is it true? No! Does it work? No! But why let reality get in the way of a good myth. This is the … [Read more...] about No Paradigm Shift with BBS
