When one asks these questions, one is really testing the methodology (philosophy) of something. There is no such thing as a method without a methodology! There is no such thing as an objective method!
No matter what is practiced in safety, that practice has a foundation in a philosophical position. Unfortunately, many claim a slogan as a philosophy or a few principles as philosophy, such is not the case. Most often, the guiding philosophy of such a position is Pragmatism or Utilitarianism but is not declared. In the safety world the most common philosophies that are the foundation for practice are Positivism and Behaviourism.
However, these are rarely articulated as such. Indeed, the very notion of philosophy is held in distain by the industry. This is also why there is no study of ethics in the safety curriculum. If you look at a real profession, ethics is the beginning of study in that profession. If poor old safety included a study of ethics, how could it then march forward and brutalise people in the name of zero?
When one adopts a certain checklist, incident investigation method or system, it embodies a design by someone (usually an engineer) with a philosophical position. This philosophy is embedded in the method of that system whether it is declared or not.
One can’t adopt a system design and then say one does it ‘differently’. Unless one modifies that system with a new method. In this case, one is not using such a system as it was designed. So, we revolve back to the initial questions: by what method? And, who does that method privilege?
If one changes a safety management system to a new system then, by what philosophy was that change made? How is it ‘different’? Why is it different?
In SPoR, we have a well-articulated philosophy (methodology) and method. This is published in the many free books and resources available (https://www.humandymensions.com/shop/). Indeed, offering free resources is also an outcome of SPoR methodology. It is also why our next conference is at a Community Centre (https://spor.com.au/canberra-convention/) and why SPoR does not invite sponsorship. The message of SPoR and the way it tackles risk is not beholden to vested interests.
The SPoR method is called ‘iCue’ and is a visual-verbal method for tackling risk. The iCue method involves no paperwork and privileges openness, transparency, verbal-visual knowing, mapping and visual recording. All of this is valid evidence in court and, because it is in-situ, is better evidence in court than endless checklists that sit on a hard drive or in a filing cabinet.
Unfortunately, the iCue method is not easy to learn and takes considerable time to become proficient and intuitive. The method is explained in many SPoR books.
You can see a re-enactment of an iCue here: https://vimeo.com/456036529
All of this is copyright and IP and permission is not given to use iCue without extensive education.
You can see an overview of iCue here: https://vimeo.com/777948243
Or here: https://vimeo.com/798563657
Or here: https://youtu.be/nWcRhu5j3pc?si=EVSkN8AQscFqKlB0
We cannot show an actual iCue Engagement for privacy reasons.
iCue is accompanied by practical resources and tools to enable its use across any workplace. iCue is being rolled out across the globe in large and small organisations. iCue is practical, positive and once learned, is easy to implement. iCue doesn’t undermine current safety methods but complements them. Once understood, one can then use iCue to reduce the size of traditional safety systems.
If you want to learn about iCue and SPoR you can register for the next free SPoR Methods workshops being delivered by Matt Thorne. Register by emailing Matt here: matthew@riskdiversity.com.au
Or attend the workshop in London 22-24 March by Dr Nippin Anand at: https:// novellus.solutions/mec-events/022024/
Or, register for the SPoR Conference in May in Canberra: https://spor.com.au/canberra-convention/
Matt Thorne says
Once we can get people past the difference between Methodology and Method, this tend to catch people on the hop, SPoR and iCue show that a method that can be learnt and understood at all levels of an organisation.
Because it is relational it adds to what is already in an organisation.
Rob Long says
Matt, its amazing how hype and marketing can easily con so many safety people. and when all the spin blows over and something goes wrong marketing, spin and slogans won’t save your soul in court. That’s when all this supposed ‘new view’ stuff will fall over.