Numerology and Psychic Numbing Numerology is the belief in a mystical relationship between numbers and events. I can remember as a kid being challenged by the coincidence between numbers and events, later learning that the fascination between numbers and proofs dates back to the Early … [Read more...] about Numerology and Psychic Numbing
Lead and Lag Indicators
Near Miss or Near Hit
Near Miss or Near Hit One of the Great Misnomers of Nomenclature in Safety. A very difficult one for most organisations to get their heads around. Do we report, don’t we report, do we just ignore it? This article is probably the best I have ever seen on the subject and well worth a read. As the … [Read more...] about Near Miss or Near Hit
Misleading Indicators
Misleading Indicators By Phil La Duke on HIS BLOG Nearly every safety professional worth his or her salt has been told that he or she needs to look at both leading and lagging indicators; it’s good advice, in fact, it’s advice I’ve given many times in articles and speeches over the years. But … [Read more...] about Misleading Indicators
Target Trade-Offs and Numeric Goals
Target Trade-Offs and Numeric Goals We learn recently that Victorian Police – a supposed institution of trust, has fabricated numbers over the past 5 years in order to meet targets. It is reported today that Victoria Police have fabricated 258,000 breath tests in order to meet targets. How is this … [Read more...] about Target Trade-Offs and Numeric Goals
3 Steps to Xmas Holiday Safety Management
Latest article by WHS Lawyer Greg Smith first published here. The message is clear: Your current WHS system probably isn't working as well as you think it is (nor is anyone else’s) and your current lead and lag indicators are unlikely to prove the effectiveness of Safety Management and will be of … [Read more...] about 3 Steps to Xmas Holiday Safety Management
Everything is Green: The delusion of health and safety reporting
Great article by WHS Lawyer Greg Smith. First published here Quotes from the article: “How do you know the supervisors or managers are not just wandering around practicing random acts of safety, reinforcing unsafe behaviors and generally just pissing everybody off?” "What is your health … [Read more...] about Everything is Green: The delusion of health and safety reporting
Groundhog Safety Day
Groundhog Safety Day Everything we see, smell, hear, feel and taste leads our brains to think equal to everything familiar in our reality. Neuroscience theory tells us that our brains are organised to reflect everything we know in our environment, in the form of knowledge and experience. Our … [Read more...] about Groundhog Safety Day
Scenario Learning in Risk and Safety
Scenario Learning in Risk and Safety One of the best ways of learning safety is through scenarios. Scenarios are constructed to either replicate real situations to maximize perception of recognizable cues or, to enhance the imagination of possibilities. One of the greatest capabilities a safety … [Read more...] about Scenario Learning in Risk and Safety
‘Measuring’ does things to people…. (and what to do about it)
‘Measuring’ does things to people…. (and what to do about it) It has become fashionable for organisations to use positive or leading indicators as a way to ‘measure’ their risk and safety ‘performance’. Leaders in some organisations have proudly told me how they are ‘progressive’, ‘generative’ and … [Read more...] about ‘Measuring’ does things to people…. (and what to do about it)
We are in Control and Other Such Delusions!
We are in Control and Other Such Delusions! First published August 2014, republished by request It was sad to hear about the death of the genius man, Robin Williams. It was even sadder to hear the reason why. This is a man many of us have followed, watched, laughed with, cried with and grown up … [Read more...] about We are in Control and Other Such Delusions!
