Window Dressing, Theatre and More of The Same We read the sad news of yet another fatality in mining in the Zero Harm in Leadership state. Of course, zero ideology is anti-leadership and anti-learning and it seems there’s not much learning going on in mining Queensland. We learned in 2020 that … [Read more...] about Window Dressing, Theatre and More of The Same
Mining Safety
Let’s Reset the Last Reset that Reset the Reset
Let’s Reset the Last Reset that Reset the Reset What does Safety do when things go wrong? It has reset which of course is not a re-set. We saw this with the second to last reset the Brady Review which was nothing new and more of the same. It’s pretty simple, if you don’t want safety to change make … [Read more...] about Let’s Reset the Last Reset that Reset the Reset
Selective Harm for Rio Tinto
Image Source When you make your raison d'être (reason for being) the counting of injuries then one loses all perspective and vision. When you mantra is ‘zero harm’ we all know that means - ‘selective harm’ – zero vision. Everyone in the Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) industry knows … [Read more...] about Selective Harm for Rio Tinto
Dulce et decorum est
When the rich wage war, it’s the poor who die Jean-Paul Sartre 1 The Karijini National Park in the Pilbara region of Western Australia is an impressive tourist destination surrounded by enchanting ochre escarpments with deep intermingling emerald green gorges. However, the spectacular scenery … [Read more...] about Dulce et decorum est
Brady Review, Nothing New, No Way Forward
One of the things that Safety does well is keep the doors closed to critical thinking outside of its own paradigm. Dialogue within the discipline of safety is tight, engaging similar worldviews, ensuring that nothing changes. This was confirmed recently with the release of the Brady Report to Qld … [Read more...] about Brady Review, Nothing New, No Way Forward
What is a Safety Reset?
After four fatalities in a short period of time in the ACT in 2011 the regulator launched an inquiry into safety into the building and construction industry. This resulted in the Getting Them Home Safely Report in which I made a significant contribution (including diagnostics workshop at the … [Read more...] about What is a Safety Reset?
The Compliance Conundrum
The challenge of compliance is also a challenge to critical thinking, this is one of the many paradoxes in risk and safety. When we comply or an organization seeks compliance this is all well and good only while things stay the same. When things change and adaptability is required to keep … [Read more...] about The Compliance Conundrum
It’s alright ma I’m only bleeding
It’s alright ma I’m only bleeding A healthy loyalty is not passive and complacent but active and critical Harold Laski 1 The 21st October 2016 commemorated half a century since the Aberfan disaster in South Wales, United Kingdom which resulted in the deaths of 116 school children and 28 adults … [Read more...] about It’s alright ma I’m only bleeding
Too much Cash and no panache
Too much Cash and no panache by Bernard Corden Better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees Jean-Paul Sartre On 30th December 1969, following the Farmington mining disaster and threat of a nationwide strike the incumbent US president eventually capitulated. Although Richard Nixon … [Read more...] about Too much Cash and no panache
Much ado about nothing? Section 44 of the WA Mines Safety & Inspection Act
Much ado about nothing? Section 44 of the WA Mines Safety & Inspection Act Article by Greg Smith first published HERE For a long time now I have been concerned about how section 44 of the Mines Safety & Inspection Act is marketed to the WA mining industry as an important part of … [Read more...] about Much ado about nothing? Section 44 of the WA Mines Safety & Inspection Act
