In this month’s issue of Open Road (the NRMA magazine) was a letter to the editor explaining the danger of ‘safety features’ on modern cars. In this case two features were highlighted as dangerous (I could name a dozen others). The first feature in the letter was about the number of sensors and … [Read more...] about Dangerous ‘Safety Features’
Robert Long
Incrementalism, Catastrophism and All That’s In-between
Dr Rob Long has posted many articles on the dangers of zero harm here. This is perhaps the heaviest argument he has ever written against zero – WARNING: Some traditional safety people may be offended or find themselves performing some complex mental gymnastics! Incrementalism, Catastrophism and … [Read more...] about Incrementalism, Catastrophism and All That’s In-between
Job Vacancy – Safety Clairvoyant
Package Starting at $500,000 plus 12.5% super loading (although investing in the future is irrelevant, depending on prediction success rate). $10,000 deducted per failure to predict any event on site over a 12-month period. (Previous applicant left owing the company $400,000). Status Full Time … [Read more...] about Job Vacancy – Safety Clairvoyant
In Praise of In-Between Thinking in Risk and Safety
In Praise of In-Between Thinking in Risk and Safety As much as Kahneman’s book Thinking Fast and Slow is helpful, it also sustains the idea that the human mind operates in a binary paradigm. As much as Ariely’s book Logically Irrational helps people understand the nature of human decision making, … [Read more...] about In Praise of In-Between Thinking in Risk and Safety
The Challenging Psychology of Ergonomics
The Challenging Psychology of Ergonomics Another guest post by Dr Robert Long - If you loved this article then you should read the whole series: CLICK HERE One of the most comprehensive textbooks on ergonomics is by Kroemer and Grandjean Fitting the Task to the Human. … [Read more...] about The Challenging Psychology of Ergonomics
Cultural Semiotics, Just One of Many Silences in Safety Culture
The research and discipline of Cultural Semiotics has been about for 100 years. Cultural Semiotics was first founded by Lotman and others like Cassier and Uspensky and predates the construction of Behaviourism. The discipline of Cultural Semiotics serves as a Transdisciplinary approach to … [Read more...] about Cultural Semiotics, Just One of Many Silences in Safety Culture
Could Understanding Grey Be The Silver Bullet
Could understanding Grey, be the ‘silver bullet’? Since I started writing on Safetyrisk.net in November 2013, I’ve received lots of great feedback thoughts, questions and even criticisms about my posts which I appreciate. A key theme of the feedback that I receive is that some of the concepts … [Read more...] about Could Understanding Grey Be The Silver Bullet
Don’t Hold the Hand Rail
I normally hold handrails, but not anymore. I normally touch things like touch screens but not anymore, I am now hyper aware of all that I touch. The Coronavirus has changed this and has amplified our awareness of all we touch and of hygiene. Strangely, the very people most susceptible to falling … [Read more...] about Don’t Hold the Hand Rail
Some Christmas Reading for Risk and Safety People
Some Christmas Reading for Risk and Safety People (editors note: Try “Fallibility and Risk” by Dr Rob Long – its free to download here: https://safetyrisk.net/free-safety-ebooks/ ) Christmas and New Years is often a time to catch up on some reading and relax on the beach or by a river and take … [Read more...] about Some Christmas Reading for Risk and Safety People
OMG – Big Words and Safety
Amongst many of the amusing projections and accusations levelled at SPoR is the fear of ‘big words’. Of course, this is in parallel with other accusations defined and attributed as ‘safety bashing’, negativity, no tools, non- practical help and unconstructive criticism. Of course, critical … [Read more...] about OMG – Big Words and Safety
