One of the challenges for the safety industry is the myth of objectivity and the seduction of order and control. When one holds a thirst for power (through engineering and behaviourism) the last thing one wants to be told is that some things are ‘wicked’ … [Read more...] about Cultural Orientation in Risk
Safety Culture Silences
No Wonder Safety is Confused About Culture
Whenever you hear or read anything from First Nations people about culture it is always anchored to: spirituality, stories, Dreaming, ritual, symbolism, myth, identity, belonging and embodied living in the world. There is no idea that culture is a ‘fog’ or ‘cloudy’, culture is known intuitively, … [Read more...] about No Wonder Safety is Confused About Culture
Culture is NOT a Product nor a Construct
When culture is viewed through the lens of behaviourism and safety, it is asserted that culture is a ‘construct’ and ‘product’ (p.50). This is the assertion of Cooper in his chapter in Safety Cultures, Safety Models. When the lens is behaviourist safety, one can assert that risk is best tackled … [Read more...] about Culture is NOT a Product nor a Construct
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
Cultural Silences in Safety – Power and Politics
There are so many profound silences in safety (https://safetyrisk.net/category/safety-culture-silences/ ) when it spruiks its propaganda about culture. How astounding to speak of culture but never mention power, politics and ethics! How breathtaking to read all this safety goop and never hear a … [Read more...] about Cultural Silences in Safety – Power and Politics
Culture Silences in Safety – Linguistics
Culture Silences in Safety – Linguistics As we continue this theme of culture silences in safety we also must consider the nature of linguistics, language and discourse. Language is the bedrock of culture. When we fly to another country or move about in our own country to other cultures, the first … [Read more...] about Culture Silences in Safety – Linguistics
Culture Silences in Safety – Care Ethics
Culture Silences in Safety – Care Ethics One of the strange contradictions of the safety industry is its preoccupation with ‘behaviours’ yet silence on care ethics. Indeed, the fixation on ‘what we do around here’ helps mask silence on ethics as foundational to culture. The last things Safety wants … [Read more...] about Culture Silences in Safety – Care Ethics
Culture Silences in Safety – What Culture Isn’t
The word ‘culture’ in the risk and safety industry is used to mean many things and most often it doesn’t refer to culture. The most common misconceptions about culture in the safety industry reveal more about the presenter and a worldview, than a discussion of culture. If one really wants to … [Read more...] about Culture Silences in Safety – What Culture Isn’t
Culture Silences in Safety – Semiotics
As we close out this series on Cultural Silences in Safety I can think of a no more important issue than semiotics. I’d like a dollar for every email and request I get from safety people who want training, coaching, education and learning in Semiotics. The neglect of this Discipline in particular … [Read more...] about Culture Silences in Safety – Semiotics
Cultural Silences in Safety – Aesthetics
Whenever we do our culture program we work through the many beliefs, rituals and practices in societies that foster harm. So much for the nonsense of zero harm. Just watch the latest episode of 4 Corners to get an insight into just how much harm people want in order to fulfil a cultural myth. Why do … [Read more...] about Cultural Silences in Safety – Aesthetics
