History and Hindsight in Safety In this post I wish to continue the discussion about significance through a discussion of history. It was Weick who said: ‘I don’t know what I believe until I see what I do’. In other words, everything we ‘know’ is retrospective. Humans have unlimited hindsight but … [Read more...] about History and Hindsight in Safety
Zero Harm
Anchoring, Framing and Priming Risk
Anchoring, Framing and Priming Risk One of the foundations of communicating to the unconscious through semiotics is understanding how words, language, signs, symbols and discourse ‘prime’, ‘frame’ and ‘anchor’ at an unconscious level. Every communication operates at a number of levels and it is … [Read more...] about Anchoring, Framing and Priming Risk
Beware the Cult of Denial
Beware the Cult of Denial Everyone ought to know that denial is not a healthy psychological state. We know that denial is one of the stages of tackling suffering, loss and death as Elizabeth Kubler Ross articulated first in On Death and Dying in 1969. (Download here ) At a deeper level, the denial … [Read more...] about Beware the Cult of Denial
Thinking Outside the Safety Bubble
Thinking Outside the Safety Bubble It is good to read that someone recognizes the ‘safety bubble’, OHS Thoughts Trapped In The Bubble = thanks Kevin. The metaphor of a ‘bubble’ conveys the idea of an insular, self-absorbed environment that is inflated by delusion. Image Source (I must get one of … [Read more...] about Thinking Outside the Safety Bubble
Safety at the Margins
Safety at the Margins I note with interest the disappointment with mainstream Safety with being on the political margins, evidenced in recent blogs (The party politics of safety , The politics of safety, OHS is largely overlooked even on its special day ). However, there are good reasons why Safety … [Read more...] about Safety at the Margins
Zero Doesn’t Work, Road Fatalities Increase
We learnt yesterday sadly, that the fatalities on Australian roads have increased well over the rate prior to Covid. Most Road Authorities in Australia have been singing the ideological tune of Zero for over 10 years. The worst ad in the bombardment of Zero on our TV screens is this one from the … [Read more...] about Zero Doesn’t Work, Road Fatalities Increase
Can There Be Other Valid Worldviews Than Safety?
Can There Be Other Valid Worldviews Than Safety? This is the challenge worldviews is the challenge of the unknown unknowns. How can I know another worldview, when all I know is my own? Can there be a different view of the world other than the lens I use to see it? Could it be that another worldview … [Read more...] about Can There Be Other Valid Worldviews Than Safety?
In Praise of Balance in Risk and the Threat of Extremism
In Praise of Balance in Risk and the Threat of Extremism With all the focus on the terrible events in France and Sydney recently the word of the month is extremism. Following the events of the Lindt Seige and the Charlie Hedbo Masscre leaders are careful not to associate recent acts of terror with … [Read more...] about In Praise of Balance in Risk and the Threat of Extremism
Don’t Mention the War
One of my favourite episodes of Fawlty Towers is the episode ‘Don’t Mention the War’. This classic satire reminds me so much of Safety. I was advised recently that I speak and anchor too much to zero, particularly if I want ‘traction’. Of course, this is utter nonsense. Let’s ignore the … [Read more...] about Don’t Mention the War
Asking the Wrong Questions
Asking the Wrong Questions to Get the Expected Answer in Safety When you define safety by injury rates the question asked is: ‘How many people do you want injured today?’ When safety is defined by zero, the same and similar questions emerge. The classic ad conducted by NSW Transport … [Read more...] about Asking the Wrong Questions
