How Do We Know? We cannot know about things we do not have a belief in. It makes no sense to say, “I know the earth is spherical, but I don’t believe it”. Yet it is important to note that believing something does not guarantee that the belief is right. (Dew and Foreman 2014) This quote from How … [Read more...] about How Do We Know?
Construction Safety
It’s not weird – it’s a psychological safety initiative!
It's not weird - It’s a psychological safety initiative! Well not really but it sounds good UPDATE: The Yellow men have been removed form the poles - Mmmmm????? For months now, motorists driving south along Brisbane’s Gateway Motorway have been somewhat perplexed, if not dangerously … [Read more...] about It’s not weird – it’s a psychological safety initiative!
Perfectionism in Safety and the Denial of Humanity
Perfectionism in Safety and the Denial of Humanity Article by Dr Rob Long in response to Safety Under Construction What a bizarre claim that someone can guarantee no accidents, no mistakes, no harm and that ‘100% zero harm is the irrefutable future coming towards the construction industry like a … [Read more...] about Perfectionism in Safety and the Denial of Humanity
You Don’t Believe in Common Sense?
The Coroners decision confirms it, there is no ‘common sense’, it can’t be assumed, and we shouldn’t talk about it because it dumbs down the industry and perpetuates a delusional myth. On 5 July the Queensland Coroner has found three men who died while working on the Federal Government's home … [Read more...] about You Don’t Believe in Common Sense?
Compliance or Defiance?
Compliance or Defiance? It’s a strange thing this binary thinking that uses the strategy of entrapment to beat its own drum. I have been coaching in safety leadership all week on building and construction sites and the binary mindset creates so many problems. Rather than actually trying to … [Read more...] about Compliance or Defiance?
Wo-Men in Safety
When I first saw this (PPE Women in Construction) you could blow me over with a feather. Safety just keeps getting worse and worse. See Figure 1. Figure 1. If ever there was need for a feminist ethic in Safety it would be now. Here we have, masked as something to do with safety and PPE, all that … [Read more...] about Wo-Men in Safety
How NOT to do Anything About Culture in Building and Construction
How NOT to do Anything About Culture in Building and Construction The recently released Culture Standard for the Construction Industry (https://www.cultureinconstruction.com.au/culture-standard/ ) is a classic example of how to look like culture is identified and being addressed, when it is not. … [Read more...] about How NOT to do Anything About Culture in Building and Construction
Managing the Unexpected
Ed: Ok, you’ve been asking for it – a practical workplace application of Safety and Risk Psychology Managing the Unexpected Karl Weick and Kathleen Sutcliffe published Managing the Unexpected in 2001 and brought many of the principles of the social psychology of organizing into the risk and safety … [Read more...] about Managing the Unexpected
The Convenience of Complacency
The Convenience of Complacency One of the cultural characteristics of the safety industry is fundamental attribution error . It seems that safety seeks blame before it breathes, you certainly need to if your job title includes zero. Whenever there is an event in comes safety to quickly ensure that … [Read more...] about The Convenience of Complacency
When You Don’t Know What to do in Safety, Have Another Blitz!!!
When You Don’t Know What to do in Safety, Have Another Blitz!!! There’s nothing more reliable in safety than a blitz. This is because people don’t care about safety, are dumb about safety and want to hurt themselves. There is nothing more obvious to Safety than the effectiveness of a blitz, this is … [Read more...] about When You Don’t Know What to do in Safety, Have Another Blitz!!!