Hidden meaning in warning signs
Excess use of warning signs also reveals the struggle of the powerful and the rebellion of the powerless against compliance and conformity.
While you are at it, it is worth asking the natives what these warnings means to them. If their response is ‘nothing’ you have just entered their culture.
Do yourself just one favour – do not go into teaching, telling or instruction mode, you will wreck it all.
Instead, just say ‘tell me more’. You may unlearn something about yourself and learn something about the natives. That is where culture change begins.
Latest posts by Dr Nippin Anand (see all)
- Hidden meaning in warning signs - October 4, 2026
- Do you know how to listen? - October 4, 2026
- Not getting enough value from audits? Replace your doormats - October 4, 2026
- Understanding takes - May 31, 2026
- Why Dont People Speak Up? - May 31, 2026
So true Nippin and Brian. The problem is the emphasis has changed from workplace risk, to the requirements of external actors, such as insurers, auditors, the “experts” in the H&S industry etc. Management time is consumed by systems and the check box.. If you go onto site with an open and enquiring mind, the result is electric, in my experience.
So True Andrew. In Safety however, one doesn’t go onto site unless one wants to control something or someone.
Nippin, so true, when entering a site, one can immediately get a feeling of the culture when looking a the signs, symbols, posters and banners placed on the walls and hanging from roofs. i have seen good practices in my career, but also seen what I call industrial clutter or industrial wallpaper.
Industrial wallpaper is similar to slogans but if something goes wrong accountability will be anchored to this stuff.