I find it fascinating that Safety thinks that criticism of safety is being anti-safety. In real professions, criticism is normal and understood as necessary for the improvement of the profession. In real professions diversity of worldviews are welcomed and improvement is understood as part of … [Read more...] about Don’t Criticise Safety
Linguistics
Culture Cloud Tour part 9; Language, Linguistics and Paralinguistics
We resume the culture cloud tour after a week’s hiatus, because even Dave C needs a break from work and a holiday. Hope you are well rested and relaxed in the run up to Christmas mate! Language as a part of Culture is foundational. How you organisation expresses itself, the common language, and … [Read more...] about Culture Cloud Tour part 9; Language, Linguistics and Paralinguistics
No Place for Military Metaphors in Safety
One day Safety may discover that language, metaphor and semiotics are critical for communication and messaging. The latest nonsense from Safety confirms that it has no idea what safety is about. We’ve seen this before from other traditional safety sources such as so called ‘safety … [Read more...] about No Place for Military Metaphors in Safety
Failed Safety Initiatives. You’re Just Not Motivated
By Simon Renatus - HSE Adviser, 30 years References: Tory Higgins E. (2012). Beyond pleasure and pain. How motivation works. Oxford University Press. Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The what and why of goal pursuits. Human needs and the self-determination of behaviour. Psychological … [Read more...] about Failed Safety Initiatives. You’re Just Not Motivated
Linguistics and responsibility transfer
In one of the WhatsApp groups that brings together OSH managers in Romania, the other day I watched a very interesting discussion related to the poster below. The question of one of the members: "Have you used/use such posters?" received positive responses mentioning the fact that mirrors with … [Read more...] about Linguistics and responsibility transfer
Frames of Mind and How the Mind Frames Risk
All language is interpreted according to a multitude of factors: culture, context, intent, grammar and orientation. This is why one can look up a word in a dictionary and it can have many meanings. For example, just look up the meaning of the word ‘frame’ … [Read more...] about Frames of Mind and How the Mind Frames Risk
Of Course, Safety is a ‘Thing’
I read with amusement yesterday a self-declared ‘safety expert’ who asserted that safety was not a ‘thing’ so therefore there was no such ‘thing’ as ‘safety culture’. It’s always amusing to observe mono-disciplinary Safety, with no expertise in Linguistics, Semiotics, Ethnology, Poetics, Ethics … [Read more...] about Of Course, Safety is a ‘Thing’
Safety is not About Answers or Fixes
I saw a safety podcast the other day called ‘an answer for everything’, this is unfortunate. No-one is interested in a safety know-it-all, especially when the industry is so poorly educated and the experience of safety so narrow. The best orientation to do well in safety is to admit that you know … [Read more...] about Safety is not About Answers or Fixes
Is Safety Rational?
A Logical Fallacy is faulty reasoning to reach a desired conclusion based on faith/belief. It is because Safety is such a religious activity, it is anchored to many of these logical fallacies. You can view the most common logical fallacies and this poster … [Read more...] about Is Safety Rational?
Learning the Basics of Influencing Thorough Studying Linguistics
One of the things we learn in a study of Linguistics and Risk is how people are influenced through: structure, strategy, stickiness, grammar, semiotic design, Discourse, framing and anchoring. One of the tools we use is the SPoR Language Influencing Tool©. The Language Influencing Tool is a … [Read more...] about Learning the Basics of Influencing Thorough Studying Linguistics