Oh My God, It’s Safety

Sometimes you get those moments in safety when you think you have seen it all and then comes a surprise. This one today on Linkedin:

Of course, there are a few essentials in safety belief on display here. The first is to ensure you have no expertise in the matter you present. This example is no exception, with no expertise in biblical theology, theology, religious studies or any understanding of hermeneutics. More so, we have the iconography of Christianity equated to the sacred triangle.

When you believe your own salvation theory, no wonder this happens in safety. No wonder Safety thinks it ‘saves lives’ (https://safetyrisk.net/ai-saves-lives-and-throws-ethics-out-the-window/). No wonder Zero is presented as a biblical apocalyptic experience (https://safetyrisk.net/the-spirit-of-zero/). No wonder Zero speaks about the ‘spirit’ of zero.

In our recent workshops we are looking at safety beliefs (https://safetyrisk.net/safety-beliefs/) and this example just adds more to the many examples of how the indoctrination of safety, safety propaganda and a fixation on safety, drives religious belief.

This also shows us just how much safety myth is created through making something sacred. We see the sacralisation and deification of so many safety myths everywhere eg. risk matrix, swiss-cheese, Heinrich’s pyramid. In this regard, a reading of Mary Douglas is a good place to start (https://monoskop.org/images/7/7d/Douglas_Mary_Purity_and_Danger_An_Analysis_of_Concepts_of_Pollution_and_Taboo_2001.pdf).

Sorry folks, the Hierarchy of Controls is yet another false myth founded in a semiotic that is simply not true or real. Most safety beliefs like the Hierarchy of Controls are constructed through myth, symbol and slogan without any connection to the assumptions and lack of ethics behind them (https://safetyrisk.net/safety-beliefs-by-semiotic-evidence/). The same happens when people think slogans are somehow principles. The more you see this asserted, the more you know the lemmings have fallen in line with the guru (https://safetyrisk.net/believe-me-im-a-safety-guru/).

However, when we invoke both the Bible and God into safety, what have we done? What are we saying? Think about that a little bit.

There is no connection at all between the Bible and safety indeed, even an ounce of theological expertise would tell you to keep away from such delusion.

The first rule in safety should be, if you have no expertise in the area, don’t go there. Unfortunately, we see the opposite in safety that somehow thinks that expertise in ethics, culture, religion, theology, anthropology, social psychology, historiography, linguistics etc. all comes with a safety qualification. My favourite is observing the ASSP teaching ethics using a safety engineer. It seems that the best capacity one gets with a safety post nominal is fraudulence!

The second rule in safety seems to be, that if you are passionate about something, this justifies preaching at others. Sincerity and energy, are not a justification for unethical conduct. Preaching your belief to others doesn’t foster an ethical approach to safety.

Whilst it would be easy to deconstruct and demonstrate the opposite to this Linkedin message, I’ll leave that work up to you. As someone with expertise in both Theology, Religious Studies and Ethics, I can only say that this presentation does more damage to safety than I can imagine.

I think the third rule of safety should be, consult those with expertise before preaching. This is why a Transdisciplinary approach to knowing, beliefs and understanding risk is foundational to SPoR (https://safetyrisk.net/a-model-for-transdisciplinarity-in-risk/). We also saw this exemplified in the wisdom of Prof. Karl Weick (https://safetyrisk.net/eastern-mindfulness-weick-and-transdisciplinarity/).

I can already see the barbs thrown my way from this one that I am somehow anti-Christian.

The article finishes with an AI graphic/semiotic/myth:

I can only conclude that, if you think safety is a religious activity, you are in the wrong place.

If you think the purpose of safety is ‘saving lives’ chose another occupation.

If want to throw out to the wide world your erroneous safety myths and safety beliefs, be prepared for any critical thinking or challenge that is attracted by such activity.

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Prof. Robert Long

Expert in Social Psychology, Principal & Trainer at Human Dymensions

Latest posts by Prof. Robert Long (see all)

• The Branded ‘x’ Walk in Safety - August 12, 2026
• Slogans and Principles, It’s just Semantics Right? - August 10, 2026
• What Principles Guide Your Safety Ethic? - August 9, 2026
• Context Does NOT Drive Behaviour, Another False HOP Slogan - August 8, 2026
• Safety, The Pathway to Surveillance Culture - August 8, 2026

PhD., MEd., MOH., BEd., BTh., Dip T., Dip Min., Cert IV TAA, MRMIA Rob is the founder of Human Dymensions and has extensive experience, qualifications and expertise across a range of sectors including government, education, corporate, industry and community sectors over 30 years. Rob has worked at all levels of the education and training sector including serving on various post graduate executive, post graduate supervision, post graduate course design and implementation programs.