The swiss-cheese metaphor and semiotic is NOT a scientific or logical model of representative connection to reality. The swiss-cheese is a concoction of James Reason to try and explain his linear worldview of accidents and prevention. We saw this recently with Cooper’s identical model … [Read more...] about Ditch the Swiss-Cheese if You Want to Understand Causality
Search Results for: Myth
No ‘Taming’ or ‘Fixing’ Wicked Problems
I see with amusement a recent discussion in safety about complexity complete with the mythical swiss-cheese, that some rule can ‘tame’ complexity. All such discussion ignores research on ‘wicked-problems’ that has been about since the 1960s. The idea of a ‘wicked problem’ first emerged from … [Read more...] about No ‘Taming’ or ‘Fixing’ Wicked Problems
Change in Safety and Cognitive Dissonance
It is rare that any change or shift in worldview comes without discomfort and Cognitive Dissonance. Cognitive Dissonance is more than just discomfort and, invokes a threat to identity, belonging and worldview. Cognitive Dissonance was first explained by Leon Festinger. Festinger (1919-1989) is a … [Read more...] about Change in Safety and Cognitive Dissonance
Preventing Mistakes, Ooops! DROPS!
It’s simply amusing to observe organisations in safety, offering ‘prevention programs’ for the natural status of fallibility. Here is the big promise: ‘we are the only ones that can stop mistakes and error!’ Really? Come in spinner, yet another con in the safety industry. Any language that speaks … [Read more...] about Preventing Mistakes, Ooops! DROPS!
Don’t look Now, Your Slogan is Showing
Slogans are very powerful and serve as a semiotic for organisations. Slogans are not just text but are symbolic and give organisations semiotic meaning. The moment a slogan is contradicted, they will be used against you. When this happens organisations look like clowns and what is remembered is the … [Read more...] about Don’t look Now, Your Slogan is Showing
What’s the Safety Idea, What’s the By-Product?
We see lots of ideas float around in Safety, many are just ‘thought bubbles’ with little consideration of design (affordances), human nature or by-products. Many of these ideas are packaged in semiotic strategies by well-meaning people with no expertise in semiotics. Then when things drive the … [Read more...] about What’s the Safety Idea, What’s the By-Product?
Real Risk, Human Discerning and Risk
Release of Book Three by Dr Robert Long NOW FREE TO DOWNLOAD HERE Dr Rob Long (see his articles here) has announced the long awaited release of his third book: “REAL RISK”. Rob launches his long awaited new book – “Real Risk – Human Discerning and Risk” on on 12 Feb at ACU North Sydney. (See … [Read more...] about Real Risk, Human Discerning and Risk
Safety Culture Silences – Power
One of the most profound silences in safety culture is, silence on the nature of power. Understanding power is the foundation of ethics, which is why the AIHS Chapter on Ethics makes no mention of it. In any profession worthy of the name, the beginning of articulating an ethic is understanding … [Read more...] about Safety Culture Silences – Power
CLLR Newsletter – Education and Learning Special Edition – Approaching Events
Education and Learning Special Edition - Approaching Events We are pleased to announce a range of unique events in Education and Learning in SPoR from March to June 2024. These are: London - 20-22 March (Dr Nippin Anand and Dr Pedro … [Read more...] about CLLR Newsletter – Education and Learning Special Edition – Approaching Events
The Tyranny of Absolutes
Guest Post by Dr Rob Long from www.humandymensions.com – for those of you who still have nothing to love! The text book approach to goal setting recommends that all goals should be SMART - Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant and Time considered. Yet, when it comes to safety and risk many … [Read more...] about The Tyranny of Absolutes
