Understanding The Social Psychology of Risk – Prof Karl E. Weick The contribution of Prof. Karl E. Weick to the genre of social psychology is enormous. (His 5 key texts are listed below). I first read Weick in 1985 as part of my Master’s Thesis at Sydney University and would count my contact with … [Read more...] about Understanding The Social Psychology of Risk – Prof Karl E. Weick
Who Said We Don’t Need Systems?
What a strange sense of logic to fixate on the absence of something (injury) as a demonstration of the presence of something else (safety). Such a proposition misunderstands the dynamic of risk and being human. Who Said We Don’t Need Systems? I find it interesting that when some people read what … [Read more...] about Who Said We Don’t Need Systems?
Surely this cannot be serious?
Surely this cannot be serious This photo of a hi-viz wheelbarrow, complete with safety flag, was taken recently at an Australian Mining site. This photo is going straight to our This Toaster Is Hot page. Surely it can’t be serious or it would also have had a flashing light, two-way radio, VMS … [Read more...] about Surely this cannot be serious?
Marketing Safety
Marketing safety By the late George Robotham Make no bones about it, safety is a product that has to be marketed in ways similar to the ways the products your organisation produces are marketed. A good OHS section on your organisations web site will help. It is best to treat everybody you … [Read more...] about Marketing Safety
You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Can’t Make Him Think
You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Can’t Make Him Think: Training is Not the Cure for Stupidity Another stupid exclusive by Phil LaDuke I have, figuratively speaking, painted myself into a corner when it comes to stupidity. Several weeks back I took on a comment made by an oil company … [Read more...] about You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Can’t Make Him Think
Clever Safety Idea?
Clever Safety Idea – Banana Cones! I’ve seen these warning signs evolve from saying “Slippery Floor” (and their admission of guilt) to “Wet Floor” to bright pink because people were so used to them and actually tripping on them. These then are the latest, ironically humorous, … [Read more...] about Clever Safety Idea?
Making Safety Better by Using Our Adaptive Toolbox
Making Safety Better by Using Our Adaptive Toolbox by Dr Rob Long The excellent work of Gerd Gigerenzer introduces us to the limitations of rationality and the need to validate our ‘adaptive toolbox’. In several of Gigerenzer’s books he shows how our use of statistical data is mostly ineffective … [Read more...] about Making Safety Better by Using Our Adaptive Toolbox
Bring Me Solutions Not Problems
Bring Me Solutions Not Problems - Republished One of the more popular posts by the late George Robotham - see all of his work here An ex-manager of mine used to say “Bring me solutions not problems” There is no shortage of people on the various forums talking about various OHS … [Read more...] about Bring Me Solutions Not Problems
Sexual Stereotyping Can Be Deadly
Sexual Stereotyping Can Be Deadly What’s in a name? Simply changing the name of a Cyclone or Hurricane from Tiffany or Heather to something more masculine like Tyson or Dave :-) could save dozens of lives. Severe storms which are assigned softer, more feminine names are perceived to have female … [Read more...] about Sexual Stereotyping Can Be Deadly
Driver Fatigue
Driver Fatigue This simple but powerful little video was sent to us by Tony Anthony who recently experienced a potentially deadly scare whilst at the wheel. He 'ummmed' and 'ahhhed' about it and thought, “well I made for that very reason, to 'get it out there”, It was inspired by the … [Read more...] about Driver Fatigue