The assumption made in safety is that culture can be explained conceptually and propositionally, when it can’t. No wonder those who describe culture as a ‘fog’ or ‘cloudy’ don’t understand culture. It’s a bit like taking a knife to a gun fight, or asking the wrong questions expecting the right … [Read more...] about On Culture and Safety
Search Results for: positivism
Some Christmas Reading for Risk and Safety People
Some Christmas Reading for Risk and Safety People (editors note: Try “Fallibility and Risk” by Dr Rob Long – its free to download here: https://safetyrisk.net/free-safety-ebooks/ ) Christmas and New Years is often a time to catch up on some reading and relax on the beach or by a river and take … [Read more...] about Some Christmas Reading for Risk and Safety People
Risk and Safety as a Wicked Problem
Introduction It is nearly ten years since the outstanding research by Wagner and Associates ‘Safety - A Wicked Problem’ was published (http://www.peterwagner.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Safety-A-Wicked-Problem2.pdf). The project examined responses by prominent CEOs to common problems associated in … [Read more...] about Risk and Safety as a Wicked Problem
Wisdom, Discernment and an Ethic of Safety
Wisdom, Discernment and an Ethic of Safety I receive emails every week from safety people who thank me for being ‘provocative’ and helping them learn. However, being provocative is not something I set out to do. I don’t sit down and think, ‘now how can I present some contrary view’. Indeed, when … [Read more...] about Wisdom, Discernment and an Ethic of Safety
Don’t Be Emotional! Another Safety Myth
As our society (and safety industry) continues to suffer under the burden of Scientism (Positivism), we still here this terrible accusation ‘don’t be emotional’. More so, even most awfully directed at women. This kind of language promotes ignorance from assumptions about personhood developed 300 … [Read more...] about Don’t Be Emotional! Another Safety Myth
SPoR, Ideology and Safety Myth
Continuing our series on Safety Myths – see them all here Ideology is one of those tricky words that can be defined 100 ways. So, it’s always good to define meaning before assuming others know the application of language. In language context, philosophy and culture are critical determinant of … [Read more...] about SPoR, Ideology and Safety Myth
Linguistics and Safety
When I was teaching Linguistics in Secondary and Tertiary contexts, I would always repeat the well-known aphorism: ‘say what you mean and mean what you say’. How unfortunate that the safety industry has no interest in Linguistics and thinks it is fine to speak gobbledygook to people … [Read more...] about Linguistics and Safety
The Safety Worldview and COVID19
The Safety Worldview and COVID19 If you look at safety sites to do with COVID19 you would be mistaken to think that the threat of COVID19 is just a physical/biological thing (Safe Work Australia, AIHS, NSCA Foundation ). Don’t you love it when Safety releases ‘statements from experts’ about … [Read more...] about The Safety Worldview and COVID19
SPoR Quarterly Newsletter September 2021
SPoR Quarterly Newsletter September 2021 Theme - Brain-Centrism and Risk I was contacted by a safety person the other day who was at his wits end because he had ‘tried everything’ in the so called ‘safety arsenal’ to reduce injury and harm at work. The letter started with comments like ‘we have … [Read more...] about SPoR Quarterly Newsletter September 2021
SHE’s lost control again
SHE’s lost control again No one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it George Orwell She’s lost control again is a track from the rock band Joy Division (Freudenabteilungen), which featured on their debut album entitled Unknown Pleasures released in June 1979. The group hailed … [Read more...] about SHE’s lost control again