One of the traps and seductions of the social media world is the idea that everyone else leads an extraordinary life and you don’t. The parade of extraordinary experiences is so often a narcissistic quest for ‘look at me’, ‘I was there’. And whilst I’m happy for the escape of a Taylor Swift concert … [Read more...] about Fluff or Substance, Safety Hype and Everyday Social Resilience
Safety Culture Sinks Ships
These amazing photos of the Costa Concordia are a stark reminder that poor safety culture sinks ships. The picture of the large rock jammed in the hull has captured the moment when the psychological and cultural factors of this event came together. Incidents and accidents are rarely about failed … [Read more...] about Safety Culture Sinks Ships
Dreamers, Dreaming and Decision Making
I remember as a child being insulted by a teacher who called me a ‘dreamer’ in front of a class, simply because I was not focused on a task as he wanted. How fascinating that in our western society that we would want to use such a metaphor to insult someone. Yet, in Indigenous, First Nations People … [Read more...] about Dreamers, Dreaming and Decision Making
Pass Me Another SWMS Leo, The Last One Was Too Short
Isn’t it marvelous, SAI Global recently advertised new editable SWMSs (Safe Work Method Statement) for download. Now you don’t have to really assess risk, understand the job or know how to be safe, it’s the ultimate in cut and paste. So when the inspector comes, all the columns will be ruled … [Read more...] about Pass Me Another SWMS Leo, The Last One Was Too Short
Conversation with….. Gerd Gigerenzer
Heuristics are an important topic in Social Psychology of Risk (SPoR), it helps us to understand how people think and move away from Brain Centrism. You can find it in the SPoR BoK under the Gut bubble. HB 327 also discusses Heuristics in relation to Risk. I believe that this is one of the … [Read more...] about Conversation with….. Gerd Gigerenzer
By What Method?
There is so much hype and marketing in safety, with so many promises, slogans and mantras. However, when you cut through all of the spin and marketing there needs to be two critical questions to be asked: by what method? And, who does that method privilege? When one asks these questions, one is … [Read more...] about By What Method?
CLLR Newsletter Feb 24
Theme - The Adoration of Technique Technique is the quest for ultimate efficiency and was first articulated in 1964 by Jacques Ellul in The Technological Society … [Read more...] about CLLR Newsletter Feb 24
An Ethic for Innovation
I read with fascination the development (not innovation) of the Raptor AI. This development can: ‘Additionally, the Raptor AI is able to collect data and store information including facial recognition, car registration numbers and wireless device detection to continue ensuring the safety of … [Read more...] about An Ethic for Innovation
Can Any Innovation in Safety be Deemed Good?
When the best effort at Ethics is the AIHS BoK Chapter on Ethics (https://safetyrisk.net/a-guide-to-tokenism-in-ethics-in-safety/) you don’t have to argue about whether safety is professional. Of course, it isn’t. There can be no claim to professionalism without a mature and well-articulated … [Read more...] about Can Any Innovation in Safety be Deemed Good?
Your Safety Talk Matters
If you have enjoyed the series of articles by Dr Robert Long (see them here) then you will love this short video which clearly explains the important basics of how to have an effective safety talk or conversation – a crucial, but often overlooked, element in controlling risks in the … [Read more...] about Your Safety Talk Matters