The Myth of the SWMS Manifesto I’d like a dollar for every mail I get telling stories about what is considered necessary in a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS). It seems that Safety is far more attentive to safety mythology (something that is made symbolically true, that isn’t) than what is … [Read more...] about The Myth of the SWMS Manifesto
Search Results for: transdisciplinarity
A Semiotic Understanding of Culture
A Semiotic Understanding of Culture One of the profound weaknesses of the AIHS BoK Chapter on Culture is a complete omission of an Transdisciplinary focus on culture. The approach to understanding culture omits any sense of Transdisciplinarity is about giving authenticity and value to many … [Read more...] about A Semiotic Understanding of Culture
‘Professional’ Challenges for the Risk ‘Industry’
‘Professional’ Challenges for the Safety ‘Industry’ Download the full paper, including references: Professional Challenges for the Safety Industry by Dr Robert Long Introduction I have been in conversation with large organizations/businesses recently that are in the process of changing the nature … [Read more...] about ‘Professional’ Challenges for the Risk ‘Industry’
Visualising Risk
Visualising Risk One of the foundational practices in SPoR is the visualization of social relationships in risk. This is why the study of Semiotics is essential for risk assessment and understanding human judgment and decision making. It is unfortunate that the safety industry is so naïve and … [Read more...] about Visualising Risk
Competition Winner – Crazy Safety Campaigns
Competition Winner - Crazy Safety Campaigns A few weeks ago, I set out a challenge for Crazy Safety Campaigns after encountering the crazy religious campaign of ‘safety sensei’ . One of the most interesting outcomes of the competition is the number of people who posted me crazy stuff but who … [Read more...] about Competition Winner – Crazy Safety Campaigns
When Seeing is NOT Believing
When Seeing is NOT Believing If you haven’t seen the documentary American Deepfake then do so. It presents the problem of observation and evidence in an age when seeing is NOT believing. When it comes to competence the discipline of Safety ought to be on the front line when it comes to … [Read more...] about When Seeing is NOT Believing
Investigations the IOSH Way
Investigations the IOSH Way IOSH recently published an article on Investigative Interviewing written by an ex specialist criminal investigator for two elite UK law enforcement agencies. Then after considerable criticism IOSH released a response to considerable criticism of this article … [Read more...] about Investigations the IOSH Way
Investigations and the Causality Sausage
Investigations and the Causality Sausage The topic of bias and worldview is rarely discussed as a foundation for incident investigations indeed, if you read the AIHS BoK Chapter of Ethics (https://safetyrisk.net/what-brand-of-ethics-is-safety/ ) or chapter on Causality … [Read more...] about Investigations and the Causality Sausage
Zero as a Semiotic
Zero as a Semiotic When we look at the image (semiotic) of zero there is much that is going on unconsciously. The idea of zero in risk and safety may have originally started as some naïve quest for no injuries but it has evolved to become the iconic anchor for a religious movement. The Spirit of … [Read more...] about Zero as a Semiotic
Freedom to Harm, the Gig Economy and Zero
Freedom to Harm, the Gig Economy and Zero One of the jokes of the zero cult is its selective approach to harm. Injury rates are always calculated against definitions that suit political agendas. The zero cult doesn’t know it has a political agenda because the ideology of zero prizes itself on dumb, … [Read more...] about Freedom to Harm, the Gig Economy and Zero