The psychology of perception and visibility seem to be of little interest to an industry consumed with counting hazards, injury and objects. When you think that psychosocial harm is about ‘hazards’ (https://safetyrisk.net/what-is-psychosocial-safety/) you clearly have no idea what psychosocial harm … [Read more...] about You Don’t Need High-Vis to be ‘Seen’
PPE
The PPE Masquerade
There’s nothing more attractive to a politician than a great photo op with children. This with the Prime Minister of Australia this weekend. How wonderful to see kids dressed up in PPE that doesn’t fit, all smiling with the PM. Of course, this is not just a photo op but also a symbol … [Read more...] about The PPE Masquerade
The Safety Dunce
The profession of teaching learned over 100 years ago that humiliation, shaming and victimising doesn’t work. Indeed, such strategies are not just ineffective but drive the opposite. Understanding ethics in teaching was essential for claiming the status of ‘professional’. Not so Safety. I was … [Read more...] about The Safety Dunce
Wo-Men in Safety
When I first saw this (PPE Women in Construction) you could blow me over with a feather. Safety just keeps getting worse and worse. See Figure 1. Figure 1. If ever there was need for a feminist ethic in Safety it would be now. Here we have, masked as something to do with safety and PPE, all that … [Read more...] about Wo-Men in Safety
Why Safety Loves Covid-19
I read with interest this piece by ASSP in EHS Today (Leading safety Professionals Into the Future). More propaganda from a sector known for its policing, paperwork and zero. Interestingly, the article confirms in its first paragraph that this is how safety people are perceived. The article goes on … [Read more...] about Why Safety Loves Covid-19
Gloves and Glasses Compliance
Gloves and Glasses Compliance By Dr Robert Long I wonder how many safety people will hit on this blog just because of the title? I did wonder for some time what more petty a title I could present but decided this would do. What a sad state when the lowest defence in the Hierarchy of Controls … [Read more...] about Gloves and Glasses Compliance
A Little Challenge For Experienced Safety Professionals Only
A Little Challenge For Experienced Safety Professionals Only Calling on all experienced Safety Professionals with a sharp mind and a discerning eye…..We all know how important it is to wear as much PPE as possible when working on a construction site - it wont really stop many serious injuries but … [Read more...] about A Little Challenge For Experienced Safety Professionals Only
Barry’s Latest Safety Innovation Discovery
If you are sick of trying to discern real risk, want to exclude a big chunk of your workforce and are completely over having meaningful conversations about PPE with workers who have absolutely no common sense then you will love what I found on Linkedin today! It comes with a big mirror so workers … [Read more...] about Barry’s Latest Safety Innovation Discovery
Safety values, ideas, behaviours and clothes
Safety values, ideas, behaviours and clothes Safety values, thoughts, ideas and behaviours are a bit like clothes; we all have them, but knowing which to wear, recycle, or ditch is often a challenging decision. After what has been a tough period for many, now might be the perfect time to open … [Read more...] about Safety values, ideas, behaviours and clothes
How do we mourn?
Guest post by Frank Garrett What are we mourning for? In our busy, noisy complicated world we don’t have time for such questions. But this current quarantine situation has provided time to ask, to wonder, what have we lost, what do we stand to lose, how do we grieve for those? The very social … [Read more...] about How do we mourn?