One of my favourites from the archives: The Fallible Factor and What to Do About It Being fallible doesn’t mean one is inevitably stupid, lazy, greedy or weak, there are as many advantages to being human and fallible as there are limitations. No one should want humans to be robotic - this would … [Read more...] about The Fallible Factor and What to Do About It
Risk Aversion
This Toaster is Hot
This Toaster is Hot Warning, please stop and “Take Five”! Guest Post by Rob Sams – inspired by this “Hot Toaster” page Before you read any further, I feel compelled to warn you that reading this article may be harmful for your health, it may even cause an injury. I have no idea how or why, … [Read more...] about This Toaster is Hot
Safety Surveys, Bias and Predictability
Safety Surveys, Bias and Predictability Rob’s new Book: “Following-Leading in Risk” is a MUST READ if you think you already know about Leadership. CHECK IT OUT This week Safe Work Australia released a report on Attitudes Towards Risk Taking and Rule Breaking in Australian Workplaces . The report … [Read more...] about Safety Surveys, Bias and Predictability
Subjecting and Objecting About Risk
Subjecting and Objecting About Risk Rob’s new Book: “Following-Leading in Risk” is a MUST READ if you think you already know about Leadership. CHECK IT OUT I read with amusement the constant projection of safety activities as objective. This is one of the great myths of behaviourism (and … [Read more...] about Subjecting and Objecting About Risk
It’s a Safety Requirement
It's a Safety Requirement! For some years now the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has had a Safety Myth Busters Challenge Panel - their mission is to expose stories about ridiculous decisions taken, wrongly, in the name of health and safety. Visit their website. You may also like this recent … [Read more...] about It’s a Safety Requirement
The Manual Handling Secret
The Manual Handling Secret One of the great challenges of safety is effective manual handling. One in three of all injuries in the Australian workplace are due to manual handling issues. For years we have been developing programs, codes of practice and regulations to help minimize this problem – … [Read more...] about The Manual Handling Secret
Absolute Error Prevention
Absolute Error Prevention Safety is so easy, it’s all about error prevention. Safety is so simple, it’s all about risk aversion. Whilst both of these statements appear to be true, both are wrong. Safety is not simple and is not just about error prevention or risk aversion. Indeed, binary thinking … [Read more...] about Absolute Error Prevention
When will the risk aversion nonsense stop?
When will the risk aversion nonsense stop? Guest Post by Dr Rob Long The Herald Sun headlines read ‘KIDS will be banned from blowing out candles on communal birthday cakes, under strict new hygiene rules for childcare.’ (See article). Here is the latest is the race to further ‘dumb down’ risk, … [Read more...] about When will the risk aversion nonsense stop?
The Positives of Risky Play
We learn yet again from research that risk is good, maturation and beneficial for learning. We also learn that risk aversion is anti-learning. And in the same way we also learn that zero is anti-learning. One thing is for sure in safety is no matter what the issue whether it be ethics, … [Read more...] about The Positives of Risky Play
Making Objects Safe or People Safe
Making Objects Safe or People Safe I often ask people in risk and safety training as my first question, ‘When you walk on site, what are you looking for?’ It was no different this week and I got the usual answer ‘hazards!’ A number of people in the group had many years as inspectors, … [Read more...] about Making Objects Safe or People Safe