We know that knowledge of mythology is an essential aspect of understanding culture, except in the safety industry. At the foundation of all myth sits an element of truth that is symbolised and made true by a group, regardless of the evidence. This is certainly the case in the many myths that … [Read more...] about How to Make Safety Culture Myths True
Safety Culture
Risk and Safety Rituals
Risk and Safety Rituals Rituals are the foundation of cultural belonging and identity. You can’t really understand or influence culture without a good grasp of rituals and artefacts. The idea that behaviours (‘what we do around here’) define culture is one of the grand delusions of simplistic … [Read more...] about Risk and Safety Rituals
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
When Safety Culture is Toxic
Most times when the call or email comes in, it is often too late in the life of the organisation for a mild review. Furthermore, many of these organisations have tried all the same old stuff, same old management ideology, same old slogans, some old silver bullets, same old slick marketing and still … [Read more...] about When Safety Culture is Toxic
Ten Virtues for a Positive Safety Culture
Care Ethics gets no mention in the AIHS BoK Chapter on Ethics, a sure sign that it was written by an amateur. Similarly, this unprofessional Chapter makes no mention of other critical elements of safety culture eg. Power and Zero, a truly amateurish work. There is also no map to help one understand … [Read more...] about Ten Virtues for a Positive Safety Culture
Culture and Subculture, Which is Safety?
Culture and Subculture, Which is Safety? The SIA BoK chapter on Organisational Culture came out this week. I read with interest that there was no intentional discussion of subcultures in the paper. Of course with so much sunk cost the club will surround the wagons and defend, that’s what it does. … [Read more...] about Culture and Subculture, Which is Safety?
Nonsense Curves and Pyramids
Nonsense Curves and Pyramids Safety likes nothing more than curves and pyramids, nothing so exciting as parading out the Bradley Curve or Heinrich’s Pyramid to get the troops excited about failure and loss. The Bradley Curve was created by DuPont in 1995 to try and benchmark notions of culture and … [Read more...] about Nonsense Curves and Pyramids
Selling Safety and the Safety of Selling Safety Culture
The clue to marketing safety seems to be stating what something is by what it isn’t. For example, create a document selling company and call it SafetyCulture. SafetyCulture is the name of a company but it has nothing to do with safety culture. And it markets so well, as we see its branding at the … [Read more...] about Selling Safety and the Safety of Selling Safety Culture
Making Sure There is No ‘Cultural Shift’ in Safety
In the latest instalment of Safety stating what is by what isn’t, we have this from NZ Worksafe (https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/news-and-media/ecostore-commits-323k-to-cultural-shift-in-safety/). When you read this article it becomes obvious, that this has nothing to do with … [Read more...] about Making Sure There is No ‘Cultural Shift’ in Safety
Jerry won the safety award (but he didn’t do anything!)
Jerry won the safety award (but he didn’t do anything!) I was at a family gathering recently and got talking to Jerry who I hadn’t spoken with for a while. We chatted about our work and he asked whether I was still in ‘safety’. I said no, that’s not what I do anymore: (I’m Not that into Safety … [Read more...] about Jerry won the safety award (but he didn’t do anything!)