Some time ago we asked the question “What Is Safety”. We didn't find a real definition - probably because there isn't one. We had more success in answering the question: “What Isn’t Safety” (“If safety is just zero harm then love must just be zero hate”) Karl Weick says of reliability: … [Read more...] about Can Safety Be Defined as “Reliability”?
Safety Culture
Safety and Risk Culture Cloud
I wanted to republish this article from last year after just reading yet another article about safety culture being "the way we do things around here" and therefore to change that, "Leaders need to walk the walk and talk the talk". I have never been comfortable with the term "safety culture", its … [Read more...] about Safety and Risk Culture Cloud
We are in Control and Other Such Delusions!
We are in Control and Other Such Delusions! First published August 2014, republished by request It was sad to hear about the death of the genius man, Robin Williams. It was even sadder to hear the reason why. This is a man many of us have followed, watched, laughed with, cried with and grown up … [Read more...] about We are in Control and Other Such Delusions!
Great Quote To Think About In The Context Of Safety At Work
Great Quote To Think About In The Context Of Safety At Work This is a famous quote by Sir Thomas More from his book “Utopia”, written in 1516. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_(book). It was also quoted in the film “Ever After – A Cinderella Story” The quote struck a chord with me in … [Read more...] about Great Quote To Think About In The Context Of Safety At Work
Culture is NOT Systems, Nor Performance
We see a recent announcement by the AIHS that Safety needs to move from compliance to ‘culture leadership’, whatever that means. Safety is so good at throwing around such expressions and all they do is just hide marketing. Of course, the announcement doesn’t talk about culture or access to … [Read more...] about Culture is NOT Systems, Nor Performance
HSE Performance – Back to Basics
Many organisations publicly declare their commitment to safety; have safety values, safety mission statements and many other ways of trying to demonstrate commitment but their practices show otherwise. Managing Organisational HSE Performance and Prevention of Workplace Fatalities – Back to … [Read more...] about HSE Performance – Back to Basics
Cultural Survey Diagnotic Tools
I have been talking to my clients about Culture, People and Psychosocial Risks and there seems to be very little coming together in a Venn diagram for them. More importantly, their surveys seem to target a particular outcome that may been seen in a good light. One survey asked the question: … [Read more...] about Cultural Survey Diagnotic Tools
Register for Free SPoR Module on Culture – Starting 9 July 2025
The next free module being offered by CLLR (https://cllr.com.au/) is on Culture. Places are limited to 50 places and we already have 15 registrations. So, if you want to learn about culture you can register here: admin@spor.com.au The free module will work through the book 51 Stories in … [Read more...] about Register for Free SPoR Module on Culture – Starting 9 July 2025
Is Complacency Evil?
Republished by request...... Is Complacency Evil? Lots of words are thrown around the safety sector with little definition. Everyone seems to know what everyone else is thinking and yet there is little clarification. The word ‘culture’ is perhaps the best example of an overused but under-defined … [Read more...] about Is Complacency Evil?
The First Rule of the Titan, Don’t Talk About Safety Culture
If you watch the documentary Titan, The Oceangate Submersible Disaster you will know that the first rule of safety culture is to talk about safety culture. You will also know that the second rule of safety culture is not to listen to engineers tell you not to talk about safety culture. The … [Read more...] about The First Rule of the Titan, Don’t Talk About Safety Culture