Culture Silences in Safety Artefacts When you ask an Anthropologist about culture they most often think about artefacts, when you ask Safety, it’s always about behaviours. Artefacts carry a code and requires enormous research and historical knowledge to interpret meaning. Similarly behaviours, … [Read more...] about Culture Silences in Safety Artefacts
Safety Culture
Culture Silences in Safety Mythology
Culture Silences in Safety, Mythology One of the profound weaknesses of how Safety considers culture is its omission of many critical aspects of culture essential for consideration. When your definition of something shapes misunderstanding you can be sure that whatever the strategy, it won’t … [Read more...] about Culture Silences in Safety Mythology
You Don’t Fess Up Without Trust
You Don’t Fess Up Without Trust We saw a classic example of how Safety doesn’t work this week in the Australian election campaign (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10753031/Australia-Election-2022-Extraordinary-moment-worker-covers-sign-Scott-Morrison.html ). The Prime Minister of … [Read more...] about You Don’t Fess Up Without Trust
Common Safety Beliefs Surfaced in MiProfile Survey
Common Safety Beliefs Surfaced in MiProfile Survey We have just conducted another MiProfile Survey this time with a Civil Construction Joint Venture. The survey confirms once again the many myths held in common by workers regarding Safety. The survey methodology ensures that the data collected is … [Read more...] about Common Safety Beliefs Surfaced in MiProfile Survey
Culture – Edgar Schein
Culture - Edgar Schein This weeks conversation is about Safety Culture, Dave Whitefield from Semiosphere and Andrew Thornhill from Clarity Enabled and myself discuss Edgar Schein's model as a way of explaining Safety Culture. Couple of out takes from the discussions "The tricky part of … [Read more...] about Culture – Edgar Schein
So, You Want Culture Change?
So, You Want Culture Change? When one’s definition of culture is either systems, behaviours or values (or all three) the strategies (methods) that result reflect the definition. Changing values, systems and behaviours doesn’t change culture, it only affects these small elements of culture. One’s … [Read more...] about So, You Want Culture Change?
Competing Values Framework
Competing Values Framework This weeks conversation is about Safety Culture. Dave Whitefield from Semiosphere and Andrew Thornhill from Clarity Enabled and myself discuss the Competing Values Framework as a way of explaining Safety Culture. Has does this stack up as a cultural model? Competing … [Read more...] about Competing Values Framework
Safety Engagement with Workspace, Headspace and Groupspace
So much of what we do in safety takes its focus on workspace. We call this the physical or ‘primary’ dimension of safety. This is easy to administer and regulate because what is required is visible and accountable through checklists matched to regulations. Most safety walks and observations are … [Read more...] about Safety Engagement with Workspace, Headspace and Groupspace
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
Loathing Fallibility and Rituals of Safety
Loathing Fallibility and Rituals of Safety I was in the Post Office yesterday and despite the markings on the floor, some people didn’t maintain the appropriate social distance. There were 3 people at the counter and one person was asked to wait while the attendant searched out back for an order. … [Read more...] about Loathing Fallibility and Rituals of Safety