• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SafetyRisk.net

Humanising Safety and Embracing Real Risk

  • Home
    • About
      • Privacy Policy
      • Contact
  • FREE
    • Slogans
      • Researchers Reveal the Top 10 Most Effective Safety Slogans Of All Time
      • When Slogans Don’t Work
      • CLASSIC, FAMOUS and INFAMOUS SAFETY QUOTES
      • 500 OF THE BEST WORKPLACE HEALTH and SAFETY SLOGANS 2023
      • CATCHY and FUNNY SAFETY SLOGANS FOR THE WORKPLACE
      • COVID-19 (Coronavirus, Omicron) Health and Safety Slogans and Quotes for the Workplace
      • Safety Acronyms
      • You know Where You Can Stick Your Safety Slogans
      • Sayings, Slogans, Aphorisms and the Discourse of Simple
      • Spanish Safety Slogans – Consignas de seguridad
      • Safety Slogans List
      • Road Safety Slogans 2023
      • How to write your own safety slogans
      • Why Are Safety Slogans Important
      • Safety Slogans Don’t Save Lives
      • 40 Free Safety Slogans For the Workplace
      • Safety Slogans for Work
    • FREE SAFETY eBOOKS
    • Free Hotel and Resort Risk Management Checklist
    • FREE DOWNLOADS
    • TOP 50
    • FREE RISK ASSESSMENT FORMS
    • Find a Safety Consultant
    • Free Safety Program Documents
    • Psychology Of Safety
    • Safety Ideas That Work
    • HEALTH and SAFETY MANUALS
    • FREE SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT RESOURCES
    • Whats New In Safety
    • FUN SAFETY STUFF
    • Health and Safety Training
    • SAFETY COURSES
    • Safety Training Needs Analysis and Matrix
    • Top 20 Safety Books
    • This Toaster Is Hot
    • Free Covid-19 Toolbox Talks
    • Download Page – Please Be Patient With Larger Files…….
    • SAFETY IMAGES, Photos, Unsafe Pictures and Funny Fails
    • How to Calculate TRIFR, LTIFR and Other Health and Safety Indicators
    • Download Safety Moments from Human Resources Secretariat
  • Social Psychology Of Risk
    • What is Psychological Health and Safety at Work?
    • Safety Psychology Terminology
    • Some Basics on Social Psychology & Risk
    • Understanding The Social Psychology of Risk – Prof Karl E. Weick
    • The Psychology of Leadership in Risk
    • Conducting a Psychology and Culture Safety Walk
    • The Psychology of Conversion – 20 Tips to get Started
    • Understanding The Social Psychology of Risk And Safety
    • Psychology and safety
    • The Psychology of Safety
    • Hot Toaster
    • TALKING RISK VIDEOS
    • WHAT IS SAFETY
    • THE HOT TOASTER
    • THE ZERO HARM DEBATE
    • SEMIOTICS
    • LEADERSHIP
  • Dr Long Posts
    • ALL POSTS
    • Learning Styles Matter
    • There is no Hierarchy of Controls
    • Scaffolding, Readiness and ZPD in Learning
    • What Can Safety Learn From Playschool?
    • Presentation Tips for Safety People
    • Dialogue Do’s and Don’ts
    • It’s Only a Symbol
    • Ten Cautions About Safety Checklists
    • Zero is Unethical
    • First Report on Zero Survey
    • There is No Objectivity, Deal With it!
  • THEMES
    • Risk Myths
    • Safety Myths
    • Safety Culture Silences
    • Safety Culture
    • Psychological Health and Safety
    • Zero Harm
    • Due Diligence
  • Free Learning
    • Introduction to SPoR – Free
    • FREE RISK and SAFETY EBOOKS
    • FREE ebook – Guidance for the beginning OHS professional
    • Free EBook – Effective Safety Management Systems
    • Free EBook – Lessons I Have Learnt
  • Psychological Safety
    • What is Psychological Health and Safety at Work?
    • Managing psychosocial hazards at work
    • Psychological Safety – has it become the next Maslow’s hammer?
    • What is Psychosocial Safety
    • Psychological Safety Slogans and Quotes
    • What is Psychological Safety?
    • Understanding Psychological Terminology
    • Psycho-Social and Socio-Psychological, What’s the Difference?
    • Build a Psychologically Safe Workplace by Taking Risks and Analysing Failures
    • It’s not weird – it’s a psychological safety initiative!
You are here: Home / Robert Long / Safety Culture Sinks Ships

Safety Culture Sinks Ships

January 21, 2014 by Dr Rob Long 3 Comments

See all the amazing photos here: http://cryptome.org/2012-info/costa-concordia/0041.htm

Culture not Rocks Sink Ships

Another guest post by Dr Robert Long – If you liked this article then you should read the whole series: CLICK HERE

These amazing photos of the Costa Concordia are a stark reminder that poor safety culture sinks ships.

The picture of the large rock jammed in the hull has captured the moment when the psychological and cultural factors of this event came together. Incidents and accidents are rarely about failed technology, but rather a complex web of cultural and psychological factors. The 10 organisational dimensions of safety culture are:

  1. Leadership (Sensemaking)
  2. Preparedness (Mindfulness)
  3. Thinking and Practice (Cognitive Dissonance)
  4. Influences (Psychosocial Triggers)

  5. Systems

  6. Core Vision

  7. Priorities

  8. Learning Capacity (Resilience)

  9. Competence

  10. Actions

These organisational factors operate at three levels: primary-physical; secondary-psychological and tertiary-cultural. Secondary and tertiary levels operate ‘below the line’, see Figure 1. Secondary and tertiary levels are mostly unseen. They are embedded in implicit (gut) knowledge ‘under the surface’ and become apparent in times of turbulence. It’s only when implicit knowledge is extracted by physical events that we see the results of poor safety culture. Unfortunately by then, it’s all too late.

Much more work should be done by organisations to assess safety culture and attending to safety cultural challenges as a normal course of operations. This is what Prof Weick (2001) means by Managing the Unexpected. Weick’s definition of mindfulness means much more than just ‘having your wits’ about you. Mindfulness is about:

  • Preoccupation with failure;
  • Reluctance to simplify interpretations;
  • Sensitivity to operations;
  • Commitment to resilience; and
  • Deference to expertise.

Weick calls mindful organisations, High Reliability Organisations (HROs).

The Human Dymensions MiProfile safety culture survey assesses the HRO health of an organisation on a 30 point scale. MiProfile assesses implicit knowledge at three levels across 10 organisational factors. The MiProfile methodology is downloadable off the Human Dymensions website. The following matrix at Table 1 indicates the structure of the MiProfile survey:

Table 1. MiProfile Safety Culture Survey 30 point structure

Organisational Factors Physical (Primary) Psychological (Secondary) Cultural (Tertiary)
Leadership (Sensemaking)
Preparedness (Mindfulness)
Thinking and Practice (Cognitive Dissonance)
Influences (Psychosocial Triggers)
Systems
Core Vision
Priorities
Learning Capacity (Resilience)
Competence
Actions

The 30 point scale rating provides organisations with a HRO health score. Based on the score and recognised areas of challenge, organisations can develop an evidence-based safety culture program. If your organisation already has a safety culture program, the matrix can serve as a format for gap analysis. The matrix is also a useful structure for incident investigation.

You can see a video demonstration of MiProfile at: http://vimeo.com/24764673

As is often the case with accident investigations much energy is devoted to individual blame, physical circumstances, systems error, human error (whatever that means), denial, defensiveness, smoke screens and spin. None of these will bring back the lives lost or ruined by this tragedy and will hardly provide effective analysis of safety culture.

The evidence of poor safety culture is apparent even in the latest news reports including a recording between Livorno port officials and Captain Francesco Schettino. In this recording 30 minutes after the grounding of the vessel the Captain is heard in default (implicit) mode already in denial. What kind of safety culture automatically defaults to denial in times of turbulence and crisis?

Figure 1. Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Hazards and Risks

clip_image002

 

  • Bio
  • Latest Posts
  • More about Rob
Dr Rob Long

Dr Rob Long

Expert in Social Psychology, Principal & Trainer at Human Dymensions
Dr Rob Long

Latest posts by Dr Rob Long (see all)

  • The KISS of Death in Safety - January 31, 2023
  • SPoR, Metanoia and a Podcast on Change with Nippin Anand - January 31, 2023
  • Behavioural Safety is NOT a Foundation for Tackling Psychosocial and Mental Health - January 31, 2023
  • The Worst Approach to Psychosocial Problems is an Attitude of ‘Fixing’ - January 31, 2023
  • SPoR Comes to Vienna June 2023 - January 31, 2023
Dr Rob Long
PhD., MEd., MOH., BEd., BTh., Dip T., Dip Min., Cert IV TAA, MRMIA Rob is the founder of Human Dymensions and has extensive experience, qualifications and expertise across a range of sectors including government, education, corporate, industry and community sectors over 30 years. Rob has worked at all levels of the education and training sector including serving on various post graduate executive, post graduate supervision, post graduate course design and implementation programs.

Please share our posts

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Robert Long Tagged With: safety culture, sink ships

Reader Interactions

Do you have any thoughts? Please share them below Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Search and Discover More on this Site

Never miss a post - Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address and join other discerning risk and safety people who receive notifications of new posts by email

Join 7,498 other subscribers

Introduction to SPOR – FREE!!

SAFETY MYTHS SERIES

The Mythic Symbology of Safety

Posture Myths and Holistic Ergonomics

Safety Mythbusters

Don’t Be Emotional! Another Safety Myth

Tackling the Challenge of Heuristics in Safety

The Myth of Normal

NEW! Free Download

Please take our 2 minute zero survey

Recent Comments

  • Brian Edwin Darlington on The KISS of Death in Safety
  • Brian on The Language of ‘Hazards’ and Psychosocial, Mental Health
  • Jaise on The Language of ‘Hazards’ and Psychosocial, Mental Health
  • Rob Long on Posture Myths and Holistic Ergonomics
  • Linda McKendry on Posture Myths and Holistic Ergonomics
  • Rob long on Welcome to the Nightmare, Safety Creates its Own Minefield (as usual)
  • Matt Thorne on Welcome to the Nightmare, Safety Creates its Own Minefield (as usual)
  • Anonymous on Welcome to the Nightmare, Safety Creates its Own Minefield (as usual)
  • Jason on How Bias Inhibits Learning in Safety
  • Rob Long on How Bias Inhibits Learning in Safety
  • Admin on How Bias Inhibits Learning in Safety
  • Rob Long on 400,000 Free Downloads
  • Gustavo Saralegui on 400,000 Free Downloads
  • Rob long on To Err is Human, You Better Believe It
  • Wynand on To Err is Human, You Better Believe It
  • Rob Long on To Err is Human, You Better Believe It
  • simon cassin on To Err is Human, You Better Believe It
  • Rob Long on Records of safety activities: evidence of safety or non-compliance?
  • Matt Thorne on Free Online Workshops
  • Rob long on No Good Reason to Follow Reason

FREE eBOOK DOWNLOADS

Footer

VIRAL POST – The Risk Matrix Myth

Top Posts & Pages. Sad that most are so dumb but this is what safety luves

  • 500 OF THE BEST WORKPLACE HEALTH and SAFETY SLOGANS 2023
  • Free Safety Moments and Toolbox Talk Examples, Tips and Resources
  • Road Safety Slogans 2023
  • CATCHY and FUNNY SAFETY SLOGANS FOR THE WORKPLACE
  • Download Safety Moments from Human Resources Secretariat
  • 15 Safety Precautions When Working With Electricity
  • FREE RISK ASSESSMENT FORMS, CHECKISTS, REGISTERS, TEMPLATES and APPS
  • How to Calculate TRIFR, LTIFR and Other Health and Safety Indicators
  • NATIONAL SAFETY DAY/WEEK IN INDIA 2023
  • The Language of ‘Hazards’ and Psychosocial, Mental Health

Recent Posts

  • The KISS of Death in Safety
  • SPoR, Metanoia and a Podcast on Change with Nippin Anand
  • Behavioural Safety is NOT a Foundation for Tackling Psychosocial and Mental Health
  • The Worst Approach to Psychosocial Problems is an Attitude of ‘Fixing’
  • SPoR Comes to Vienna June 2023
  • The Language of ‘Hazards’ and Psychosocial, Mental Health
  • Welcome to the Nightmare, Safety Creates its Own Minefield (as usual)
  • The Visionary Imagination – Louisa Lawson
  • Heaven ‘n Hell and the Safety Religion
  • Confirmity in Conformity
  • Numerology and Psychic Numbing
  • Thinking of Mortality
  • Safety is the Wrong Anchor
  • Foresight Blindness, Hindsight Bias and Risk
  • Getting the Balance Right in Tackling Risk
  • What is SPoR?
  • How Bias Inhibits Learning in Safety
  • Afraid to Let Go of What Doesn’t Work in Safety
  • When You Don’t Know What to do in Safety, Have Another Blitz!!!
  • Gloves and Glasses Compliance
  • A Case of Desensitisation – What Would You Do?
  • How to Leave the Safety Industry
  • The Mythic Symbology of Safety
  • Dark Waters, The True Story of DuPont and Zero
  • 400,000 Free Downloads
  • Am I stupid? I didn’t think of that…
  • Don’t Look Now Safety, Your Metaphor is Showing
  • Ratio Delusions and Heinrich’s Hoax
  • To Err is Human, You Better Believe It
  • Culture as a Wicked Problem, for Safety
  • Safety Leadership Training
  • Cultural Orientation in Risk
  • The Stanford Experiment and The Social Psychology of Risk
  • Objectivity, Audits and Attribution When Calculating Risk
  • Records of safety activities: evidence of safety or non-compliance?
  • Zero, The Seeking of Infinity
  • Safety Leadership Essentials
  • What Can Indiana Jones Tell Us About Culture
  • Safety as a Worldview
  • The Loathing of Limits
  • Culture Cannot be Framed Through Safety
  • Free Online Workshops
  • Safety Culture–Hudson’s Model
  • Book Launch – For the Love of Zero – in Portuguese
  • Advancing Backwards in Safety
  • The ‘Noise’ of Safety, Silence and Practicing of Mindfulness
  • All Things Must Pass in Risk
  • I’m just not that into safety anymore
  • Sticks and Stones and the Nonsense of Zero Harm
  • Courting Infallibility in Safety

VIRAL POST!!! HOW TO QUIT THE SAFETY INDUSTRY

FEATURED POSTS

The Safety Control Delusion

The Brain as Computer Myth

What Does Your Risk and Safety Icon Say?

The Hero Myth in Modern Management

Keep Your Head In the Game

Workshop – Understanding Culture Tackling Risk

Themes and Concepts in Risk – Requests

Gesture in Risk Matters

The Learning (and unlearning) that Revealed my Vocation

Chronic Unease is Not Enough

Not Much Like Safety…

Zero Vision but Purchase Insurance

Understanding Goal States, Motivation and SPoR, A Video

More Realistic Swiss Cheese Symbol

Some Basics on Social Psychology & Risk

The Repression of Uncertainty

Who is the Enemy and What War is Safety Fighting?

Balance in Risk and Safety

Turning Neuroscience into Behaviourism

Clarity Enabled

The Sully Effect

What Can ‘Safety’ Learn From a Rock?

Semiotics, Semiology and Safety Sense

SPoR and Myth

SPoR Quarterly Newsletter September 2021

Thinking About Harm

The Primacy of Play in Learning

The Domino Myth in Safety

The Quantitative and Qualitative Divide in Safety

How to Do the Best Risk Assessment

Humanising Workers Compensation (Sydney Workshop)

CLLR April 2017 Newsletter–Not Your Usual Safety Newsletter!!

The New Safety Saviour – Algorithms

Desensitisation–the by-product of ill-conceived safety initiatives

Study The Psychology of Risk

The Psychology of Conversion – 20 Tips to get Started

There is Another Ethic than Zero Accidents

Utopian Language and the Quest for Perfection in Safety

Learning Wisdom from the Collective Unconscious

Safety is not Just a Choice

More Posts from this Category

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address and join other discerning risk and safety people who receive notifications of new posts by email

Join 7,498 other subscribers

How we pay for the high cost of running of this site – try it for free on your site

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY?

What is Psychological Safety at Work?