Queensland Mining Tragedies – What Could be the Response? We learned recently that Queensland Mining has its worst rate of fatalities in 20 years in 2014-15. (http://www.internationalcoalnews.com/storyview.asp?storyID=826953720§ion=News§ionsource=s46&aspdsc=yes). Yes, this is … [Read more...] about Mining Tragedies – What Could be the Response?
Safety Statistics
TRIFR Safety Zombies
TRIFR Safety Zombies The surge in interest in the zombie phenomena (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie) across media, social media, movies and literature is extensive. The zombie apocalypse (societal breakdown) projects a widespread (usually global) rise of zombies hostile to human life that … [Read more...] about TRIFR Safety Zombies
Injury Rates and the Danger of Eating Sultanas
Injury Rates and the Danger of Eating Sultanas We read recently of the rise in car crashes In Australia caused by eating sultanas. Of course you have to laugh because this is the same binary logic that dominates the safety industry as a reality, driven by Zero. Tim Minchin also captures this error … [Read more...] about Injury Rates and the Danger of Eating Sultanas
The Tyranny of Metrics
The Tyranny of Metrics This is the title of a very easy to read book on the obsession of metrics by Jerry Z. Muller. It should be mandatory reading for anyone in the safety industry. 'The challenges of ‘tick and flick’ in the culture of safety is endemic. We know from the research by Herbert Simon … [Read more...] about The Tyranny of Metrics
It’s not in the KPI or LTI but the MRI
It’s not in the KPI or LTI but the MRI The assumption of behaviourist psychology that people are the sum of inputs and outputs is the greatest weakness of BBS philosophy. There is plenty of evidence to show that people don’t respond to stimulus either in self interest or in ways that make … [Read more...] about It’s not in the KPI or LTI but the MRI
The Safety Data Delusion
The Safety Data Delusion I read with amusement the Safety Institute of Australia (SIA) piece on 20 February that endorses the nonsense of safety metrics. Framed as ‘news’, this non-news is anti-safety and anti-cultural intelligence. There is no data that can measure safety just as there is … [Read more...] about The Safety Data Delusion
Measuring in Risk and Safety
Measuring in Risk and Safety It has become fashionable for organisations to use positive or leading indicators as a way to ‘measure’ their risk and safety ‘performance’. Leaders in some organisations have proudly told us how they are ‘progressive’, ‘generative’ and ‘world class’ because they focus … [Read more...] about Measuring in Risk and Safety
Measurement in Safety, You’ve Got it All Wrong
I read a recent article by Alan Quilley (http://www.safetyresults.ca/) on measuring safety by injury rate and was fascinated by the logic. I enjoyed the video on regression to the mean (Prevention of Incidents VS Creating Safety) and the discussion on injury goals. But I thought Alan, you have all … [Read more...] about Measurement in Safety, You’ve Got it All Wrong
Numerology and Psychic Numbing
Numerology and Psychic Numbing Numerology is the belief in a mystical relationship between numbers and events. I can remember as a kid being challenged by the coincidence between numbers and events, later learning that the fascination between numbers and proofs dates back to the Early … [Read more...] about Numerology and Psychic Numbing
Injury Rates Are Up, You’re Sacked
Injury Rates Are Up, You’re Sacked One of the perpetually grand delusions of Safety is that injury rates define safety. I have known some amazing, skilled, caring and helping people in safety over the last few years and all have left the industry. Most were sacked because injury rates went up. One … [Read more...] about Injury Rates Are Up, You’re Sacked
