Evidence, Proof and Paperwork in Safety I was with a client yesterday and all the nonsense safety mythology surfaced the moment I suggested that they not record certain acts and activities. The anxiety hit the roof, ‘but Rob how can we ‘prove’ we undertook the activity and how can we prove its effectiveness?’ Great question […]
Safety systems
Paper Safe
Paper Safe By Greg Smith. First published here: https://www.waylandlegal.com.au/blog/paper-safe I am happy to announce my new book, Paper Safe: the triumph of bureaucracy in safety management is available. It seems to me that at some point health and safety management has lost its way. Rather than being concerned about protecting workers and others from the […]
Please share our posts
I Don’t Serve Systems
I Don’t Serve Systems It’s a strange experience to read a science-managerial text on compliance. It’s strange because of the absence of any reference to human interaction or social psychological influences on behavior and human decision making. This is the case with Singh and Bussen’s book ‘Compliance Management, A How-to Guide for Executives, Lawyers and […]
Please share our posts
Process or Outcome?
Process or Outcome? Latest by Greg Smith on his blog: MY SAFETY THOUGHTS Today I was reading a LinkedIn post lamenting the state of health and safety management, evidenced by too many “safety stickers” on a piece of machinery. A commenter noted that the situation was “absolute madness“, which doesn’t keep anyone safe. Much of […]
Please share our posts
Are your JHAs worthless?
Are your JHAs worthless? By Greg Smith, first published here: https://mysafetythoughts.com/2018/03/05/are-your-jhas-worthless/ “Worthless” is not my phrase, and I make no assumptions about the JSA process as it is applied in your workplace, but I am interested in whether your organisation could pass the “worthlessness” test set out in the recent NSW District Court decision, Inspector […]
Please share our posts
Making Technicians Not Helpers
Making Technicians Not Helpers People have enrolled in the CLLR Certificate online and in face-to-face studies (https://cllr.com.au/register-to-study/) recently, many with graduate and post-graduate qualifications in Safety. Near all, without exception, are looking for the skills and knowledge that is excluded from most safety training and qualifications. Near all report that their qualification has been primarily […]
Please share our posts
But We Have Safety Systems in Place
But We Have Safety Systems in Place One of the most successful myths of Safety is that one is protected by having systems in place. What we learned from Greg Smith in Risky Conversations, The Law, Social Psychology and Risk (https://www.humandymensions.com/product/risky-conversations/) was that having a system in place means nothing in court unless one can […]
Please share our posts
Transdisciplinary Thinking in Risk and Safety
Transdisciplinary Thinking in Risk and Safety Why is it that Safety interprets difference as competition? Well that’s because diversity and bricolage are a threat to the binary worldview. When we look at the differing schools of thought in risk and safety previously published here: https://safetyrisk.net/a-great-comparison-of-risk-and-safety-schools-of-thought/ and illustrated below (click for larger image). We need not […]
Please share our posts
Safety Differently–The Movie
Safety Differently–The Movie My perception of ‘Safety Differently’ is that it involves a systematic approach to humanising overly bureaucratic systems – I just cant see how it can be radically different whilst it’s still called ‘safety’ and all that that word conjures up in our minds? Calling in leadership or learning or risk or well-being […]
Please share our posts
‘Paper Systems’ and Safety Management Systems
‘Paper Systems’ and Safety Management Systems By Matt Thorne from WHS Concepts I have been consulting in risk and safety in Adelaide for over 10 years and am often asked to help ‘revitalise’ an organisations Safety Management System. Most people contact me about ‘risk and safety issues’ but people rarely understand either what the problem […]
