Risk and Safety Rituals Rituals are the foundation of cultural belonging and identity. You can’t really understand or influence culture without a good grasp of rituals and artefacts. The idea that behaviours (‘what we do around here’) define culture is one of the grand delusions of simplistic … [Read more...] about Risk and Safety Rituals
Semiotics
Santa, Myths and Regulators.
Santa, Myths and Regulators. I was at a building site yesterday and up pulled a ute full of cases of beer, gifts for loyal and faithful service. A few weeks ago the same company hired a cruise boat for a Christmas party complete with endless alcohol and strippers as a way of saying thanks to the … [Read more...] about Santa, Myths and Regulators.
Culture and Subculture, Which is Safety?
Culture and Subculture, Which is Safety? The SIA BoK chapter on Organisational Culture came out this week. I read with interest that there was no intentional discussion of subcultures in the paper. Of course with so much sunk cost the club will surround the wagons and defend, that’s what it does. … [Read more...] about Culture and Subculture, Which is Safety?
A Conference with a Difference
A Conference with a Difference The Inaugural Psychology of Risk Conference was held in Sydney on 25,26 March 2015 and was a great success. People from New Zealand, Hong Kong and Australia came together at ACU in North Sydney to hear how the social psychology of risk can be applied at work. The … [Read more...] about A Conference with a Difference
Its All In The Sign
Its All In The Sign A brilliant essay by Max Geyer, submitted as part of his study for the Graduate Certificate in the Psychology of Risk - published here with his permission: Norretranders (1998) provides ample evidence that the unconscious plays a major role in communication. This paper … [Read more...] about Its All In The Sign
How is the unconscious in communication critical for understanding and managing risk?
How is the unconscious in communication critical for understanding and managing risk? This is a great piece by Hayden Collins, submitted as part of his study for the Graduate Certificate in the Psychology of Risk and reprinted here with his permission: It’s a misconception that … [Read more...] about How is the unconscious in communication critical for understanding and managing risk?
Safety is an Art
Safety has much more to do with Art, History and Philosophy than it has to do with Science, Engineering and Law. I recently wrote The Target Drives the Method about the subjectivity of determining ‘significance’ that is a precursor to this discussion. Despite the perception that so many in safety … [Read more...] about Safety is an Art
The Wisdom of Semiotics, Myth and Poetics in Risk
In my study I have figure of a monkey holding a bottle of wine: See Figure 1. Money and Wine. Figure 1. Monkey and Wine The wine bottle bears the image of Ned Kelly and serves as a reminder of the many myths that have been created about him. The semiotics of New Kelly can be found … [Read more...] about The Wisdom of Semiotics, Myth and Poetics in Risk
Semiotics and Safety
Semiotics and Safety I read with interest a conference proposed for November 2014 entitled ‘Beyond Zero Harm, Human Factors Safety’. The subtitle of the conference is ‘Humanising impacts in safety operations to reengineer safety approach for enhanced productivity and business profitability’. Oh … [Read more...] about Semiotics and Safety
I Think Therefore I Write – Study Module
The latest module on offer in the Social Psychology of Risk is Module 20: Writing and Thinking in Risk. This module brings together knowledge in Linguistics, Poetics, Semiotics and Critical Thinking with a focus on writing and articulating ideas about risk. You can read more about the module … [Read more...] about I Think Therefore I Write – Study Module