In our preoccupation with technology, systems, checklists and legislation I trust we don’t lose sight of the most powerful instrument we have to manage risk – the simple but effective, safety conversation. Now whilst having a conversation is simple, it’s not simplistic. It is however, our greatest … [Read more...] about Safety Conversation Essentials – 20 Tips
Simplistic Safety
How Do You Know If You Are Leading in Risk and Safety?
How Do You Know If You Are Leading in Risk and Safety? The current marketing at ANU has caught on to the trend in describing one’s self as a ‘thought leader’ (See Youtube Video). You can join a thought leaders group, buy a thought leaders app and even ‘engineer’ a thought leader. Some have caught … [Read more...] about How Do You Know If You Are Leading in Risk and Safety?
A creative safety initiative but beware of the by-products
A creative safety initiative but beware of the by-products Video of this “life saving” road safety initiative by Samsung has gone viral on Youtube. I can understand that, its a pretty cool idea. However, the number of hits on Youtube or the use of technology to provide a relatively simple … [Read more...] about A creative safety initiative but beware of the by-products
When the Target Drives the Method
When the Target Drives the Method I was in a group at a conference recently where the presenter paraded out statistics on injury rates. We were shown graphs, charts and symbols all paraded in trends and patterns. Then right at the end the presenter said: ‘and this is why we are all motivated for … [Read more...] about When the Target Drives the Method
A Philosophy of Safety
A Philosophy of Safety Philosophy is about the study of existence, beliefs and ideas. The word ‘philosophy’ actually means the ‘love of wisdom’ and has been ascribed to the work of Pythagoras. The word ‘wisdom’ is not a word one hears very much in the safety industry that is far more consumed by … [Read more...] about A Philosophy of Safety
Safety is not Just a Choice
Safety is not Just a Choice Guest post by Dr Rob Long from Human Dymensions The trouble with simplistic approaches to the complexities of human decision making and risk is the fictional projection of good, attributed to outcomes. The idea that ‘safety is a choice’ is absolute nonsense, how … [Read more...] about Safety is not Just a Choice
Desensitisation–the by-product of ill-conceived safety initiatives
Desensitization – the by-product of ill-conceived safety initiatives As Gerald Wilde puts it in “Target Risk 3”: “Also, they may simply have been blinded by their zeal to do something quick and easy for safety – and thus doing nothing for it.” Just like many years ago we learned to ignore the … [Read more...] about Desensitisation–the by-product of ill-conceived safety initiatives
There is no way I would do that! – Part Two
There is no way I would do that! – Part Two People are just idiots (that makes things easier for me to deal with……) In my last piece I wrote about the impact that our social arrangements can have on how we make decisions and judgments, even in ways that we may not be consciously aware of. I titled … [Read more...] about There is no way I would do that! – Part Two
The Great Heinrich Hoax
The Great Heinrich Hoax Perhaps the greatest evidence that Safety is not a profession is the acceptance by the industry of hoaxes and myths. There is no greater hoax in the safety industry than the myth that injury data or injury rates have any connection at all to causality or the management of … [Read more...] about The Great Heinrich Hoax