• 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 AND WORST 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
    • Psychosocial Safety
    • Resiliencing
    • 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
  • Psychosocial Safety
    • What is Psychosocial Safety
    • 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 / Speak Up, Reporting and Trust in Safety

Speak Up, Reporting and Trust in Safety

July 19, 2021 by Dr Rob Long Leave a Comment

Speak Up, Reporting and Trust in Safety

safety trustOne of the most vital characteristics of any organization focused on safety is trust. Without trust, there can be no reliable communication, review of events, learning or reporting. The recent article put out by IOSH on Investigations (https://www.ioshmagazine.com/2021/06/15/how-conduct-effective-accident-investigation-interview ) demonstrates that it has no idea about the psychology of trust. Any approach to interviewing like this demonstrates that trust has already broken down in an organization and that the only resort left is policing. Similarly, when the Regulator comes out with a ‘safety blitz’ or a ‘speak up’ campaign this is already an admission that trust is gone.

A good place to start in understanding trust is by Bachmann and Zaheer, Handbook of Trust Research (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234021311_The_Handbook_of_Trust_Research ). Some of my favourite chapters include:

  • Chapter 1. Three fundamental questions regarding trust in leaders.
  • Chapter 9. The dark side of trust.
  • Chapter 14. Forms, sources and processes of trust.
  • Chapter 22. Trust and/or power: towards a sociological theory of organizational relationships.

In the zero world of safety trust is usually the first causality of counting. When numbers govern thinking, trust goes out the window. When zero is promoted as the ideology and language of an organization, trust disappears. No wonder people won’t speak up or tell the truth (https://safetyrisk.net/investigations-and-truth-telling/ ) in zero organisations. Zero is the architect of narrow minutia. When Zero ideology rules every minor injury or event becomes a Spanish Inquisition.

There can be no congruence between an ideology of zero and the necessity of trust. And, when trust leaves an organization whatever follows will be unethical. Zero is the best way to promote deception and dishonesty in an organization.

Zero is the most unethical choice anyone can make in safety. But don’t worry, Safety doesn’t study ethics or facilitate transparency anyway.

One of the reasons why trust is diminished in zero organisations is because it can’t be measured or counted. Indeed, all of the most important characteristics of a healthy organizational culture cannot be measured. There goes that idiotic aphorism ‘if it can’t be measured, it can’t be managed’. Only Safety could believe such a stupid mantra. Whereas in SPoR we know that ‘the things that count most, can’t be counted’.

Trust can be lost much more quickly than it can be gained. It takes a long cultural process (assuming one know what culture is) of development to engender trust in an organization but this can be lost swiftly in one act of treachery.

One of the best ways to lose trust is through tokenism and hypocrisy, this is when silly mantras like ‘safety first’ come undone. Safety always comes second when the concrete is on the road and a pour is imminent. Safety always comes second when it challenges the budget. Safety always comes second when politics and ethics get in the way of productivity. Safety would be much better served if these mantras were not spoken including the nonsense sayings ‘safety is a choice you make’ and ‘all accidents are preventable’. These two mantras also send trust packing.

‘Nootenboom affirms that: ‘Trust entails acceptance of relational risk’. If trust is NOT reciprocated then one of the parties involved in the relationship leaves the relationship psychologically. Not long after the relationship breaks down physically. Another critical finding in the research is that excessive paperwork diminishes trust (Chapter 14 – Bachmann and Zaheer, Handbook of Trust Research). The heavier the paperwork and policing by bureaucracy = the less trust in an organization. One of the best ways to kill trust in a marriage is to bring out a pre-nuptial agreement. If you need to download one (https://www.netlawman.com.au/d/prenuptial-agreement?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyI6ev97t8QIVSqmWCh3cxgFkEAAYASAAEgInHfD_BwE ) then trust is already gone.

It doesn’t matter what technique you use to fill out a form (eg. usability mapping) if trust is low, then whatever is in that form is of no value.

So, if you want to enhance trust in your organization then the following are helpful:

  • https://www.forbes.com/sites/dennisjaffe/2018/12/05/the-essential-importance-of-trust-how-to-build-it-or-restore-it/?sh=f05187164fe5
  • https://www.platinumaccounting.com.au/trust-essentials-trust-use-one/
  • https://www.institutelm.com/learning/leadership-framework/authenticity/building-trust/leadership-essentials-building-trust.html

When one reads the many sources and research on the nature of trust it becomes clear that it is also intertwined with ethics. How interesting that the IOSH approach to investigations through policing makes no comment about ethics nor does the Competency Framework. No wonder its tone and drive understands the purpose of safety people as lie-detectors (https://safetyrisk.net/are-safety-people-lie-detectors/ ). Similarly, a deontological ethic as demonstrated in the AIHS BoK also diminishes trust in organisations. See a pattern?

  • 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)

  • When Safety Delights in ‘I Told You So’! - May 24, 2023
  • Understanding Safety as a Cultural Reproductive Process - May 23, 2023
  • Thinking Outside the Safety Bubble - May 21, 2023
  • Understanding Language Influencing, A Video - May 21, 2023
  • Safetie - May 21, 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, Social Psychology of Risk Tagged With: IOSH, reporting, trust

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 7,521 other subscribers

Recent Comments

  • Rob Long on It is NOT My Responsibility to Keep You Safe
  • Chris. on It is NOT My Responsibility to Keep You Safe
  • Pierre Joubert on Zero Doesn’t Work, Road Fatalities Increase
  • James on We are all equal
  • Rob Long on We are all equal
  • James Parkinson on We are all equal
  • Brent Charlton on What Does Safety Achieve?
  • Admin on We are all equal
  • James Parkinson on We are all equal
  • Rob Long on What Does Safety Achieve?
  • Brent Charlton on We are all equal
  • Brent Charlton on We are all equal
  • Brent Charlton on We are all equal
  • Brent Charlton on What Does Safety Achieve?
  • Simon Cassin on You Can Fool Someone Some of the Time but, You Can Fool Safety All of the Time
  • Simon Cassin on You Can Fool Someone Some of the Time but, You Can Fool Safety All of the Time
  • Rob Long on You Can Fool Someone Some of the Time but, You Can Fool Safety All of the Time
  • Rob Long on You Can Fool Someone Some of the Time but, You Can Fool Safety All of the Time
  • Rob Long on You Can Fool Someone Some of the Time but, You Can Fool Safety All of the Time
  • Rob Long on You Can Fool Someone Some of the Time but, You Can Fool Safety All of the Time

RECOMMENDED READING

viral post – iso 45003 and what it cannot do

Introduction to SPOR – FREE!!

Psychosocial Safety and Mental Health Series

It is NOT My Responsibility to Keep You Safe

The KISS of Death in Safety

Is Your Safety World Too Small?

You Can Fool Someone Some of the Time but, You Can Fool Safety All of the Time

When Safety (Zero) is Abusive

Hands Up the Best Safety Fraud!

Communicating Professionally in Risk

How NOT to be Professional in Safety

How NOT to do Anything About Culture in Building and Construction

Celebrating 60 Years of Lifeline

More Posts from this Category

NEW! Free Download

Please take our 2 minute zero survey

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

  • Free Safety Moments and Toolbox Talk Examples, Tips and Resources
  • 500 OF THE BEST AND WORST WORKPLACE HEALTH and SAFETY SLOGANS 2023
  • CATCHY and FUNNY SAFETY SLOGANS FOR THE WORKPLACE
  • When Safety Delights in ‘I Told You So’!
  • Ratio Delusions and Heinrich’s Hoax
  • Road Safety Slogans 2023
  • How to Calculate TRIFR, LTIFR and Other Health and Safety Indicators
  • 15 Safety Precautions When Working With Electricity
  • Safety Acronyms
  • FREE RISK ASSESSMENT FORMS, CHECKISTS, REGISTERS, TEMPLATES and APPS

Recent Posts

  • When Safety Delights in ‘I Told You So’!
  • My Story is Better than Yours
  • Understanding Safety as a Cultural Reproductive Process
  • The Unconscious and the Soap Dispenser
  • Thinking Outside the Safety Bubble
  • Understanding Language Influencing, A Video
  • Safetie
  • You are NOT the Sum of Safety
  • Update on SPoR in India, Brazil and Europe
  • It is NOT My Responsibility to Keep You Safe
  • Safety at the Margins
  • Research Basics for Safety
  • We Need Communities and They Need Us
  • Researching Within The Safety Echo Chamber
  • Confirmation Bias, Risk and Being Offensive
  • Lemmings for Lemmings in Leadership and Risk
  • Expertise by Regurgitation and Re-Badging
  • Zero Doesn’t Work, Road Fatalities Increase
  • Can There Be Other Valid Worldviews Than Safety?
  • Evaluating Value by the Value of What You Don’t Know
  • Reality vs Theory, The Binary Divide
  • No Paradigm Shift with BBS
  • The KISS of Death in Safety
  • Is Your Safety World Too Small?
  • What Does Safety Achieve?
  • In Praise of Balance in Risk and the Threat of Extremism
  • We are all equal
  • You Can Fool Someone Some of the Time but, You Can Fool Safety All of the Time
  • What in the (Risk & Safety) World is Imagination?
  • iCue Engagement Process
  • SPoR, Metanoia and a Podcast on Change with Nippin Anand
  • For the Monarchists of Safety
  • The Sully Effect
  • All Things Must Pass in Risk
  • Scapegoating and Safety
  • Understanding Habit, Habituation and Change
  • Don’t Mention the War
  • Safety in Design for Who by Who?
  • Beyond ‘What We Do Around Here’
  • Asking the Wrong Questions
  • When Safety (Zero) is Abusive
  • Mandala as a Method for Tackling an Ethic of Risk (a Video)
  • Safety Cosmetics
  • Visualising the EHS Role
  • Towards Dumb
  • Workshops with Dr Long – Vienna, Austria 26-30 June 2023
  • Visual, Verbal and Relational Mapping in Risk Assessment
  • Abduction in Risk and Safety
  • Creating Myths and Rituals in Safety
  • The Safe Christmas Psychosis

VIRAL POST!!! HOW TO QUIT THE SAFETY INDUSTRY

FEATURED POSTS

The Illusion Of Opposites

I am a Spreadsheet King

Like a Collective Brain Snap

Biases and Perceptions in Safety

Pascal’s Wager and Sacred Safety

Making Sense of Safety Management Systems

The Psychic Effect of Safety

Embodiment, Risk and Safety

The Futility of the Centralised Safety Management System?

It Takes Two to Tango–Reflections on Safe Behaviour

New Social Psychology of Risk Website

New Year Safety Trade-Offs and By-Products

Understanding Language Influencing, A Video

Risk and Safety Starts with Being?

I Have the Power, I’m a Safety Hero

No Moral Compass in Zero

A Philosophy of Safety

The New Enemy of Safety – The Unconscious

Understanding The Social Psychology of Risk And Safety

Military Metaphors in Safety

Confirmity in Conformity

I Just Don’t Know

Hoodwinked by Heinrich

Nothing is Learned Through Brutalism

Reality vs Theory, The Binary Divide

The Sully Effect

Paperwork and Usability in Tackling Risk

The Challenge of Social Sensemaking in Risk

The Mystery and Paradox of Being an Individual in a Social World

Safety and Risk Leadership Master Class

Toilet Roll Safety

Semiotics and Unconscious Communication in Safety

Triarchic Thinking and Risk

So, You Want Culture Change

What’s Your Resilience Profile?

Moral Fundamentalism in Safety

The Learning (and unlearning) that Revealed my Vocation

How Semiotics Affects The Return To Work Process

The Reason Safety Has Gone So Crazy

Making the World fit the Safety Worldview

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 7,521 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?


WHAT IS PSYCHOSOCIAL SAFETY

x
x