The foundation for behaviourism is the myth of ‘in and out’. This simplistic discipline imagines that fallible humans respond to positive and negative reinforcement like computer-like objects. Behaviour then becomes the sum of inputs and outputs. Nothing could be further from the truth. All of this … [Read more...] about Behavioural Safety is NOT a Foundation for Tackling Psychosocial and Mental Health
BBS
Seven Ways To Tell If BBS Is Right For You
By Phil LaDuke. First published here As many of you know I rarely miss a chance to take a cheap shot at Behavior Based Safety so it might surprise you that I am writing an article that supports the use of BBS in some circumstances. There are indeed many circumstances where BBS isn’t just the … [Read more...] about Seven Ways To Tell If BBS Is Right For You
Essentials in Observation and Safety
I visited a major construction site a few weeks ago. They did their best to impress us with their 4 hour induction, extremely comprehensive work method statements and permit systems, safety management plans, contractor management systems, pretty graphs, regular audit schedules, tool box talks etc … [Read more...] about Essentials in Observation and Safety
The Certainty of Uncertainty
The Certainty of Uncertainty I have written recently on the nature of uncertainty (https://safetyrisk.net/radical-uncertainty/) and its relationship to risk. I have also written about a psychosis that accompanies the fear of uncertainty … [Read more...] about The Certainty of Uncertainty
The BS of BS
The BS of BS Every time some antiquated BS about Behavioural Safety (BS) (https://safetyrisk.net/kicking-the-behaviourism-habit/) comes out you wonder just how more backward this industry can go. Here is this antiquated theory that’s been smashed by so many as a false construct being paraded by … [Read more...] about The BS of BS
Safety in Design as if Humans Matter
Safety in Design as if Humans Matter I always find it interesting when the discipline of objects attends to something. It’s how we get ‘human factors’ that is about systems, ‘resilience engineering’ that is not about human resilience and Behavior-Based Safety that is not about behaviours or safety … [Read more...] about Safety in Design as if Humans Matter
Scaffolding, Readiness and ZPD in Learning
In the first few weeks of a Teaching degree one is introduced to the fundamentals of learning theory and there are plenty of them (https://teacherofsci.com/learning-theories-in-education/ ). Every teacher knows that the simplistic nonsense of behaviourism – in and out, reward and punishment, black … [Read more...] about Scaffolding, Readiness and ZPD in Learning
The Attraction of Simple and Easy in Safety
I was reading yesterday where someone is suggesting that culture is structure. Of course isn’t. Neither is culture just behaviours, values, systems, organising or beliefs. Culture is much more than all of these, combined. The reason why we read about such simplistic projections on culture in safety … [Read more...] about The Attraction of Simple and Easy in Safety
Why Do Anything About Injuries When You Can Pretend to Take Action Instead?
Why Do Anything About Injuries When You Can Pretend to Take Action Instead? by Phil La Duke. First published on his blog HERE Safety is not a humanitarian effort. We all know the story of the days of yore when the loss of life—from building the pyramids to building the Brooklyn Bridge—was just … [Read more...] about Why Do Anything About Injuries When You Can Pretend to Take Action Instead?
The Curse of Behaviourism
The Curse of Behaviourism One of the greatest curses inflicted on the industry of safety is the toxicity of behaviourism. Behaviourism is that 1940s ideology that constructed the human being as machine, as the sum of inputs and outputs. Nothing could be further from reality. Behaviourism … [Read more...] about The Curse of Behaviourism