Complacency is one of those favourites that Safety loves to evoke when it has no idea what has happened. It’s a projection usually given to others that has no meaning other than an attribution of smugness associated with ‘not thinking’. The truth is, the use of the word ‘complacency’ explains very … [Read more...] about The Easy Attribution of Complacency
complacency
The Nonsense of ‘Safety Awareness’
One of the characteristics of the culture of Safety is throwing about terminology with not a clue what it means. Then once the code word is spoken everyone thinks they have an explanation. A classic example is the meaningless term ‘safety awareness’ paraded ignorantly in this incident investigation … [Read more...] about The Nonsense of ‘Safety Awareness’
The ASSP Getting Complacency Completely Wrong
Editors Note: They’ve also gotten it very wrong before, see: The Complacency DelusionThere’s no doubt about it. When Safety doesn’t know something it just makes stuff up (https://safetyrisk.net/when-safety-doesnt-know-just-make-st-up/ ). And Safety is so good at it. Experts in spruiking complete … [Read more...] about The ASSP Getting Complacency Completely Wrong
Chronic Unease is Not Enough
Chronic Unease is Not Enough The concept of ‘chronic unease’ has been about in safety for some time. It was unfortunately put forward by Reason as a mindset to tackle complacency. Complacency is rarely well defined and is most associated with: in-alertness, lethargy, laziness, not being … [Read more...] about Chronic Unease is Not Enough
How Workers Really Make Decisions
How Workers Really Make Decisions Latest video by Dr Rob Long as a follow up to his previous article: How Do Workers Make Decisions? Video Transcript (video below this): I’m asked many, many times this question: “how do workers make decisions?” And, I decided I'll answer that with a brief video. … [Read more...] about How Workers Really Make Decisions
The Convenience of Complacency
The Convenience of Complacency One of the cultural characteristics of the safety industry is fundamental attribution error . It seems that safety seeks blame before it breathes, you certainly need to if your job title includes zero. Whenever there is an event in comes safety to quickly ensure that … [Read more...] about The Convenience of Complacency
When Things Go Wrong Let’s Do More of the Same
I always find it fascinating when there is an increase in safety statistics or incidents that the call is always about greater vigilance, more checklists, more policing and more effort. What an amazing industry that still doesn’t know why things go wrong. Rather than question the … [Read more...] about When Things Go Wrong Let’s Do More of the Same
Complacency, Consciousness and Error in Safety
Recent research into the effects of drugs like Psilocybin, an ingredient in ‘magic mushrooms’ show some promise in helping with addictions and some mental health disorders. And yet, even then, researchers still don’t understand much about consciousness and the unconscious, and use the language of … [Read more...] about Complacency, Consciousness and Error in Safety
The Complacency Myth
Continuing our series on Safety Myths – see them all here Like all unethical myths, the myth of complacency is perhaps one of the worst. The language of complacency is rife in the safety industry and is premised on the nonsense idea that people desire self-harm. This myth is based on the nonsense … [Read more...] about The Complacency Myth
Complacency and The Wayward Mind
Complacency and The Wayward Mind The issue of complacency is a preoccupation of the risk and safety industry yet one can find little research in the sector beyond the excessive use of the label. It seems once we have declared something as ‘complacency’ we somehow know what has occurred. Usually … [Read more...] about Complacency and The Wayward Mind
