Leadership, Risk and the Zone of Reciprocal Relationship One of the stories of the week is the big surprise about corruption in FIFA, just joking, there is no surprise. After years of speculation the evidence is now clear that endemic corruption exists in FIFA at all levels. The story of Sepp … [Read more...] about Leadership, Risk and the Zone of Reciprocal Relationship
ethics
The Ethics of Safety
A very popular article by Dr Rob Long from the recent past: The Ethics of Safety Quote: The key to the effectiveness of an ethic in safety is the humanization of others and the building of relationships. It is strange that the vice of intolerance is advocated in the workplace but we would never … [Read more...] about The Ethics of Safety
Don’t mention the ‘V’ Word
Any review of the discourse in orthodox safety reveals the omission of many words, language and discourse that are critical for an holistic understanding of safety. Just trawl through conference proceedings for the SIA or blogs or podcasts or books on safety and try and find discussion on … [Read more...] about Don’t mention the ‘V’ Word
Who Leads the Way in Safety?
Who Leads the Way in Safety? One’s ethos is a vocational methodology, one’s driving meaning and purpose in being. It is from one’s ethos that we develop a method or ethic. An ethic is essentially the systematic construct of what one believes about life, being and personhood. For example: If one … [Read more...] about Who Leads the Way in Safety?
Ten Ways to Improve Safety
Whenever the question arises about improving the safety industry it is amazing to see what is invisibly declared off limits. Lets have safety improvement as long as no sacred rites or safety lores are questioned. Lets tinker about the edges, change the brand of cosmetics and fixate on stasis. So as … [Read more...] about Ten Ways to Improve Safety
A Question of Ethics
A Question of Ethics An ethic is a moral system. When one declares an ethical position, one is making a statement about how a moral position is systematized. The fact that Safety pays little attention to ethics, doesn’t study ethics in its curriculum and confuses moral and ethical definition is an … [Read more...] about A Question of Ethics
There is Another Ethic than Zero Accidents
Editors note: In a comment in the article “The Worm at The Core” a reader directed me to an article by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in which they decree that “Accidents are not approved or permitted” - That statement really did something to me so this article by Dr Rob Long was very … [Read more...] about There is Another Ethic than Zero Accidents
No Moral Compass in Zero
No Moral Compass in Zero ‘Humans by nature are social animals that are intended to co-inhabit in a polis’ William Bennett (1996) The Moral Compass, Stories of a Life’s Journey. Ethics is the study of moral philosophy and moral systems. Without an ethic one cannot have an understanding of the core … [Read more...] about No Moral Compass in Zero
Paralysis by Precaution
Paralysis by Precaution Munthe (2011) investigates the cost of precaution in his book The Price of Precaution and the Ethics of Risk. The Precautionary Principle (PP) is sometimes called ‘prudent avoidance’ and is premised on the idea that inaction in times of doubt and uncertainty is the best … [Read more...] about Paralysis by Precaution
Wisdom, Discernment and an Ethic of Safety
Wisdom, Discernment and an Ethic of Safety I receive emails every week from safety people who thank me for being ‘provocative’ and helping them learn. However, being provocative is not something I set out to do. I don’t sit down and think, ‘now how can I present some contrary view’. Indeed, when … [Read more...] about Wisdom, Discernment and an Ethic of Safety