Dr Rob Long, Author of Real Risk – Human Discerning and Risk (download Ch1 Here), explains why we switch to autopilot when under normal work pressures, despite the safety world trying to impose rational thinking processes during inductions, tool box talks or via SWMS. The Conundrum in Discerning … [Read more...] about The Conundrum in Discerning Risk
heuristics
Tackling the Challenge of Heuristics in Safety
The recognition of heuristics as the foundation for all human decision making is critical to skill development and implementation of SPoR (https://safetyrisk.net/spor-and-disposing-of-bad-myths/) in the workplace. One of the silly myths of behaviourism in safety is the complete ignorance of … [Read more...] about Tackling the Challenge of Heuristics in Safety
Release the Safety Monster and Wreck a Good TV Show
There are calls by safety crusaders to have TV DIY Shows ensure they set a good safety example (compliance is the most commonly used word) – Dr Rob Long responds: Release the Safety Monster and Wreck a Good TV Show I'm not much of a fan of reality TV shows especially the home renovation type or … [Read more...] about Release the Safety Monster and Wreck a Good TV Show
Investigations and Heuristics
Investigations and Heuristics One of the traps investigators fall into is thinking that people are the sum of inputs and outputs, that the behaviourist myth is true. Decision making in complex and far more sophisticated than the naïve proposals of the behaviourist worldview. Rewards and punishments … [Read more...] about Investigations and Heuristics
Culture Silences in Safety – Ritual
Talking about ‘ritual’ in safety is a bit like talking about the war (see video below). Safety is so often noisy about petty risk and so silent about the many critical indicators of culture (https://safetyrisk.net/category/safety-culture-silences/ ). Just search for safety+culture+ritual and see … [Read more...] about Culture Silences in Safety – Ritual
The Complacency Delusion
The Complacency Delusion You’ve got to hand it to Safety, it loves to talk about things it knows little about. Then it spruiks solutions based on ignorance and droves line up for snake oil and a feeding frenzy on dumb packaged as a solution. A good example of this is a recent, ASSP endorsed … [Read more...] about The Complacency Delusion
Practice, Repetition, Habit, Routine, Ritual and Decision Making in Risk
Practice, Repetition, Habit, Routine, Ritual and Decision Making in Risk Most decisions made by people are unconscious. The idea that decision making is brain activity between individuals is simply not supported by the evidence (https://neurosciencenews.com/collective-intelligence-19512/ ). We know … [Read more...] about Practice, Repetition, Habit, Routine, Ritual and Decision Making in Risk
All That You Don’t See in Messaging
Elam presents all that happens in paralinguistics and messaging that is not seen in his work The Semiotics of Theatre and Drama. You can download the book HERE On pages 34-38 Elam presents all the codes that happen in any performance and communicative activity. This includes: Systemic codes … [Read more...] about All That You Don’t See in Messaging
Body Memory and Safety
Body Memory and Safety The evidence for Muscle Memory and Body Memory is extensive (Chapter 1. The phenomenology of body memory ; Body Memory and the Unconscious ) and dispels the crazy brain-as-computer metaphor. The human mind (brain) is not the Human Mind. The idea that the body is somehow … [Read more...] about Body Memory and Safety
Do the Right Thing, It’s Common Sense
Do the Right Thing, It’s Common Sense Wouldn’t it be easy and simple if risk was black and white and safety was as easy as ‘check your gut’ (AIHS BoK) and ‘do the right thing’ (Just Culture). Unfortunately, it’s not and talking about ‘common sense’ and other such useless language helps no … [Read more...] about Do the Right Thing, It’s Common Sense
