Amidst the constant uncertainty of life, there are no answers found in measurables. There is no assurance to uncertainty in Qanta (https://safetydifferently.com/todd-conklin-quanta-risk-and-safety-conference-2019/ )! Technique, mechanics, behaviourism and data offer nothing for persons when faced … [Read more...] about Solace In Times of Uncertainty
measurement
The Toxic Language of ‘Performance’ and Risk
The Toxic Language of ‘Performance’ and Risk image source The language of ‘performance’ as measured outcomes is toxicity for the humanization of persons. We see this exemplified in the recent report on systemic abuse in UK gymnastics. The same is true for the culture of abuse in Australian … [Read more...] about The Toxic Language of ‘Performance’ and Risk
Measurement in Safety, You’ve Got it All Wrong
I read a recent article by Alan Quilley (http://www.safetyresults.ca/) on measuring safety by injury rate and was fascinated by the logic. I enjoyed the video on regression to the mean (Prevention of Incidents VS Creating Safety) and the discussion on injury goals. But I thought Alan, you have all … [Read more...] about Measurement in Safety, You’ve Got it All Wrong
The Measurement Mindset in Safety???
The Measurement Mindset in Safety??? Most human living is NOT measurable. Most of the things that are important to fallible persons, are not only NOT measurable, they shouldn’t be. Any effort to measure qualitative values demonstrates a psychosis with measurement itself, and this demonstrates one … [Read more...] about The Measurement Mindset in Safety???
Measurement Anxiety in Safety
Measurement Anxiety in Safety When we say that something has affected us ‘beyond measure’ we express one of the truisms of life. Many times in life we not only experience things ‘without measure’ but we are also ‘lost for words’. It is often in moments of ecstasy, suffering, awesomeness and … [Read more...] about Measurement Anxiety in Safety
Goals and Vision in Safety
Goals and Vision in Safety Safety is the industry of lower order goals (see Figure 1. Goal States). Safety functions under the false slogan ‘you can’t manage what you can’t measure’. It chooses to ignore a much better aphorism and that is: ‘you can’t count what counts’. We have known for a long … [Read more...] about Goals and Vision in Safety
Quantifying the Unquantifiable
In every workshop I conduct the issue of measures, a STEM view of evidence and ‘controls’ are always raised. This week was no exception. I find it so amusing that the industry has this fixation with measures in working life and the opposite in our private life. Yet: The most important things in … [Read more...] about Quantifying the Unquantifiable
What and how should we measure to support recovery from injury?
What and how should we measure to support recovery from injury? “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted”[1] Albert Einstein (attributed) Some years ago, tired of my irritating enquiries about the quality of their school day, my teenage sons … [Read more...] about What and how should we measure to support recovery from injury?
Measuring and Reporting on Work Health & Safety
Greg, the author of this article (first published here), certainly does upset some safety people on Linkedin! He makes an excellent point here – you may get 97%, a big tick or a star for having a plethora of JHAs (or SWMS, JSAs, SOPs etc), another for them being extremely comprehensive and a few … [Read more...] about Measuring and Reporting on Work Health & Safety
Why Would You Talk That Way?
Why Would You Talk That Way? Postman’s classic book ‘Crazy talk, Stupid Talk’ (1976) discusses the power of semantic environments. That is, the context in which we talk. For example, the words ‘sorry I have sinned’ may make sense in a confessional but don’t make much sense in a court room. … [Read more...] about Why Would You Talk That Way?
