It is interesting that the concept of myth stirs up Safety so much, especially when there is no study of myth or symbol in any safety curriculum globally. If you want to know about myth and symbol and how they operate in the unconscious and collective unconscious Mind, one can start researching … [Read more...] about Why is Myth so Scary to Safety?
myths
Myth and Symbols in Safety
A myth is not a fairy tale or fiction but a false belief made true by ‘anchoring' to a symbol. Myths/symbols are not historically or scientifically true but are made true by the mythical proposition of the symbol. We saw this in the last blog about posture. Despite dozens of safety text books that … [Read more...] about Myth and Symbols in Safety
Posture Myths and Holistic Ergonomics
Myths are easily maintained when accompanied by symbols. The merging of symbol and myth creates a new truth, symbolic truth. Such truth is not real or true, but is made symbolically true. We see this all the time in the safety industry with simple constructs like the Swiss Cheese (Reason) or domino … [Read more...] about Posture Myths and Holistic Ergonomics
Why Myths in Safety Work
Why Myths in Safety Work Update: See our expanding series on Safety Myths HERE As I look back across the 1000 blogs I have written there are many common themes, in a way indicating common concerns of an industry that is most confused and lost. One of the common themes throughout concerns the power … [Read more...] about Why Myths in Safety Work
Standing on the Myths of Safety
Standing on the Myths of Safety Most people confuse the definition of myth with fable, when this is not the case. When I use the word ‘myth’ in the tradition of Social Psychology its meaning is synonymous with symbolic reality. In Social Psychology a myth and symbol are the flip side of the same … [Read more...] about Standing on the Myths of Safety
How the Secular is Made Sacred In Safety
How the Secular is Made Sacred In Safety The work of helping others, listening and conversation is not a sacred activity but should be an everyday activity and one that safety people need to do well. The foundation of good safety is not controlling others in our image but rather listening to others … [Read more...] about How the Secular is Made Sacred In Safety
Greater or Lesser Harm
Greater or Lesser Harm The ancient Greek cult of the Kriophoros is captured in the image of the ram-bearer’ and can teach us something about the nature of harm. The Kriophoros is also foundational in Early Christian Art … [Read more...] about Greater or Lesser Harm
Visual Perception and the Camera Metaphor
We live by myths and metaphors and some of the myths and metaphors we use in risk are unhelpful. We construct guiding principles that we live by (myths-symbols) and express those myth-symbols in metaphors we use to explain what we believe. These metaphors (Lakhoff and Johnson) then become the way we … [Read more...] about Visual Perception and the Camera Metaphor
The Acts of God and Act of Humans
The Acts of God and Act of Humans We are told that injury, harm and suffering were once perceived as ‘acts of god’ but are now conceived as ‘acts of man’ (sic) or ‘acts of humans’. This is the new commonly accepted thesis branded as ‘the scientific view’. The idea that injury, harm and pain are … [Read more...] about The Acts of God and Act of Humans
The Great Heinrich Hoax
The Great Heinrich Hoax Perhaps the greatest evidence that Safety is not a profession is the acceptance by the industry of hoaxes and myths. There is no greater hoax in the safety industry than the myth that injury data or injury rates have any connection at all to causality or the management of … [Read more...] about The Great Heinrich Hoax
