Why Safety Controls Don’t Always Work The Way We Expect Thanks to John Wettstein from Safety Strategies for sending this photo in. Wilde’s theory of Risk Homeostasis tells us that all people have their own target level of risk. They will adjust their behaviour based on their own perception of … [Read more...] about Why Safety Controls Don’t Always Work
risk homeostasis
Biases and Perceptions in Safety
Biases and Perceptions in Safety Thanks to John Wettstein from Safety Strategies for sending this in. Have a read of the story and reflect (see reflection makes sense) on how this message may apply in the workplace, particularly in regards to risk and safety. Why does this happen? Here are a … [Read more...] about Biases and Perceptions in Safety
What Can Safety Learn From Desire Paths?
What Can Safety Learn From Desire Paths? Safety people often lament: “why do they take short cuts?”, “why do they ignore signs?”, “why cant they follow procedures?”, “why do they disable safety features?” – Simple answer: Because they are human! A more complex answer may be found in “Risk … [Read more...] about What Can Safety Learn From Desire Paths?
How to Make Safety Incentive Schemes Successful
How to Make Safety Incentive Schemes Successful Since seeing the by-products of poorly designed and implemented safety incentive schemes I have never been a big fan of them, particularly those that reward for not getting injured (or not reporting those injuries). Although they once supported and … [Read more...] about How to Make Safety Incentive Schemes Successful
A creative safety initiative but beware of the by-products
A creative safety initiative but beware of the by-products Video of this “life saving” road safety initiative by Samsung has gone viral on Youtube. I can understand that, its a pretty cool idea. However, the number of hits on Youtube or the use of technology to provide a relatively simple … [Read more...] about A creative safety initiative but beware of the by-products
Many Still Think That Risk Homeostasis Is A Fallacy
Many Still Think That Risk Homeostasis Is A Fallacy Upon reflection, I realise that I have known of the concept of Risk Homeostasis pretty much my whole life. I can fondly remember the massive hills I was game enough to conquer once I had brakes installed on my billy cart. It is only in the last … [Read more...] about Many Still Think That Risk Homeostasis Is A Fallacy
Indicators of Risk
Indicators of Risk I often get sent presentations and training formats from safety people seeking my expertise on improvement, learning design and critique of safety presentations. One thing safety people are not educated in is teaching, curriculum and learning. Amazing how the industry throws … [Read more...] about Indicators of Risk
Stand Behind The Yellow Line – Do Engineering Controls Affect Risk?
Standing on a train platform this morning I noticed that the old authoritative “STAND BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE” had been replaced with something a little more personable (see below, as opposed to ‘in front of this you get a fine’) and it reminded me of this article by Gab Carlton from a few years ago … [Read more...] about Stand Behind The Yellow Line – Do Engineering Controls Affect Risk?
Risk Homeostasis Theory–Why Safety Initiatives Go Wrong
My favourite quote is in relation to racing drivers on normal roads and why they have more crashes and get more fines: “At their level of skill, driving like an average driver may be intolerably boring. Imagine being a master of Beethoven and all you are allowed to play is “Twinkle, twinkle, little … [Read more...] about Risk Homeostasis Theory–Why Safety Initiatives Go Wrong
Tentative at Tooleybuc
In the course of doing my studies at the Centre for Leadership and Learning in Risk (CLLR), I often drive over to Canberra to attend. It gives me time to chill out, even though it is an extremely long drive of 12-16 hours depending on the conditions. I love driving with my favourite music blaring or … [Read more...] about Tentative at Tooleybuc