These amazing photos of the Costa Concordia are a stark reminder that poor safety culture sinks ships. The picture of the large rock jammed in the hull has captured the moment when the psychological and cultural factors of this event came together. Incidents and accidents are rarely about failed … [Read more...] about Safety Culture Sinks Ships
Safety Culture
Symbols Have Power
One of the most overlooked yet important factors in safety culture influence is the power of symbols. The psychological significance of symbols and the embodiment of values in symbols are often neglected when organisations think about safety culture. Many organisations have next to no emphasis on … [Read more...] about Symbols Have Power
Risk and Cultural Values
Cultural Values and Translation by Trade One of the most important things we discover in a study of culture is that other people are not like us. This is why it is so crazy to assume ‘common sense’, this is why it’s so misleading to even talk about ‘common sense’. The more we use this language the … [Read more...] about Risk and Cultural Values
Effective Safety Improvement Ideas
Successful Safety and Risk Management Initiatives These are some of the entries in our recent Risk Makes Sense – Book Competition. Listed in the order they were submitted: 1) Internal standards of OHS excellence – George Robotham One of the best pieces of OHS work I have seen was when one … [Read more...] about Effective Safety Improvement Ideas
The Ideology of Zero Harm
Since writing my book For the Love of Zero, Human Fallibility and Risk I have received on average, two emails a week from people who have been threatened with or been sacked for challenging this mantra. Some of these people are overseas with mining and construction companies and some in … [Read more...] about The Ideology of Zero Harm
Double Speak in Managing Risk and Safety
Enthusiasm, Motivation and Double Speak in Managing Risk and Safety I have a close friend who recently became a safety systems manager for a tier one construction company. He had just obtained his qualifications and was bright eyed, bushy tailed and enthusiastic about making a difference. He … [Read more...] about Double Speak in Managing Risk and Safety
A Guide to Psychosocial Safety Skills
A Guide to Psychosocial Safety Skills We last published a short article on Psychosocial Safety by Dr Robert Long here: What is Psychosocial Safety. Rob has kindly given us permission to publish the entire guide. DOWNLOAD THE PAPER HERE: A Guide to Psychosocial Safety … [Read more...] about A Guide to Psychosocial Safety Skills
Safety Culture and How to Improve it
Safety Culture and How to Improve it EXTRACT: Management summary Safety culture is said to be an underlying construct that influences the effectiveness of an organisation’s Safety Management System. Culture is often defined as “The way we do things around here”. A positive safety culture is … [Read more...] about Safety Culture and How to Improve it
Who Are Your People?
Article by John Toomey with great story on what happens to our cultures and our business success when we focus on how awesome people are rather than dehumanising them. Its very easy to fall into this trap (ie “they are just a contractor”?) . See also: The Dehumanisation of Safety, There is No Way I … [Read more...] about Who Are Your People?
Binary Opposites and Safety Goal Strategy
Republished by request and now with accompanying video (at end of article). This article was referenced in the must read new book: Risky Conversations, The Law, Social Psychology and Risk (follow that link for a really cool video on the myths of safety paperwork) Quote from the article: The denial … [Read more...] about Binary Opposites and Safety Goal Strategy