One can declare something a ‘virtue’, ‘principle’ or ‘professional’, but it doesn’t make it so. Safety is NOT at the top of some hierarchy of concocted values made up by Safety. Safety has no right to over-ride the rights of others or their culture just because it loves to claim such power. Yet, … [Read more...] about Making Things Safe is Not Necessarily a Virtue
safety first
Boeing Safety – Rhetoric and Reality
Boeing Safety is a special kind of safety that is great at rhetoric and not real in reality. This is the same safety as DuPont Safety (https://safetyrisk.net/dark-waters-the-true-story-of-dupont-and-zero/) that waves the flag of zero and spruiks the propaganda of zero but does the opposite. Indeed, … [Read more...] about Boeing Safety – Rhetoric and Reality
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 Culture of Care (and sackings…)
Sighhhh.......every time I publish one of these true stories I am inundated with private emails from people telling similar stories and their disdain for these aspects of safety - but they fear speaking up about it. Rebelling against the ridiculous and harmful side of safety is interpreted by the … [Read more...] about A Culture of Care (and sackings…)
Accidents Happen Because You Don’t Put Safety First
Accidents Happen Because You Don’t Put Safety First This is the language and logic of Worksafe Victoria (http://worksafenews.com.au/news/item/571-farmers-urged-to-put-safety-first-as-fatalities-soar.html). Apparently farmers put safety last or second and that’s why farmers get injured. If only … [Read more...] about Accidents Happen Because You Don’t Put Safety First
Is Safety a Choice You Make?
Is Safety a Choice You Make? One of the things safety seems good at doing is developing illogical slogans and sayings. Some examples are: ‘all accidents are preventable’ and ‘safety is no accident’. The trouble is what we say affects the thinking of others and sets cultural agenda. Half of this … [Read more...] about Is Safety a Choice You Make?
Make Your Safety Slogan Social
Make Your Safety Slogan Social Safety is a profoundly social activity. We see this in the many slogans in safety that emphasize connections to family and loved ones as a reason for safety. However, we should chose slogans carefully. One of the early slogans of the COVID19 pandemic was ‘we’re all … [Read more...] about Make Your Safety Slogan Social
Do You Have To Be Cruel To Be Kind?
There are many aphorisms that float about the workplace that are used to suit the hidden agenda of those in power. One such saying is: ‘you have to be cruel to be kind’. This is captured in the sentiments of the song by Nick Lowe ‘Cruel to be Kind’. Of course cruelty is not an indictor of … [Read more...] about Do You Have To Be Cruel To Be Kind?
All Injuries are Preventable and Other Silly Safety Sayings
quotable quote: “The use of silly and meaningless safety language matters, it creates a distraction and delusion that safety and risk are being addressed. We may feel good about speaking such words but they dumb down culture and distract people from taking safety seriously”. All Injuries are … [Read more...] about All Injuries are Preventable and Other Silly Safety Sayings
Tips for staff engagement in dirty jobs
Tips for staff engagement in “dirty jobs” – does the same apply for dangerous jobs? Just came across this article on HC Online: Professional pariahs: Tips for staff engagement in “dirty jobs”. It discusses the challenge of how to engage and motivate staff involved in “dirty jobs” like toilet … [Read more...] about Tips for staff engagement in dirty jobs