The Psychic Effect of Safety and What to Do About It One of the flow on effects of the politics of Safety is unconscious fear. I met a host of officials in safety associations recently and was overcome with the anxiety of some as we shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. I was due to stand up and give … [Read more...] about The Psychic Effect of Safety
scapegoat
Don’t Make Safety Personal
Don’t Make Safety Personal This is one of the silliest safety slogans trending at the moment and of course, like all safety propaganda, it masks critical messages we should be thinking and talking about in tackling risk. One of the great silences in the safety non-profession is not just about an … [Read more...] about Don’t Make Safety Personal
Scapegoating and Safety
Scapegoating and Safety The Scapegoat has always been a part of the way the Sacred deals with harm, suffering, uncertainty and guilt. All civilizations and religions have practiced various forms of scapegoating for millennia. The best way to understand the nature of scapegoating is through … [Read more...] about Scapegoating and Safety
What is Violated in Violence?
What is Violated in Violence? Safety adores the language of ‘violation’, most commonly found in the discourse of James Reason. Just have a read of this article for a few minutes and you will see a problem. First of these 12 ‘principles’ states ‘human error is not a moral issue’, really? Then the … [Read more...] about What is Violated in Violence?
Safety in Numbers
Safety in Numbers With all the talk about safety and zero we would have to wonder how ZERO will ever be achieved. Recently there was a job that had about 30 first aid cases. (These ranged from a minor scratch to a sprained wrist.) What the company decided was that there had not been enough hazards … [Read more...] about Safety in Numbers
Safety Manager – an Ultimate Scapegoat
Safety Manager - an Ultimate Scapegoat I heard an interesting story recently from an acquaintance of mine which prompted me to write this article. As the most senior corporate Safety Manager for the organisation with no operationally based direct reports, she was assigned a personal goal for the … [Read more...] about Safety Manager – an Ultimate Scapegoat