Mental Health, Risk and Safety - Part 2 Part 2 of one of the most popular articles we have ever published, by Dr Rob Long from Human Dymensions. and author of the book “Real Risk” In the previous blog (Mental Health, Risk and Safety Part 1) I discussed the invisibility of mental health in risk … [Read more...] about Mental Health, Risk and Safety – Part 2
Zero Harm
The Quandary of Risk Aversion
The Quandary of Risk Aversion By Dr Rob Long from www.humandymensions,com In the mindset of no harm and zero harm one becomes fixed on the minute of harm. If only the world was that simple. The recent work of Nicholas Taleb quickly knocks such simplistic notions on the head in his excellent book … [Read more...] about The Quandary of Risk Aversion
The Zero Aspiration The Maintenance of a Dangerous Idea
The Zero Aspiration The Maintenance of a Dangerous Idea Dr Rob Long is presented this paper at “Visions” in late August 2014. Rob has allowed us to provide his paper as a free download Not a day goes by when someone tells me they cop a flogging for not agreeing with this crazy … [Read more...] about The Zero Aspiration The Maintenance of a Dangerous Idea
The Trajectory of Zero Vision
The Trajectory of Zero Vision We know that all goals are psychologically laden (Moscowitz and Grant , The Psychology of Goals) that is, when we set goals they often conceal psychological dynamics. Often we don’t know the trade-offs or by-products of goal setting until much later in the strategic … [Read more...] about The Trajectory of Zero Vision
We can Value Safety but Safety is not a Value
There is a big difference between what we value (outcome and object) and what is a value (principle/ethic) when we consider strategy and thinking in risk and safety. The confusion of the two confuses understanding and blurs boundaries in learning in organisations. We see this when safety is … [Read more...] about We can Value Safety but Safety is not a Value
Paralysis by Precaution
Paralysis by Precaution Munthe (2011) investigates the cost of precaution in his book The Price of Precaution and the Ethics of Risk. The Precautionary Principle (PP) is sometimes called ‘prudent avoidance’ and is premised on the idea that inaction in times of doubt and uncertainty is the best … [Read more...] about Paralysis by Precaution
Nonsense Goals and Language on Display
Nonsense Goals and Language on Display One of the things that Safety does best is speak meaningless language and create reverse goals. When one defines safety numerically and then makes up binary nonsense language to match, it makes for pretty stupid rhetoric. There is nothing more absurd than … [Read more...] about Nonsense Goals and Language on Display
Understanding Safety Goals
Unless the safety community are prepared to be a bit more sophisticated and less simplistic about goal setting we will continue to fuel scepticism via non-sense prevention goals like zero harm, rather than safety promotion in the workplace. Understanding Safety Goals ‘Rather than measure what we … [Read more...] about Understanding Safety Goals
Innocence and Justice in Safety
Innocence and Justice in Safety Jung rightly names Safety as the archetype of innocence . Innocence is linked to the quest for justice and purity, zero harm. The ideology of zero harm endorses the archetype of the innocence-safety discourse, a sign of immaturity. The quest for perfection believes … [Read more...] about Innocence and Justice in Safety
Zero Harm, Santa Claus and Other Such Myths
Zero Harm, Santa Claus and Other Such Myths It’s beginning to look at lot like….. well you know the song. It’s that time of the year where you can’t take a trip to the shopping centre (mall) without the sounds of carols and other Christmas songs dominating the airwaves. It’s also that time of the … [Read more...] about Zero Harm, Santa Claus and Other Such Myths