The Non-Science of Safety

I was sent a photo last week of a so-called Board of Certified Safety Professionals Research and Innovation Summit (https://www.bcsp.org/events ). At this summit was a presentation about ‘measuring safety culture’. Of course, presented by an engineer. This was the same person that presented a course in ethics with no expertise in ethics (https://safetyrisk.net/safety-the-expert-in-everything-and-the-art-of-learning-nothing/ ). It seems that the best expertise needed to tell others about culture, ethics, anthropology etc is collecting meaningless safety post-nominals like CSP, CHSP, CIT, YSSP and FCW. And, make sure you regurgitate the word ‘professional’ as much as possible and it will be so.

Of course, culture cannot be ‘measured’ and any claim to do so is premised on ignorance and mythology of measurement. I wonder how one measures ritual, myth, symbols, heuristics, aesthetics, affordance and beliefs? But this is what Safety does best, preaches ignorance to the ignorant. No-one in this post had any expertise in culture, anthropology or semiosis. I wonder how you get innovation from presenting what you don’t know to people who know less?

The promotion for this event is classic safety, repeat the word ‘professional’ but make sure no-one has any expertise in professional ethics. Indeed, if you search the BCSP website it has no statement on ethics. Such is the scope of certifying credentials as if competence and expertise doesn’t matter.

This is the way of safety culture. Source expertise from within the safety bubble, preach traditional safety and then call it ‘innovation’, ‘differently’ or ‘professional’. This is how we end up with engineers calling themselves ‘mythologists’, ‘historians’, ‘thought leaders’, ‘heroes’, ‘ethicists’ and all stations to central. The reality is, the best pathway to learning is outside the bubble of safety.

Collected in this photo was also other discourse about ‘safety science’. There is no such thing as ‘safety science’.

What is really being spoken of is scientism, not an open enquiry into what is not known. Indeed, claiming to be a ‘safety scientist’ and spruiking measurement, certainty and safety mythology is just marketing. Without a Transdisciplinary approach to knowledge, it’s just more mono-circular back slapping that asks no questions, doesn’t seek enquiry, doesn’t debate and demonises those who question safety. For example, no-one person calling themselves a ‘safety scientist’ has asked one question about SPoR in 25 years. The key to real science is enquiry into what one doesn’t know. The key is engaging in critical thinking but such language appears nowhere in the Discourse of the BCSP.

Until Safety leaves its cosy little enclave, its delusions about ethics, its mono-disciplinary comfort and, engages in open discussion with what it doesn’t know, it will never be professional.

One thing is for sure, telling others that safety culture can be measured or that safety is a ‘science’ is simply dangerous and harmful. If you really want to know about culture perhaps start here: https://www.humandymensions.com/product/51-stories-in-culture/

If you want to learn about critical thinking, then you are welcome to attend the SPoR Convention in Canberra 15-19 Sept: https://spor.com.au/spor-convention-2025/

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Prof. Robert Long

Expert in Social Psychology, Principal & Trainer at Human Dymensions

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PhD., MEd., MOH., BEd., BTh., Dip T., Dip Min., Cert IV TAA, MRMIA Rob is the founder of Human Dymensions and has extensive experience, qualifications and expertise across a range of sectors including government, education, corporate, industry and community sectors over 30 years. Rob has worked at all levels of the education and training sector including serving on various post graduate executive, post graduate supervision, post graduate course design and implementation programs.