The Problem with Zero Harm

The Problem with Zero Harm

This short video discusses one of the many arguments against the zero harm concept, zero language and discourse.

The language of zero as an absolute and the framing of risk and safety in perfectionism is deeply problematic for establishing a culture of openness, reporting, respect, relationship, trust and learning. The focus on zero creates a culture that sets it sights on risk and safety through numbers, creating a calculative culture. In this mindset safety is determined by the absence of injury data and this promotes hiding and ‘games’ with data. Zero discourse promotes deficit language and definition gymnastics in counting harm, reporting goes underground, trust is jeopardized and safety becomes a loss obsession. You can read more in For the Love of Zero, Human Fallibility and Risk humandymensions.com/about-us/for-the-love-of-zero

Enjoy the video:

The Problem with Zero Harm from Human Dymensions on Vimeo.

LOTS MORE ARTICLES ON THE ZERO HARM DEBATE HERE

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Dr Rob Long

Expert in Social Psychology, Principal & Trainer at Human Dymensions

Latest posts by Dr Rob Long (see all)

• The Seduction of Slogans in Safety - January 19, 2021
• Measurement Anxiety in Safety - January 15, 2021
• Are You a Safety Clown? - January 13, 2021
• The Quantitative and Qualitative Divide in Safety - January 11, 2021
• Balance in Risk and Safety - January 10, 2021

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.