Originally posted on June 3, 2020 @ 5:53 AM
Top 10 Simple Things You Can Do To Dramatically Improve Safety (you will probably not find many of these in text books or regulations)
The most common feedback I get on this blog is something like: “all this theory is great but what can I do to apply it”. I know Safety loves simplicity and plug ‘n’ play so here is a list of good starting points. Happy for you to add your own in the comments. I am sorry if PPE or safety slogans don’t make the list………………….
Please follow the links if you find anything weird or confronting or if you are keen to discover more.
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STOP TALKING ABOUT SAFETY – focus on RISK
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PUT ASIDE YOUR CHECKLISTS AND MATRICES and think! Focus on people rather than objects (hazards)
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Consider all of the possible by-products of what you are doing and what you are about to do – learn about RISK HOMEOSTASIS
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Stop telling! – practice THE ART OF HUMBLE INQUIRY and have RISKY CONVERSATIONS
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Do a gap analysis between how safety is imagined and how it is actually done – DUE DILIGENCE
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Never use safety as a weapon, a threat, a PUNISHMENT or an excuse
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Be pre-occupied with failure and constantly ENTERTAIN DOUBT
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Be a SAFETY LEADER not a Safety Manager or a SAFETY CRUSADER
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Stop trying to measure safety – its impossible and it DOES THINGS TO PEOPLE. see also: We can Value Safety but Safety is not a Value
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Never speak of ZERO HARM or ZERO RISK – ask: “How can we do the best we can”
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Learn about SEMIOTICS and the power of signs and symbols and language and what they really do to people
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Never write lists of the top 10 things you can do to improve safety – it isn’t that simple – SAFETY IS A WICKED PROBLEM
Do you have any thoughts? Please share them below