• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SafetyRisk.net

Humanising Safety and Embracing Real Risk

  • Home
    • About
      • Privacy Policy
      • Contact
  • FREE
    • Slogans
      • Researchers Reveal the Top 10 Most Effective Safety Slogans Of All Time
      • When Slogans Don’t Work
      • CLASSIC, FAMOUS and INFAMOUS SAFETY QUOTES
      • 500 OF THE BEST WORKPLACE HEALTH and SAFETY SLOGANS 2023
      • CATCHY and FUNNY SAFETY SLOGANS FOR THE WORKPLACE
      • COVID-19 (Coronavirus, Omicron) Health and Safety Slogans and Quotes for the Workplace
      • Safety Acronyms
      • You know Where You Can Stick Your Safety Slogans
      • Sayings, Slogans, Aphorisms and the Discourse of Simple
      • Spanish Safety Slogans – Consignas de seguridad
      • Safety Slogans List
      • Road Safety Slogans 2023
      • How to write your own safety slogans
      • Why Are Safety Slogans Important
      • Safety Slogans Don’t Save Lives
      • 40 Free Safety Slogans For the Workplace
      • Safety Slogans for Work
    • FREE SAFETY eBOOKS
    • Free Hotel and Resort Risk Management Checklist
    • FREE DOWNLOADS
    • TOP 50
    • FREE RISK ASSESSMENT FORMS
    • Find a Safety Consultant
    • Free Safety Program Documents
    • Psychology Of Safety
    • Safety Ideas That Work
    • HEALTH and SAFETY MANUALS
    • FREE SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT RESOURCES
    • Whats New In Safety
    • FUN SAFETY STUFF
    • Health and Safety Training
    • SAFETY COURSES
    • Safety Training Needs Analysis and Matrix
    • Top 20 Safety Books
    • This Toaster Is Hot
    • Free Covid-19 Toolbox Talks
    • Download Page – Please Be Patient With Larger Files…….
    • SAFETY IMAGES, Photos, Unsafe Pictures and Funny Fails
    • How to Calculate TRIFR, LTIFR and Other Health and Safety Indicators
    • Download Safety Moments from Human Resources Secretariat
  • Social Psychology Of Risk
    • What is Psychological Health and Safety at Work?
    • Safety Psychology Terminology
    • Some Basics on Social Psychology & Risk
    • Understanding The Social Psychology of Risk – Prof Karl E. Weick
    • The Psychology of Leadership in Risk
    • Conducting a Psychology and Culture Safety Walk
    • The Psychology of Conversion – 20 Tips to get Started
    • Understanding The Social Psychology of Risk And Safety
    • Psychology and safety
    • The Psychology of Safety
    • Hot Toaster
    • TALKING RISK VIDEOS
    • WHAT IS SAFETY
    • THE HOT TOASTER
    • THE ZERO HARM DEBATE
    • SEMIOTICS
    • LEADERSHIP
  • Dr Long Posts
    • ALL POSTS
    • Learning Styles Matter
    • There is no Hierarchy of Controls
    • Scaffolding, Readiness and ZPD in Learning
    • What Can Safety Learn From Playschool?
    • Presentation Tips for Safety People
    • Dialogue Do’s and Don’ts
    • It’s Only a Symbol
    • Ten Cautions About Safety Checklists
    • Zero is Unethical
    • First Report on Zero Survey
    • There is No Objectivity, Deal With it!
  • THEMES
    • Risk Myths
    • Safety Myths
    • Safety Culture Silences
    • Safety Culture
    • Psychological Health and Safety
    • Zero Harm
    • Due Diligence
  • Free Learning
    • Introduction to SPoR – Free
    • FREE RISK and SAFETY EBOOKS
    • FREE ebook – Guidance for the beginning OHS professional
    • Free EBook – Effective Safety Management Systems
    • Free EBook – Lessons I Have Learnt
  • Psychological Safety
    • What is Psychological Health and Safety at Work?
    • Managing psychosocial hazards at work
    • Psychological Safety – has it become the next Maslow’s hammer?
    • What is Psychosocial Safety
    • Psychological Safety Slogans and Quotes
    • What is Psychological Safety?
    • Understanding Psychological Terminology
    • Psycho-Social and Socio-Psychological, What’s the Difference?
    • Build a Psychologically Safe Workplace by Taking Risks and Analysing Failures
    • It’s not weird – it’s a psychological safety initiative!
You are here: Home / Robert Long / Who is the Enemy and What War is Safety Fighting?

Who is the Enemy and What War is Safety Fighting?

November 23, 2014 by Dr Rob Long 9 Comments

Who is the Enemy and What War is Safety Fighting?

Depositphotos_9807164_xsIt is interesting after the last piece on the military as a model for safety leadership the responses that assumed that somehow the military was under attack. The idea that the military is a ‘lean, green safety machine’ was used on another blog to advocate military leadership as a model for doing safety differently (http://www.safetydifferently.com/lean-green-safety-machine-part-3/ ). The idea that a military metaphor demonstrates a ‘different’ approach to safety is a curious one. The whole purpose of the military is to get people ready for the battlefield (defence or offence). A Brigadier commented to me recently that ‘safety is just hygiene’. He said, ‘Rob, you need to understand that safety is like brushing teeth and wearing dry socks, it’s something we need to do so we can fight the enemy’. This approach made perfect sense, even for civilian support staff everything is oriented to get those planes to complete their mission in Syria or to support special forces in Iraq.

I’m sure the military do a fine job at what they do, but is the military the model to articulate how we should lead in safety? Of course, there have been a number of recent exceptions: The Jedi Council scandal amongst ASF leaders (http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/end-of-their-lives-for-the-army-jedi-council-scandal/story-fni0cx12-1227010531113), the problems with counselling soldiers with PTSD (http://www.smh.com.au/national/soldiers-could-avoid-counselling-after-files-used-against-them-20110627-1gnfq.html), veterans claiming victimization in the ranks (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-29/veterans-with-ptsd-turn-to-social-media-for-support/5056104), suicide and the setting up of DART (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-05/at-least-three-victims-of-military-abuse-have-taken-own-lives/5722564), the horrors of war (http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/11/04/i%E2%80%99ve-done-some-really-twisted-things-aussie-soldier-battles-drug-horror) and its after effects, the approach of the ADF to mental health (http://www.defence.gov.au/health/dmh/docs/review%20of%20mental%20health%201%20may%2009.pdf), many who ‘fall through the cracks’ (http://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/house_of_representatives_committees?url=jfadt/wounded_injured/report/chapter6.htm), sex scandals (http://theconversation.com/defence-force-sex-scandals-can-the-culture-be-changed-15194), a culture of denial (http://www.army.gov.au/Our-future/LWSC/Our-publications/~/media/Files/Our%20future/LWSC%20Publications/AAJ/2013Winter/AustralianArmyJournal_V10N3Winter_Discipline-HazingintheADF.pdf), repeated ADFA scandals (http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/adfa-skype-scandal-cadets-sentenced-avoid-jail-20131023-2w0hz.html) and a history of cover ups and abuse spanning decades (http://www.adfabuse.com/Welcome.html).

One of the truisms of leadership is that if you don’t have ethical leading, there won’t be any followers. There is no leadership without voluntary following. The last three years of the Commonwealth Parliament (Thompson and Slipper) and NSW ICAC proceedings demonstrate that no one follows unethical leading. The preoccupation of the public with habitual lying in high office is the sport for the tabloids and is measured in polling. I certainly wouldn’t be using the Parliament as a metaphor for safety leadership indeed, the using of such a metaphor at present in Australia would simply alienate most of the audience. Similarly, I wouldn’t be using the church as a metaphor for safety leadership either (http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/). Even subcultures in prisons have codes of ethics that clarify ethical leading. So, is the military metaphor the one we should select to best articulate safety leadership or safety differently or indeed, ethical leadership?

If we are sick to death of the regimented, dumb down approach of over regulation is the military metaphor the one we want to articulate a ‘new way’ of doing safety? (as some call safety II http://www.safetydifferently.com/what-safety-ii-isnt/) If we want the military metaphor to describe safety leadership, who is safety at war with? Who is the enemy and where is the battle? If the military metaphor is the one to use for safety leadership, who are the generals? Who are the privates? What rank and status is afforded those command? Who is in control?

If we want to convey the nature of following-leading, safety ownership and how to tackle risk, what are the best metaphors to explain the need for inclusivity, mutual responsibility, acceptance and understanding, community and trust? Perhaps you could propose a metaphor that best conveys these values?

  • Bio
  • Latest Posts
  • More about Rob
Dr Rob Long

Dr Rob Long

Expert in Social Psychology, Principal & Trainer at Human Dymensions
Dr Rob Long

Latest posts by Dr Rob Long (see all)

  • Welcome to the Nightmare, Safety Creates its Own Minefield (as usual) - January 23, 2023
  • Thinking of Mortality - January 23, 2023
  • Safety is the Wrong Anchor - January 23, 2023
  • Foresight Blindness, Hindsight Bias and Risk - January 23, 2023
  • Getting the Balance Right in Tackling Risk - January 23, 2023
Dr Rob Long
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.

Please share our posts

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Robert Long, Social Psychology of Risk Tagged With: metaphors, military, regulations, Safety, war

Reader Interactions

Do you have any thoughts? Please share them below Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Search and Discover More on this Site

Never miss a post - Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address and join other discerning risk and safety people who receive notifications of new posts by email

Join 7,497 other subscribers

Introduction to SPOR – FREE!!

SAFETY MYTHS SERIES

The Mythic Symbology of Safety

Posture Myths and Holistic Ergonomics

Safety Mythbusters

Don’t Be Emotional! Another Safety Myth

Tackling the Challenge of Heuristics in Safety

The Myth of Normal

NEW! Free Download

Please take our 2 minute zero survey

Recent Comments

  • Rob Long on Posture Myths and Holistic Ergonomics
  • Linda McKendry on Posture Myths and Holistic Ergonomics
  • Rob long on Welcome to the Nightmare, Safety Creates its Own Minefield (as usual)
  • Matt Thorne on Welcome to the Nightmare, Safety Creates its Own Minefield (as usual)
  • Anonymous on Welcome to the Nightmare, Safety Creates its Own Minefield (as usual)
  • Jason on How Bias Inhibits Learning in Safety
  • Rob Long on How Bias Inhibits Learning in Safety
  • Admin on How Bias Inhibits Learning in Safety
  • Rob Long on 400,000 Free Downloads
  • Gustavo Saralegui on 400,000 Free Downloads
  • Rob long on To Err is Human, You Better Believe It
  • Wynand on To Err is Human, You Better Believe It
  • Rob Long on To Err is Human, You Better Believe It
  • simon cassin on To Err is Human, You Better Believe It
  • Rob Long on Records of safety activities: evidence of safety or non-compliance?
  • Matt Thorne on Free Online Workshops
  • Rob long on No Good Reason to Follow Reason
  • Brian Edwin Darlington on No Good Reason to Follow Reason
  • Risk Diversity on Book Launch – For the Love of Zero – in Portuguese
  • Rob Long on No Good Reason to Follow Reason

FREE eBOOK DOWNLOADS

Footer

VIRAL POST – The Risk Matrix Myth

Top Posts & Pages. Sad that most are so dumb but this is what safety luves

  • 500 OF THE BEST WORKPLACE HEALTH and SAFETY SLOGANS 2023
  • Free Safety Moments and Toolbox Talk Examples, Tips and Resources
  • Road Safety Slogans 2023
  • CATCHY and FUNNY SAFETY SLOGANS FOR THE WORKPLACE
  • Download Safety Moments from Human Resources Secretariat
  • Safety Acronyms
  • How to Calculate TRIFR, LTIFR and Other Health and Safety Indicators
  • FREE RISK ASSESSMENT FORMS, CHECKISTS, REGISTERS, TEMPLATES and APPS
  • 15 Safety Precautions When Working With Electricity
  • SAFETY IMAGES, Photos, Unsafe Pictures and Funny Fails

Recent Posts

  • Welcome to the Nightmare, Safety Creates its Own Minefield (as usual)
  • Thinking of Mortality
  • Safety is the Wrong Anchor
  • Foresight Blindness, Hindsight Bias and Risk
  • Getting the Balance Right in Tackling Risk
  • What is SPoR?
  • How Bias Inhibits Learning in Safety
  • Afraid to Let Go of What Doesn’t Work in Safety
  • When You Don’t Know What to do in Safety, Have Another Blitz!!!
  • Gloves and Glasses Compliance
  • A Case of Desensitisation – What Would You Do?
  • How to Leave the Safety Industry
  • The Mythic Symbology of Safety
  • Dark Waters, The True Story of DuPont and Zero
  • 400,000 Free Downloads
  • Am I stupid? I didn’t think of that…
  • Don’t Look Now Safety, Your Metaphor is Showing
  • Ratio Delusions and Heinrich’s Hoax
  • To Err is Human, You Better Believe It
  • Culture as a Wicked Problem, for Safety
  • Safety Leadership Training
  • Cultural Orientation in Risk
  • The Stanford Experiment and The Social Psychology of Risk
  • Objectivity, Audits and Attribution When Calculating Risk
  • Records of safety activities: evidence of safety or non-compliance?
  • Zero, The Seeking of Infinity
  • Safety Leadership Essentials
  • What Can Indiana Jones Tell Us About Culture
  • Safety as a Worldview
  • The Loathing of Limits
  • Culture Cannot be Framed Through Safety
  • Free Online Workshops
  • Safety Culture–Hudson’s Model
  • Book Launch – For the Love of Zero – in Portuguese
  • Advancing Backwards in Safety
  • The ‘Noise’ of Safety, Silence and Practicing of Mindfulness
  • All Things Must Pass in Risk
  • I’m just not that into safety anymore
  • Sticks and Stones and the Nonsense of Zero Harm
  • Courting Infallibility in Safety
  • Indicators of Risk
  • What Can Safety Learn From Playschool?
  • No Good Reason to Follow Reason
  • Just as Well Culture Doesn’t Listen to Safety
  • What Are the Benefits Of Social Psychology of Risk?
  • Short-Sighted Lenses by Safety
  • Is Safety the Empire of Non-Sense?
  • No Wonder Safety is Confused About Culture
  • Building High Performance Safety Cultures
  • Understanding iCue, a Visual, Verbal, Semiotic Method for Tackling Risk

VIRAL POST!!! HOW TO QUIT THE SAFETY INDUSTRY

FEATURED POSTS

Investigations and Power

Risk and Safety Matrices and the Psychology of Colour

Desensitization, Statistics and the Psychic Numbing of Numerics

Free Two Chapter Download and Book Competition

Selling Out Safety

Free Safety and Risk Lunch n Learn

Safety and Risk Culture Cloud

Could Understanding Grey Be The Silver Bullet

Transdisciplinarity and Worldviews in Risk

Third Group Commences the Graduate Program in The Psychology of Risk

Is Safetyism Destroying a Generation?

I’m Concerned That We Can’t See The Safety Forest For The Safety Trees

New Year Safety Trade-Offs and By-Products

I Wasn’t Thinking Mr Spock

I was just trying to Help

Safety Should NOT Be About Safety

An Introduction to Semiotics and Risk

The New Leadership – Risk and Safety

How Do Workers Make Decisions?

The Safety Spoilsport

We need to make sure this can never happen again

Themes and Concepts in Risk – Requests

The Safety Cacophony Cupboard

Reality vs Theory, The Binary Divide

Second Student Group Social Psychology of Risk

Beware of Hazardous ‘OINTMENT’

First in Best Dressed for Indoctrination

Safety and Non-Neuroscience

Is Complacency Evil?

Innocence and Justice in Safety

Stand Behind The Yellow Line – Do Engineering Controls Affect Risk?

Meeting is NOT About Technique

Sergeant Safety

Managing the Unexpected

The Different Levels of Wrongness!

Ways in Which the Workplace Harms Us

Rituals in Risk Management – Podcast

Safety as a Patriarchal Activity

Sensemaking and ‘Hapori’ – Essential for Tackling Risk in New Zealand

SEEK Investigations Workshop

More Posts from this Category

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address and join other discerning risk and safety people who receive notifications of new posts by email

Join 7,497 other subscribers

How we pay for the high cost of running of this site – try it for free on your site

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY?

What is Psychological Safety at Work?