Let’s Get The Dirt On Root Cause Analysis It has been said that our seduction with the notion of root cause analysis has done more damage to safety and risk that anything else - there is likely never going to be a definitive root cause for anything - and how far back do we go - do we just keep … [Read more...] about Let’s Get The Dirt On Root Cause Analysis
Wicked Problems
How to Handle Safety System Paradoxes
Just found this hidden gem by Wade Needham here on LinkedIn How to Handle Safety System Paradoxes As you get promoted it's easier to take control, to control more of your world they said, well, ‘they’ were wrong. The easy answer to a complex or wicked problem is almost always wrong, if not … [Read more...] about How to Handle Safety System Paradoxes
Anthropocentric Safety
“the floggings shall continue until morale improves” It is simply delusional to think or espouse that people can be controlled or enforced into total compliance. A mechanical approach to safety, consumed by zero harm, absolutes and statistics is simply alienating, non-inspiring and de-motivational. … [Read more...] about Anthropocentric Safety
The Social Psychology of Risk Event Exploration (Investigation) Knowledge
I can personally recommend this program (no I don’t get a kickback!) to anyone wanting to undertake more effective investigations and who feels that there is something crucial missing with their current methods and tools – I PROMISE THAT THIS IS A COMPLETE EYE & MIND OPENER – I wrote about … [Read more...] about The Social Psychology of Risk Event Exploration (Investigation) Knowledge
Lost money in safety?
Lost money in safety? First published here on the The Safety Soapbox I read a 2010 article by Peter Wagner & Associates which was headed “Safety – A Wicked Problem”. Leading CEO’s discussed their views on OHS transformation in Australia, and came up with key insights on what they felt could … [Read more...] about Lost money in safety?
Calculators, Matrices and Mumbo Jumbo Risk Assessment
Calculators, Matrices and Mumbo Jumbo Risk Assessment There is no more critical question the safety industry needs to ask than, ‘what is the trajectory?’ Or, ‘Where is this taking us?’ Unfortunately, the safety industry doesn’t ask this question, especially with regard to the social and … [Read more...] about Calculators, Matrices and Mumbo Jumbo Risk Assessment
How many do you want harmed today?
How many do you want harmed today? It seems not a week goes by on Linkedin without the perpetual Safety demonstration of nonsense talk, nonsense language, life denying, fallibility denying and the immortality delusional semiotics of zero. As usual it starts with the silly binary question ‘How many … [Read more...] about How many do you want harmed today?
Safety and Risk Culture Cloud
I wanted to republish this article from last year after just reading yet another article about safety culture being "the way we do things around here" and therefore to change that, "Leaders need to walk the walk and talk the talk". I have never been comfortable with the term "safety culture", its … [Read more...] about Safety and Risk Culture Cloud
Safety-1, Safety-2, Safety-3
Safety-1, Safety-2, Safety-3 The idea that there are two safeties endorses a binary mindset that supposes that the second safety is radically different from the first. The general idea is that Safety-1 is a system that focuses only on what goes wrong, Safety-2 is a system that focuses on what goes … [Read more...] about Safety-1, Safety-2, Safety-3
Getting The Drift, Dekker on Safety
Getting The Drift, Dekker on Safety I read many risk and safety books and most don’t go on the shelf but in the bin. Most regurgitate tired old safety myths, spin about behaviourism or target vigilance or zero for ineffective strategies in safety. Many of the books brand their central thesis in the … [Read more...] about Getting The Drift, Dekker on Safety