The Seduction of Measurement in Risk and Safety Rather than measure what we value, we tend to value what we can measure Many safety mottos and mantras for organisations are sent to me and I recently saw one for a mantra and motto of ‘safety beyond measure’. The strange thing about the … [Read more...] about The Seduction of Measurement in Risk and Safety
Zero Harm
What’s Faith Got To Do With Safety
What’s Faith Got To Do With Safety Guest Post by Dr Rob Long from www.humandymensions.com Risk is all about uncertainty, and uncertainty is one of the things that characterises what it is to be human. There is little in human living that is certainly predictable, there is little that is … [Read more...] about What’s Faith Got To Do With Safety
The Tyranny of Absolutes
Guest Post by Dr Rob Long from www.humandymensions.com – for those of you who still have nothing to love! The text book approach to goal setting recommends that all goals should be SMART - Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant and Time considered. Yet, when it comes to safety and risk many … [Read more...] about The Tyranny of Absolutes
Error Trajectories and Risk
In 1650 heathen cultures were regarded at best as examples of human error, whilst at worst they were devices of Satan, devised to keep damned souls securely in his net. In either case it was thought that the duty of Christians was to either save them or destroy them. (Thomas Brooks Precious Remedies … [Read more...] about Error Trajectories and Risk
Prepositions for Risk and Safety Leadership
Why not do some observing this week and see what are the most popular words spoken and written in your organisation. The way we prime and frame organizational discourse shapes the culture and focus on safety. When I am first introduced to an organisation I like to explore their cultural artifacts … [Read more...] about Prepositions for Risk and Safety Leadership
Symbols Have Power
One of the most overlooked yet important factors in safety culture influence is the power of symbols. The psychological significance of symbols and the embodiment of values in symbols are often neglected when organisations think about safety culture. Many organisations have next to no emphasis on … [Read more...] about Symbols Have Power
You Don’t Believe in Common Sense?
The Coroners decision confirms it, there is no ‘common sense’, it can’t be assumed, and we shouldn’t talk about it because it dumbs down the industry and perpetuates a delusional myth. On 5 July the Queensland Coroner has found three men who died while working on the Federal Government's home … [Read more...] about You Don’t Believe in Common Sense?
Simple or Simplistic Risk and Safety
‘Argument progresses in three stages: superficial simplicity, confused complexity and profound simplicity. Mindful organisations and leaders are prepared to struggle through confused complexity to find profound simplicity. Mindless organisations tend to settle for the first superficial simplicity … [Read more...] about Simple or Simplistic Risk and Safety
The Ideology of Zero Harm
Since writing my book For the Love of Zero, Human Fallibility and Risk I have received on average, two emails a week from people who have been threatened with or been sacked for challenging this mantra. Some of these people are overseas with mining and construction companies and some in … [Read more...] about The Ideology of Zero Harm
Binary Discipline and The Easy Road of Consequence
Binary Discipline and The Easy Road of Consequence There are many dimensions to the fallibility of being human and many inbuilt psychological mechanisms that operate unconsciously, individually and socially. The idea of behaviourist theory that humans are machines is nonsense. In the face of the … [Read more...] about Binary Discipline and The Easy Road of Consequence
