Successful Safety and Risk Management Initiatives These are some of the entries in our recent Risk Makes Sense – Book Competition. Listed in the order they were submitted: 1) Internal standards of OHS excellence – George Robotham One of the best pieces of OHS work I have seen was when one … [Read more...] about Effective Safety Improvement Ideas
BBS
Understanding Human ‘Being’ The Foundation for Understanding Human Error
There is nothing unique about human error but there is with the preoccupation of behaviourists about it. The latest dose by Cooper (https://safetyrisk.net/the-behaviourist-human-and-human-being/) that ignores all of the available Transdisciplinary research is typical. What the behaviourist … [Read more...] about Understanding Human ‘Being’ The Foundation for Understanding Human Error
Tackling the Challenge of Heuristics in Safety
The recognition of heuristics as the foundation for all human decision making is critical to skill development and implementation of SPoR (https://safetyrisk.net/spor-and-disposing-of-bad-myths/) in the workplace. One of the silly myths of behaviourism in safety is the complete ignorance of … [Read more...] about Tackling the Challenge of Heuristics in Safety
Understanding Safety Incentive Schemes, A Question of Balance
There is no doubt that the darling of the safety industry is Behaviourism. Just look at the language of traditional safety and so called ‘safety differently’ and it’s all about capacity, people as objects, performance, measurement. Metrics, numerics and outputs. Behaviourism is a 1930s worldview … [Read more...] about Understanding Safety Incentive Schemes, A Question of Balance
Culture is NOT a Product nor a Construct
When culture is viewed through the lens of behaviourism and safety, it is asserted that culture is a ‘construct’ and ‘product’ (p.50). This is the assertion of Cooper in his chapter in Safety Cultures, Safety Models. When the lens is behaviourist safety, one can assert that risk is best tackled … [Read more...] about Culture is NOT a Product nor a Construct
Is BBS Credible?
Is Behavior Based Safety (BBS) Credible? or, ‘Don’t Mention the War’ Another controversial little gem by Dr Robert Long – If you liked this article then you should read the whole series: CLICK HERE. I highly recommend you check out Rob’s new book “RISK MAKES SENSE” – click on image to read … [Read more...] about Is BBS Credible?
The Big Safety NON-Debate
The Big Safety NON-Debate I read with amusement some claim to a ‘big debate’ in safety between Safety 1 (S1) and Safety 2 (S2) in the pages of an IOSH Magazine (https://www.ioshmagazine.com/2020/09/09/big-debate-safety-differently). The Discourse in this article is fascinating for analysis . … [Read more...] about The Big Safety NON-Debate
Looking Forward, Looking Back
This cute little song by Slim Dusty lays out the ultimate challenge for Risk and Safety. So much of what characterizes Safety is about looking backward. Counting data, LTIs, TRIFR and counting lead indicators (positive activity) all focus on the past as if these are an indicator of the future. Most … [Read more...] about Looking Forward, Looking Back
Science and Acts of Faith in Safety
Science and Acts of Faith in Safety The language of scientific ‘proofs’ is the language of positivism, behaviourism and empiricism. Such a language often gives away a discourse of control, power and security in the face of uncertainty. It is one thing to seek knowledge ‘scientifically’ and … [Read more...] about Science and Acts of Faith in Safety
It’s not in the KPI or LTI but the MRI
It’s not in the KPI or LTI but the MRI The assumption of behaviourist psychology that people are the sum of inputs and outputs is the greatest weakness of BBS philosophy. There is plenty of evidence to show that people don’t respond to stimulus either in self interest or in ways that make … [Read more...] about It’s not in the KPI or LTI but the MRI
