The swiss-cheese metaphor and semiotic is NOT a scientific or logical model of representative connection to reality. The swiss-cheese is a concoction of James Reason to try and explain his linear worldview of accidents and prevention. We saw this recently with Cooper’s identical model … [Read more...] about Ditch the Swiss-Cheese if You Want to Understand Causality
Swiss Cheese Model
No ‘Taming’ or ‘Fixing’ Wicked Problems
I see with amusement a recent discussion in safety about complexity complete with the mythical swiss-cheese, that some rule can ‘tame’ complexity. All such discussion ignores research on ‘wicked-problems’ that has been about since the 1960s. The idea of a ‘wicked problem’ first emerged from … [Read more...] about No ‘Taming’ or ‘Fixing’ Wicked Problems
The Search for Meaning in Safety Models
There is a huge chasm between three things: the intent and design (assumed philosophy) of a model, the semiotic diffusion of the model and what humans make of the model. Models and symbols are not neutral nor objective. All models are semiotics and as such seek to explain the inexplicable. This is … [Read more...] about The Search for Meaning in Safety Models
More Realistic Swiss Cheese Symbol
Dr Rob Long’s recent Safety Myths Series touched quite a few nerves in the safety industry, particularly his piece: Myth and Symbols in Safety, where he suggested that we should deconstruct the projected ‘truths’ of linearity and causality of models such as Swiss Cheese, Dominoes, Bow Tie and … [Read more...] about More Realistic Swiss Cheese Symbol
Why Metaphors Matter in Risk
We all use metaphors in how we speak and communicate to each other. Metaphor is poetic language that requires imagination to understand how a bridge is created for understanding. A metaphor is a mechanism that uses an image to convey meaning about something else … [Read more...] about Why Metaphors Matter in Risk
SpoR and The BBS Myth
Continuing our series on Safety Myths – see them all hereThe BBS Myth (https://safetyrisk.net/is-bbs-credible/) is founded on the erroneous assumptions of behaviourism. Behaviourism is an antiquated idea developed in the 1930s based on simplistic binary notions of humans as objects … [Read more...] about SpoR and The BBS Myth
This Is Not A Pipe
In a recent blog by Dr Rob Long, “Myths and Symbols In Safety”, Rob has stirred some great discussions about myths and symbols in safety. Rob is polemic in nature and writes in a way to give pause to think. And to state is upfront, Rob is a friend and mentor and I study with him via the CLLR … [Read more...] about This Is Not A Pipe
The Rhizome as a Learning Model for Risk
I have written before about the semiotic/metaphor of the rhizome (https://safetyrisk.net/like-a-rhizome-cowboy/ ), introduced by Deleuze as a model for understanding learning and knowing. Deleuze was interested in ‘becoming’ and in the ‘hidden third’, a common concept in Transdisciplinarity. Deleuze … [Read more...] about The Rhizome as a Learning Model for Risk
Zero as a Semiotic
Zero as a Semiotic When we look at the image (semiotic) of zero there is much that is going on unconsciously. The idea of zero in risk and safety may have originally started as some naïve quest for no injuries but it has evolved to become the iconic anchor for a religious movement. The Spirit of … [Read more...] about Zero as a Semiotic
The Swiss Cheese Addiction and Covid Delusion
The Swiss Cheese Addiction and Covid Delusion Symbols say much more than themselves just as intuition is more than we can say (Polanyi). However, when it comes to safety that deems symbols to be truth and metaphors to be reality we have addictions to models and symbols that are neither truthful nor … [Read more...] about The Swiss Cheese Addiction and Covid Delusion
