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?
Construction Safety
Compliance or Defiance?
Compliance or Defiance? It’s a strange thing this binary thinking that uses the strategy of entrapment to beat its own drum. I have been coaching in safety leadership all week on building and construction sites and the binary mindset creates so many problems. Rather than actually trying to … [Read more...] about Compliance or Defiance?
Wo-Men in Safety
When I first saw this (PPE Women in Construction) you could blow me over with a feather. Safety just keeps getting worse and worse. See Figure 1. Figure 1. If ever there was need for a feminist ethic in Safety it would be now. Here we have, masked as something to do with safety and PPE, all that … [Read more...] about Wo-Men in Safety
How NOT to do Anything About Culture in Building and Construction
How NOT to do Anything About Culture in Building and Construction The recently released Culture Standard for the Construction Industry (https://www.cultureinconstruction.com.au/culture-standard/ ) is a classic example of how to look like culture is identified and being addressed, when it is not. … [Read more...] about How NOT to do Anything About Culture in Building and Construction
Managing the Unexpected
Ed: Ok, you’ve been asking for it – a practical workplace application of Safety and Risk Psychology Managing the Unexpected Karl Weick and Kathleen Sutcliffe published Managing the Unexpected in 2001 and brought many of the principles of the social psychology of organizing into the risk and safety … [Read more...] about Managing the Unexpected
The Convenience of Complacency
The Convenience of Complacency One of the cultural characteristics of the safety industry is fundamental attribution error . It seems that safety seeks blame before it breathes, you certainly need to if your job title includes zero. Whenever there is an event in comes safety to quickly ensure that … [Read more...] about The Convenience of Complacency
When You Don’t Know What to do in Safety, Have Another Blitz!!!
When You Don’t Know What to do in Safety, Have Another Blitz!!! There’s nothing more reliable in safety than a blitz. This is because people don’t care about safety, are dumb about safety and want to hurt themselves. There is nothing more obvious to Safety than the effectiveness of a blitz, this is … [Read more...] about When You Don’t Know What to do in Safety, Have Another Blitz!!!
Things To Consider When Developing And Designing Your Company SWMS
Things To Consider When Developing And Designing Your Company SWMS Guest Post Download examples: [download id="107223"] [download id="107227"] The Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is one important document that is valuable in establishing business safety systems, especially for … [Read more...] about Things To Consider When Developing And Designing Your Company SWMS
Bridge over troubled water
Bridge over troubled water When darkness comes and pain is all around Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Simon and Garfunkel Bridges are a fascinating and dynamic piece of infrastructure that link communities and open regions to opportunity. A successful collaboration between … [Read more...] about Bridge over troubled water
Fear and Trembling of the Federal Safety Commission (OFSC)
Fear and Trembling of the Federal Safety Commission (OFSC) It doesn’t matter where I go in the Building and Construction industry there is fear and trembling about an OFSC Audit. The fear and trembling is not about undertaking an audit but about the excessive and petty nature of what the OFSC … [Read more...] about Fear and Trembling of the Federal Safety Commission (OFSC)
