This systematic review studied the links between psychological safety climate (PSC) on mental health in the construction industry. 71 studies included. Key findings: · 42 mental health causation factors were identified · High job demand was the most significant contributor, followed by interpersonal relationships, low job control, low job support, and physical status · High job demand was… Continue reading Mental Health Causation in the Construction Industry: A Systematic Review Employing a Psychological Safety Climate Model
Year: 2025
Compendium: Complex systems, sociotechnical, system safety
This mini-compendium covers some areas of systems thinking and complex adaptive systems, mostly with a focus on safety and risk. There are so many threads in the systems fields: systems thinking, systems engineering, systems safety, complexity, chaos, complex adaptive systems, cybernetics, variations thereof and more. Hence, I can’t cover them all, so it’s a highly… Continue reading Compendium: Complex systems, sociotechnical, system safety
Occupational moral injury and mental health: systematic review and meta-analysis
This meta-analysis studied the links between occupational moral injury and mental health. Two key terms are morally injurious experiences (PMIEs) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PMIEs include “‘perpetrating, failing to prevent, bearing witness to, or learning about acts that transgress deeply help moral beliefs and expectations”. PMIEs can result in “significant psychological distress or moral… Continue reading Occupational moral injury and mental health: systematic review and meta-analysis
Studying organisational cultures and their effects on safety
Hopkins in this discussion paper explores organisational cultures, and how they effect safety. You’ll note he writes cultures, plural, rather than culture as a monolithic construct. Way too much to cover in this paper, so just a few points. Check out the full paper if the topic interests you. Hopkins starts with “Despite all that… Continue reading Studying organisational cultures and their effects on safety
The human factor: Pursuing success and averting drift into failure – YT video, Sidney Dekker
A 2018 presentation from Sid Dekker on success and drift into failure. One of many such, and no particular reason why this one over any other. Sid starts with an example he heard, supporting the bad apple thesis: “just get rid of the nurses who make mistakes and all will be a lot safer” “Now… Continue reading The human factor: Pursuing success and averting drift into failure – YT video, Sidney Dekker
Short video from James Reason on types of errors
I’m sure others have posted this recently, but it’s an interesting video from James Reason talking about error and performance. I particularly love the retro-ambience. It’s like something you’d see on VHS in science class. Jim talks about some interesting properties of task errors. Like making tea, “these errors aren’t random or bizarre…we don’t find… Continue reading Short video from James Reason on types of errors
Moving beyond TRIR: Measuring and monitoring safety performance with high-energy control assessments
Another post on SIFs, this time the High Energy Control Assessments (HECA) from Oguz Erkal & Hallowell. Link to article below, plus to a HECA guide, and to the SIF compendium. Extracts: · HECA is “the percentage of high-energy hazards with a corresponding direct control” · HECA is binary because “every condition observation is modeled only as… Continue reading Moving beyond TRIR: Measuring and monitoring safety performance with high-energy control assessments
Building Resilience into Safety Management Systems: Precursors and Controls to Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs)
Another on SIF prevention. This (interim) report (another from the recent compendium – see comments for link) covers the findings from a few activities, including two SIF workshops about ID, implementing and monitoring critical controls for SIF hazards, and the role of human and org factors. Too much to cover, so a few extracts: · “the… Continue reading Building Resilience into Safety Management Systems: Precursors and Controls to Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs)
Preventing serious injuries & fatalities: time for a sociotechnical model for an operational risk management system
Here’s a 2008 article from Fred Manuele which was included in my SIF compendium (link to compendium & article below). Fred explores a sociotechnical approach to preventing SIFs. The fatality rate in the US from 1971 to 2005 decreased from 17 to 4, but remained stable from 06 to 2011 at ~3.5; hence SIF prevention… Continue reading Preventing serious injuries & fatalities: time for a sociotechnical model for an operational risk management system
Leverage points to intervene in a system – Donella Meadows
In the lead up to next week’s compendium on systems thinking, here’s a banger from Donella Meadows. She explores system leverage points. Not a summary, but some extracts: · Leverage points are “places within a complex system .. where a small shift in one thing can produce big changes in everything” · The “state of the system”… Continue reading Leverage points to intervene in a system – Donella Meadows
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