This study explored whether the prescription and practice of Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) enhance or hinder the operationalisation of resilience engineering (RE) principles. Data was via semi-structured interviews across three construction projects. Providing background, it’s noted that: ·        Despite the requirements of SWMS around high-risk construction work, there’s a paucity of published research on their… Continue reading Resilience Engineering and Safe Work Method Statements in Construction Projects

A paper I go back to probably every year or two from Denis Besnard and Hollnagel explored some myths (as they see it) around industrial safety. I’ll post a couple on each occasion. For each myth they provide a brief background on why they believe it’s a myth and then a possible revision to improve… Continue reading Myths of human error and rule following: Besnard & Hollnagel 2012

This meta-analysis evaluated the available literature on links between safety training and workplace hazards on the development of safety knowledge and performance. Specifically, they explored how training engagement impacts knowledge and performance and how risk severity impacts the relationship. 113 studies were included. Providing background, they note: ·        In the case of the Upper Big Branch… Continue reading The dread factor: How hazards and safety training influence learning and performance

Bit of a light-hearted one, but I think there’s some wisdom here from our friend Dr Philosoraptor (source unknown…). Also, we absolutely should invest more energy into better organisational design (not just plant but our sociotechnical systems, structures, tasks. information channels and the like). However, to paraphrase Wears & Hettinger, it’s also people (the most… Continue reading Machines and human performance

This study explored the question “where do Resilience Skills (RS) come from?” by way of interviews, questionnaires, observations & document analysis in two emergency departments. RS are defined as “skills of any type necessary to adjust performance, in order to maintain safe and efficient operations during both expected and unexpected situations”. Studying RS is said… Continue reading Resilience skills as emergent phenomena: A study of emergency departments in Brazil and the United States

This explored the barriers and enhancers to trust in error reporting in a just culture. They systematically evaluated healthcare research, with just 14 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Providing background, they note: ·        Trust in a just culture, in their methodology, was defined as when “professionals believe that error communication is honest, safe, and reliable” ·        A very… Continue reading The Barriers and Enhancers to Trust in a Just Culture in Hospital Settings: A Systematic Review

This well-known and debated paper that explored major/fatal accidents in companies with and without a zero harm philosophy. Fatal/major accident data was obtained from the UK HSE under a FOI request for 2011-12 to 1014-15. This was then correlated to the top 20 construction contractors in the UK by turnover. Of the top 20 that… Continue reading UK construction safety: a zero paradox?

This study undertook repeated measurements using a process safety culture (SC) maturity survey across 14 major hazard companies from 2012 to 2018, adding an additional 5 companies in 2018 for additional comparison. Recognising the multitude of SC definitions and aspects, the authors took a pragmatist view, focusing on safety relevant practices (what they termed “manifestations… Continue reading Repeated Assessment of Process Safety Culture in Major Hazard Industries in the Rotterdam Region

Are organisations generally good at investigating adverse events but poor at fixing what is actually found? Or said differently, are we replacing continual improvement with continual investigation for things we already largely know? One study explored this question among 34 oil & gas companies over a 12 month period. Over 2.5k incident reports were evaluated.… Continue reading Risk accommodation and preference for continual investigation over continual improvement

This explored the research on how near miss reporting has impacted patient safety – positive or negative. 19 studies made inclusion for review. Providing background, they note: This study, therefore, explored the research to determine whether near miss reporting has actually improved patient safety outcomes, and whether its “obvious” benefits have merely been assumed. Results… Continue reading The Value of Learning From Near Misses to Improve Patient Safety: A Scoping Review