This study explored the relationship between lack of sleep on the development of leader-follower relationships from initial commencement to over time. 40 leads and 120 followers were included in the study. Providing background they note: Results Key findings included: It’s argued that these findings challenge and extend LMX (leader-member exchange theory), which have largely focused… Continue reading Lack of sleep and the development of leader-follower relationships over time

One of the classics from Amy Edmondson (2004), exploring the relationships between group and organisational factors on drug administration errors. Note: there’s lots to say and debate on the term “human error” (check out my site for several papers critical of the term), but for my own convenience I’m sticking with the terminology in the… Continue reading Learning from Mistakes Is Easier Said Than Done: Group and Organizational Influences on the Detection and Correction of Human Error

This looked at the relationships between operational practices and safety practices and outcomes – and the impact of Joint Management System (JMS) practices rather than safety or operations (OPS) managed separately. 10 facilities from 9 companies were included. Based on analysis, facilities were divided into two dominant “cultures” based on their characteristics: 1) a supportive… Continue reading Understanding safety in the context of business operations: An exploratory study using case studies

A classic from David Woods & the late, great Richard Cook. Here they critique the label of “human error”, as if “it were an explanation for what happened”; rather being a label that organisations can readily get stuck on. They provide nine generalised steps to help organisations move on from these labels and enhance learning… Continue reading Moving on from labels of human error

This paper explored the evidence around the types of biases and noise present in incident investigations and then some proposed solutions. It’s said that the investigation literature doesn’t comprehensively address this topic. I’ve had to skip large parts of this, so check out the full paper. Bias is “the systematic deviation from evidence-based, objective judgment”… Continue reading Cognitive bias in workplace investigation: Problems, perspectives and proposed solutions

This study explored the effects on team performance where not all members of a team necessarily agreed on the level of psychological safety within the team (e.g. dispersed perceptions of team psychological safety [PS]). >1k members of 160 management teams were studied. Providing background, it’s said: Results Key findings included: Discussion Summarising the findings, the… Continue reading Safe Among the Unsafe: Psychological Safety Climate Strength Matters for Team Performance

Lisanne Bainbridge’s 1982 paper on the ironies of automation is a classic; I’ve posted extracts before (as have many others – seriously, the paper is worth your time). James Reason (source below, pg. 43) provided a nice summary of the paper’s key points in the attached image. But, briefly, efforts to automate systems and remove… Continue reading Risks of automation and removing people

This study investigated biases in the context of risk assessment workshop facilitation and then mapped these against Rasmussen’s socio-technical systems model. Interviews with 23 facilitators and technical experts was undertaken. Three research questions drove the investigation: (p5) Providing background, it’s said: Some common types of biases are presented below. Results Six biases emerged from the… Continue reading The risk of risk assessments: Investigating dangerous workshop biases through a socio-technical systems model

This explored the negative effects of HRO chronic collective mindfulness practices within US law enforcement. They argue that HRO research “has nearly always presented HRO theory positively, causing a skewed perspective that favors implementation of these principles without adequate understanding of the costs to HRO members of chronic mindfulness” (p1). The two research questions were:1.… Continue reading The human cost of chronic mindfulness in U.S. law enforcement: toward a more nuanced understanding of HRO theory

This explored how safety management factors (SMF), contextual factors (e.g. project & org. complexity) & combinations of factors are linked to Safety Performance (SP). 12 construction companies were compared using SP data, interviews & audit results. Small sample, so caution is advised. Included factors and definitions below. Results Expectedly, a higher average score on 12… Continue reading A comparative analysis of safety management and safety performance in twelve construction projects