Making zero work for construction safety in a post-zero world

This study critically discussed theoretical and empirical arguments on the use of zero thinking in construction. They also evaluated performance differences between a sample of zero adopters vs non-adopters in the US. I’ve skipped a lot – so check out the free paper. First, they state that “Zero remains the biggest number in occupational safety”… Continue reading Making zero work for construction safety in a post-zero world

The ETTO principle as ETTOing–or Occam’s Razor redux

A 2014 conference paper from Hollnagel discussing ETTOing. Not a summary as the full paper is available. Some points: Ref: Hollnagel, E. (2012, October). The ETTO principle as ETTOing–or Occam’s Razor redux. In Human Factors: a view from an integrative perspective. Presented at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Europe Chapter Annual Meeting. Study link: https://www.hfes-europe.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Hollnagel.pdf… Continue reading The ETTO principle as ETTOing–or Occam’s Razor redux

Identifying risks and emergent risks across sociotechnical systems: The NETworked Hazard Analysis and Risk Management System (NETHARMS)

I found this pretty interesting from Dallat, Salmon and Goode, exploring a new systems-based risk assessment method called NETworked Hazard Analysis and Risk Management System (NET-HARMS). One key focus on NET-HARMS was revealing the harder to find emergent risks that emerge via interactions. WAY too much to cover in this paper – I’ve skipped large… Continue reading Identifying risks and emergent risks across sociotechnical systems: The NETworked Hazard Analysis and Risk Management System (NETHARMS)

Building a safer future: Analysis of studies on safety I and safety II in the construction industry

This research synthesis may interest people – it evaluated 35 Safety-I & Safety-II papers relating to construction safety. A key focus was highlighting areas for integration. Not a summary – but paper is open access. I found some of the arguments a bit janky or underdeveloped, but appreciate the challenge the authors had; it also… Continue reading Building a safer future: Analysis of studies on safety I and safety II in the construction industry

How safety accountability impacts the safety performance of safety managers: A moderated mediating model

This explored how safety accountability impacts safety performance of ‘safety managers’. Data was via survey of 269 Chinese safety managers (So note the demographics in interpreting the generalisability of the results, as always). For background: ·         There’s said to be a close connection between safety accountability and types of safety performance ·         They discuss different… Continue reading How safety accountability impacts the safety performance of safety managers: A moderated mediating model

FRAM-based causal analysis and barrier measures to mitigate dust explosions: A case study

I imagine this will interest just a smaller sub-set of people, but this study used FRAM to analyse the dust explosion at the Chinese Kunshan factory accident, which killed 146 people. They were able to examine the coupling and variability in key activities, and the initial and triggering parameters for the explosion. Note: There’s a… Continue reading FRAM-based causal analysis and barrier measures to mitigate dust explosions: A case study

The emperor’s new clothes: Or whatever happened to “human error”

This 2001 from Hollnagel & Amalberti discusses several arguments on how the concept of ‘human error’ (HE) exists only in the imagination of people. That is, rather than being an objectively observable phenomena, is more a “false impression” based in “the seductiveness that some concepts or ideas seem to have”. Parts 2 & 3 in… Continue reading The emperor’s new clothes: Or whatever happened to “human error”

The limits of lost time injury frequency rates

An interesting paper from Andrew Hopkins in 1994 discussing the limits of LTIFRs. Likely nothing new for most people now – but it likely was in 1994. He explores two questions: ·         A general discussion on LTIFR and positive performance / process indicators ·         What can go wrong when LTIFRs are assumed to be a… Continue reading The limits of lost time injury frequency rates

How is Safety-II Being Applied in Practice and is it Working?

An interesting Masters from J Allan Turner, who interviewed Safety-II experts. (Note it’s from 2017 – so there’s a lot of progress in application since then.) The following questions were explored: WAY too much to cover, so just a few extracts: Ref: Turner, J. A. (2017). How is Safety-II Being Applied in Practice and is it… Continue reading How is Safety-II Being Applied in Practice and is it Working?

Noise disturbance increases negative emotions and unsafe behaviour among construction workers

This study explored the role that occupational noise disturbance has on construction worker negative emotions and behaviour. (NB: Yeah – they use the term “unsafe behaviour”, but if you look beyond that and consider how noise can influence behaviour more broadly then the findings are pretty relevant.) Data came from 100 Indonesian construction workers and… Continue reading Noise disturbance increases negative emotions and unsafe behaviour among construction workers