The problem with workarounds is that they work, so says Amy Edmondson. And some of the strongest evidence that a barrier/control is weak, can be found by exploring normal, daily work, which can reveal workarounds. In Part 3 of my Critical Control / Barrier series, I explore human factors & human performance within barrier systems.… Continue reading The problem with workarounds is that they work: CCM Part 3 YT video
I’m speaking at a webinar with Greg Smith & Renae Harding: ‘The Role of Audits in WHS Assurance’
Register below for a webinar with Greg Smith & Renae Harding where I’ll be presenting my audit research findings – 27th Aug 11am Bris time. Register: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/3481d752-09e1-43af-8c03-6c4809e595ee@6b9b3793-91ec-4aa1-88e6-a320740038ab?source=copyLinkLegacyShareEventDialog
What happens when AI does the best part of your job? YT Shorts
AI was supposed to take away the boring or repetitive parts of work. But, now it’s stepping into creative work, and that can change how meaningful a job feels. This YT Short unpacks a study which explored the downstream effects on work meaningfulness, autonomy, skill utilisation, and work identity, when AI takes the creative parts… Continue reading What happens when AI does the best part of your job? YT Shorts
Tweaking accident investigations for better learning – webinar
Hey friends – I’ll be joining SÄKU to discuss some traps and ways to tweak investigations to enhance learning on Oct 8th. Register: https://en.xn--sku-qla.se/events/tweaking-accident-investigations-to-gain-better-organisational-learning-with-ben-hutchinson
Impact of Resilience Engineering on Physical Symptoms of Construction Workers
What does Resilience Engineering reveal about construction workers’ physical and psychological symptoms? This study surveyed 741 workers from China exploring the above question. PS. Check out my YouTube and recent Critical Control / barrier vid: https://youtu.be/Ly1mEn_KCLQ?si=yG3yRVOM0r2eyyKI Shout a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/benhutchinson Extracts: · Dynamic safety capability refers to “an organization’s capacity to generate, reconfigure, and adapt operational… Continue reading Impact of Resilience Engineering on Physical Symptoms of Construction Workers
What makes a safety control “enough” for high-energy hazards? Defining and testing acceptable alternative controls when a Direct Control is not feasible
When no Direct Control (DC) is appropriate, how do we decide when alternative measures are sufficient? This study developed decision aids for answering that question and tested whether the rules helped practitioners make more consistent decisions when judging Alternative Controls (AC). Shared under an open access licence. PS. Check out my YouTube and recent Critical… Continue reading What makes a safety control “enough” for high-energy hazards? Defining and testing acceptable alternative controls when a Direct Control is not feasible
Part 3 – Critical Control / Barriers: Human Factors & realistic human performance expectations
Ogres have layers, and so do barriers. Human performance isn’t separate from the barrier system, rather in socio-technical environments, human action is often a key mechanism through which a barrier functions. In part 3 of the Critical Control / Barrier series, we unpack how to properly specify human performance as a credible control without straying… Continue reading Part 3 – Critical Control / Barriers: Human Factors & realistic human performance expectations
Interpretive Debt: How Organisations Accumulate Hidden Liabilities When Humans Defer Sensemaking to Automated Systems
Does deferring decision-making to automated systems degrade our ability to understand our own organisations? This Weickian sensemaking theory article argues ‘Perhaps’ – what they call interpretive debt. E.g. a loan officer dets a ‘decline’ flag from an AI tool but accepts the recommendation without reviewing the applicant’s bank statements, or a manager relies on a… Continue reading Interpretive Debt: How Organisations Accumulate Hidden Liabilities When Humans Defer Sensemaking to Automated Systems
Does it matter who manages daily ‘safety’ in a business? YT Shorts
Does it matter who manages daily ‘safety’ in a business? According to a ~32-country study, maybe. When business owners take direct control of day-to-day safety decisions and responsibilities, workplace accident rates worsened. So who delivered better results: safety officers or employee reps? Check the video to find out. PS. I expect some will challenge the… Continue reading Does it matter who manages daily ‘safety’ in a business? YT Shorts
Does the absence of incidents tell you how well risks are managed?
Does the absence of incidents tell you how well risks are managed? In part 1 of our chat, Marcin Nazaruk explores why traditional ‘safety approaches’ can miss things like: 1. The normal variability in how work is performed every day 2. Constraints that limit or shape workers’ available choices 3. And error traps that make… Continue reading Does the absence of incidents tell you how well risks are managed?
