This study explored the effects that female board representation (FBR) on workplace safety. Note: ‘safety’ in this study is based on reported incidents. So consider that caveat. Data included 266 firms and 1,442 firm-year observations. Background: · “having female directors on corporate boards can influence a firm’s financial performance (Post and Byron 2015), social responsibility… Continue reading From the Boardroom to the Jobsite: Female Board Representation and Workplace Safety
Four concepts for resilience and the implications for the future of resilience engineering
An interesting read from David Woods discussing four resilience concepts. Extracts:· While networks of interdependencies have created new value for stakeholders, it has “also created unanticipated side effects and sudden dramatic failures” · The first concept used to describe resilience is rebounding · Rebounding “begins with the question: why do some communities, groups, or individuals recover from traumatic… Continue reading Four concepts for resilience and the implications for the future of resilience engineering
Good and bad reasons: The Swiss cheese model and its critics
Really interesting historical and critical account of Reason’s work, particularly the Swiss Cheese metaphor (SCM). It was meant to be a mini-post with a few extracts, but, meh, couldn’t be bothered cutting it back. Still not a summary, and skipped HEAPS, so highly recommend reading the free open access article. Background: · Reason’s foray into… Continue reading Good and bad reasons: The Swiss cheese model and its critics
What System Safety Engineering Can Learn from the Columbia Accident (Nancy Leveson)
Leveson & Cutcher-Gershenfeld discuss systems safety in the context of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) investigation. NB. These types of analyses are, of course, replete with hindsight and outcome logics, and sometimes judgmental attributions (failure, inadequate). But that doesn’t inherently mean we can’t learn anything. Extracts: · “The CAIB report describes system safety engineering at… Continue reading What System Safety Engineering Can Learn from the Columbia Accident (Nancy Leveson)
The safety measurement problem revisited
A response from Kjellén to Hopkins’ 2009 article about indicators (link in comments). [See week’s compendium dedicated to Hopkins & Hale] Extracts: · “LTI-rate gives the same weight to injuries with dramatically different consequences; that the measure is easily manipulated; and that natural statistical fluctuations make it useless for feedback control of other than the largest… Continue reading The safety measurement problem revisited
Leveson and Dekker on Reason: How the Critics Got the Swiss Cheese Model Wrong – Andrew Hopkins
Andrew Hopkins in this article defends Reason’s Swiss Cheese Metaphor (SCM) from critiques from both Nancy Leveson and Sid Dekker. Just a few extracts. [** Be on the lookout for next week’s compendium dedicated to Hopkins & Hale] I’m taking no sides – just reporting what’s in the paper: · He selects criticisms of Reason’s work… Continue reading Leveson and Dekker on Reason: How the Critics Got the Swiss Cheese Model Wrong – Andrew Hopkins
Importance of understanding work-as-done: Fascinating extracts from CEO due diligence prosecution
Understanding work-as-done seen as critical for PCBUs and CEOs/Officers, according to this prosecution of a CEO who failed to exercise due diligence relating to a work-related fatality (Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL). Extracts: · “[234] “Work as done” is the reality of work as it is actually carried out by the workers on the shop floor.… Continue reading Importance of understanding work-as-done: Fascinating extracts from CEO due diligence prosecution
Rail suicide: A systematic review using systems thinking
This systematic review evaluated rail suicide research against the systems thinking techniques AcciMap & PreventiMap. Some extracts: · “In Australia, 67 suicides by train occurred across 2019–20, representing 80 % of all fatalities occurring on the railways” · “Rail suicide is distinct in that in addition to the person who dies by suicide [and the familiy/friends affected],… Continue reading Rail suicide: A systematic review using systems thinking
“A good leader and a conscientious officer may have the best intentions in the world but may still breach that duty”: Fascinating legal case of CEO due diligence prosecution
Fascinating read of a CEO charged for not exercising due diligence, resulting tragically from a work-related death (Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL). Posted over multiple days, as it also covers work as done, critical risks, audits, indicators, inconsistent nightshift practices and more. Starting with due diligence: · “A good leader and a conscientious officer may have… Continue reading “A good leader and a conscientious officer may have the best intentions in the world but may still breach that duty”: Fascinating legal case of CEO due diligence prosecution
“Managing the risks of major accidents” – Andrew Hopkins, YouTube presentation
A 2024 YT video from Andrew Hopkins about managing the risks of major accidents. This comes in the lead up to next week’s compendium of research dedicated to Andrew Hale & Andrew Hopkins. Some extracts: · He refers to the Safety Paradox where managers “honestly believed that safety was their top priority that they never sacrificed… Continue reading “Managing the risks of major accidents” – Andrew Hopkins, YouTube presentation
SafetyInsights.org 