This brief book chapter from Hollnagel & Dekker adopts Lisanne Bainbridge’s idea of ironies, in the context of contemporary human factors practice. Can’t cover all the points. Highly recommend you check out Bainbridge’s original paper, though (link in comments). Ironies in this context is a “solution which expands rather than solves or eliminates a problem,… Continue reading The ironies of ‘human factors’
Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification Program on Firm Work Injury Rates in Alberta, Canada
This study explored the effects of Alberta’s Certificate of Recognition (COR) and SECOR program on reported firm-related injuries. (Yes, another that’s relying on incident data…) >14k certified firms were matched with >11k non-certified firms from 2000-2015. They note: “In a systematic review on the effectiveness of OHSMSs, Robson et al. [6] found that although most… Continue reading Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification Program on Firm Work Injury Rates in Alberta, Canada
The Twenty Foot Rule and Safety Leadership
This brief conference paper discussed the ‘twenty foot rule’ of leadership. I’ve only covered a few points, as much of it reads as an instructional piece on key items to set up the process, whereas I’ve focused more on the general gist and rationale (so easier you just read the paper if you’re interested). The… Continue reading The Twenty Foot Rule and Safety Leadership
Safety Culture or: How cultures can both sensitise or blind us to danger
I’ve long been critical of the construct, and application of, ‘safety culture’ (at best, I’d probably be described as from the interpretive camp—e.g. ‘culture-as-metaphor’). I’ve covered lots of articles why – and others have argued far more nuanced reasons. So, I’m not covering that now. But in saying that, I’ve always found the following definition… Continue reading Safety Culture or: How cultures can both sensitise or blind us to danger
Effectiveness of training in reducing accidents in construction companies
This study evaluated the impact of construction safety training on accident rates in Spanish industry. Data from 1,283 Spanish construction companies over 11 years were analysed. They studied the effects of training in the same year of the accident, and the prior three years. I’m not really sure what to make of these findings –… Continue reading Effectiveness of training in reducing accidents in construction companies
Foundations of Safety Science: Resilience Engineering and 3 analytical traps for resilience practitioners
Post 3 from ch.11 of the Foundations of Safety Science, exploring Resilience Engineering (RE) and the adaptive perspectives. This part focuses on 3 analytical traps for resilience practitioners/scholars to be cognisant of (you may recognise these from Johan Bergstrom’s youtube vid – link in comments). Extracts: · The first trap is the reductionist trap · Whereas “the… Continue reading Foundations of Safety Science: Resilience Engineering and 3 analytical traps for resilience practitioners
An analysis of the relationship between project management and safety management in the Norwegian construction industry
This study evaluated the relationship between project management and safety management in the Norwegian construction industry. Data was from 111 unique projects and 26 firms. They assessed projects on a range of different project management capacities and safety management. Providing background: · While a robust body of research has looked at both project management/production, and… Continue reading An analysis of the relationship between project management and safety management in the Norwegian construction industry
Foundation of Safety Science: Resilience Engineering and complex systems pt2
Post 2 from ch.11 of the Foundations of Safety Science, exploring Resilience Engineering (RE) and the adaptive perspectives. Some extracts: · RE sees failures not necessarily as breakdowns or malfunctioning of normal functions, but “the converse of the adaptations necessary to cope with the real world complexity” · Performance of individuals and organisations across all level “must… Continue reading Foundation of Safety Science: Resilience Engineering and complex systems pt2
Does sending Safety Toolbox Talks by text message to Residential Construction Supervisors increase Safety Meeting Compliance?
This US study evaluated whether distributing construction safety toolboxes, with workplace fatalities, to supervisors by mobile phone would increase their compliance delivering toolboxes each month, 56 construction supervisors in Oregon were recruited and received a link to a toolbox talk by text message every two weeks for three months. This is based on a tool… Continue reading Does sending Safety Toolbox Talks by text message to Residential Construction Supervisors increase Safety Meeting Compliance?
Foundations of Safety Science: Resilience Engineering and safety as the presence of capacities
More extracts from Foundations of Safety Science, this time from Ch.11 on Resilience Engineering and the adaptive perspective. This is 1 of probably 2 or 3 more posts. Some extracts: These logics come from a wider body of safety science, which includes some intertwined positions, like: Parts 2 & 3…some other time. Ref: Dekker, S.… Continue reading Foundations of Safety Science: Resilience Engineering and safety as the presence of capacities
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