A great read from Jodi Oakman and team exploring who uses ‘how to lift training’ (HTLT) and why. Importantly “Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have a complex aetiology. How to lift training (HTLT) does not address this complexity, is an ineffective prevention strategy but remains widely utilised”. 1507 survey responses were analysed. For background: · In Australia, MSDs… Continue reading We know it doesn’t work: Why do we still use how to lift training for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders?
Systems Thinking 1.0 and Systems Thinking 2.0: Complexity science and a new conception of “cause”
This 2011 paper from Sid Dekker may interest people. I only just ran across this. It contrasts two different perspectives on systems thinking: Systems thinking 1.0 (ST-1): A more mechanistic view of systems, encouraging reductionist and mechanistic worldviews – and “finding more broken parts further away in time and space from the accident” Systems thinking… Continue reading Systems Thinking 1.0 and Systems Thinking 2.0: Complexity science and a new conception of “cause”
Reflections: Voice and Silence in Workplace Conversations
A fascinating read from Edmondson and Besieux, who discuss the role of conversations in driving change at work, and proposing a framework to distinguish between productive and unproductive forms of voice and silence. Note – I’ve skipped heaps, and especially their examples/scenarios, and also many of their suggestions on how to implement improvements. Check out… Continue reading Reflections: Voice and Silence in Workplace Conversations
Evidence of an Interaction Involving Complexity and Coupling as Predicted By Normal Accident Theory
This was cool – they evaluated the relationship between reportable quantity accidental HAZCHEM releases as a function of refinery interactive complexity and coupling, as per Perrow’s Normal Accident Theory (NAT). 94 US refineries were included. Background: · According to NAT, “technical system risk is determined by the interaction of two characteristics associated with the organization and… Continue reading Evidence of an Interaction Involving Complexity and Coupling as Predicted By Normal Accident Theory
Tracing New Safety Thinking Practices in Safety Investigation Reports
This 2019 paper from Nektarios Karanikas and colleague explored the adoption (or not) of New Safety Thinking Practices (NSTPs) in aviation investigation reports from five aviation authorities. Not a summary but you can read the whole report. Some extracts: · All elements of the studied NTSPs were visible across the sample, but to different extents · They… Continue reading Tracing New Safety Thinking Practices in Safety Investigation Reports
Design Rules Based on Analyses of Human Error
This older paper (1983) from Don Norman is pretty interesting – exploring design approaches to performance variability. There’s MUCH newer and comprehensive work on the topic (including his book and newer papers), but still a decent read. Caution is advised because of the paper’s age (particularly with the psychological elements; although, you may find the… Continue reading Design Rules Based on Analyses of Human Error
Hindsight Judgment of Driver Fault in Traffic Accident Analysis: Misusing the Science of Accident Reconstruction
This was cool – it explored the role of hindsight in shaping traffic accident judgements. It also constructed a hindsight / foresight diagram comparing what the ‘culpable’ driver knew prior to the accident compared to what was learnt after. It’s said: · “hindsight bias refers to the tendency for after accident observers to believe falsely that the… Continue reading Hindsight Judgment of Driver Fault in Traffic Accident Analysis: Misusing the Science of Accident Reconstruction
Psychosocial Safety Climate as an organisational level determinant of working time lost and expenditure following workplace injuries and illnesses
This new study may interest people – it explored whether working time loss and expenditure following compensable injury can be predicted by organisational characteristics, in this case via Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC). PSC refers to “a positive system level factor that reflects how the organisation values and prioritises the psychological health (humanity) of its employees.”… Continue reading Psychosocial Safety Climate as an organisational level determinant of working time lost and expenditure following workplace injuries and illnesses
Productive vs unproductive conversations – matrix from Amy Edmondson
This paper from Edmondson and Besieux discusses proposed a framework to distinguish between productive and unproductive forms of voice and silence. Summary next week. Frequently conversations at work at said to be “unsatisfying, unproductive, or both”, like meetings with little input. Speaking up isn’t always productive – like complaining endlessly or expecting someone else to… Continue reading Productive vs unproductive conversations – matrix from Amy Edmondson
Improving barrier effectiveness using human factors methods
An interesting 2018 paper from Dave Grattan, discussing the importance of human factors in barrier effectiveness. This paper covers A LOT – I’ll touch on a few points but suggest you check out the paper. Points: · Current approaches have emphasised “hardware reliability over human reliability”, which is “misleading because it blinds us to the reality… Continue reading Improving barrier effectiveness using human factors methods
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