REALLY interesting findings from Associate Professor Masahiro Yoshida. It suggests that automation over a historical context didn’t really drive down workplace injuries since it tended to be employed in already mature industries. And, ready access to cheap migrant workforces may hinder broader industrial risk reduction due to a negative correlation with automation investment. And the… Continue reading Automation’s lacklustre effects on fatal accidents & cheap migrant labour hampering adoption of engineering controls
Tag: ai
Does counting change what counts? Quantification fixation biases decision-making
Saw this posted on LinkedIn (forget who shared it) and found it really interesting. This study, across 21 experiments and 23k participants in managerial, policy and consumer contexts, studied how numbers and quantification distorts decision-making Context: · Quantification is spreading and has reached into almost every personal and professional area · New-borns are given Apgar… Continue reading Does counting change what counts? Quantification fixation biases decision-making
Constructions of “Human Error” (Mini-Compendium)
Here’s a bunch of linked articles (and a video) unpacking the constructs, or uses, of “human error”. (‘Keep calm’ header image source is my own, from a presentation) Welcome any additions. Shout me a coffee Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2021/08/05/searching-for-the-origins-of-the-myth-80-human-error-impact-on-maritime-safety/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2025/01/31/hollnagel-on-human-error-error-as-cause-process-or-outcome/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/09/05/the-emperors-new-clothes-or-whatever-happened-to-human-error/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/07/24/human-error-and-violation-of-rules-in-industrial-safety-a-systematic-literature-review/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/07/01/design-rules-based-on-analyses-of-human-error/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/06/21/understanding-human-error-in-naval-aviation-mishaps/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/05/24/state-of-science-evolving-perspectives-on-human-error/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/05/14/six-stages-to-the-new-view-of-human-error/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/04/16/human-performance-in-barrier-thinking-problems-with-human-error-post-1/ Link: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com/2024/01/18/perspectives-on-human-error-hindsight-biases-and-local-rationality/… Continue reading Constructions of “Human Error” (Mini-Compendium)
Hollnagel on “Human error”: error as cause, process or outcome
Not much to say – some extracts from a 2007 chapter from Erik Hollnagel, unpacking whether we really need “human error”? I knocked the summary up last night and will probably post in the next couple of weeks. Oh man, I need to give up on chapters…what a slog. He argues: · Human error “is not… Continue reading Hollnagel on “Human error”: error as cause, process or outcome
Contextualising new safety paradigms: A study in a large Australian construction company
This study explored the presence, implementation, appetite and feasibility of 12 principles representing “new safety paradigms”. It involved focus groups with 53 participants and a cross-sectional survey of 514 employees. I’ve skipped HEAPS (actually, the entire results section – so check out the full paper). Background: · “The review by Karanikas et al. (2022) revealed… Continue reading Contextualising new safety paradigms: A study in a large Australian construction company
How People Understand Risk Matrices, and How Matrix Design Can Improve their Use: Findings from Randomized Controlled Studies
This study explored different risk matrix designs on user comprehension and use of matrices. I’ve posted a lot of research dunking on risk matrices (RMs), so here’s another olive leaf focusing on designing something potentially more useful. [** I still stand by the critical orientation, since we have little good evidence that RMs improve risk… Continue reading How People Understand Risk Matrices, and How Matrix Design Can Improve their Use: Findings from Randomized Controlled Studies
Wrong, Strong, and Silent: What happens when automated systems with high autonomy and high authority misbehave?
This article from Dekker and Woods discusses the ‘risks of literal-minded automation’, being a “system that can’t tell if its model of the world is the world it is actually in”. This issue manifests in automated systems being wrong, strong and silent—and while the issue has existed for at least 70 years, the risk “looms… Continue reading Wrong, Strong, and Silent: What happens when automated systems with high autonomy and high authority misbehave?
Harnessing the power of ChatGPT to promote Construction Hazard Prevention through Design (CHPtD)
This study compared whether ChatGPT can assist in hazard recognition during Construction Hazard Prevention Through Design (CHPtD) sessions (e.g. safety in design). Via randomised controlled experimental design, 162 civil and construction engineering students were tasked with hazard recognition activities with or without ChatGPT assistance. Providing background: Results: Ref: Uddin, S. J., Albert, A., & Tamanna,… Continue reading Harnessing the power of ChatGPT to promote Construction Hazard Prevention through Design (CHPtD)
Normal accident theory and learning from major accidents at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
This paper discussed four major NASA accidents in the context of Normal Accident Theory (NAT), high reliability and some other aspects of organisational theory. Then they discuss some ‘remedies’ to counter some of the organisational risk factors. I’ve skipped large amounts of this paper, so much that maybe even parts of this summary won’t make… Continue reading Normal accident theory and learning from major accidents at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Quantitative Risk Assessments as Enabling Devices in Cybersecurity
Oof, a real banger Master’s from Colette Alexander, exploring the role of Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRA) as fantasy documents and enabling devices in cybersecurity. Can’t do this justice, so just a few extracts: Study link: http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9148570/file/9148571.pdf My site with more reviews: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/benhutchinson2_oof-a-real-banger-masters-from-colette-activity-7259318324717592576-y2Qs?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
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