An interesting paper from Mark Cannon & Amy Edmondson about failing intelligently. Opening the paper they argue that while the idea of organisations learning from their failures is obvious – “yet organizations that systematically learn from failure are rare”. They’ve also found that few organisations effectively experiment to learn, which requires by necessity generating failures… Continue reading Failing to learn and learning to fail (intelligently): How great organizations put failure to work to innovate and improve
Tag: safety
“there is no such thing as a root cause [and therefore] there is technically no such thing as the beginning of a mishap” — Dekker
Extracts from Dekker’s work about the ontological and empirical shakiness of ‘root causes’. I’ve taken material from two versions of The Field Guide to Understanding Human Error (Investigations). In Dekker’s view: · “There is no ‘root’ cause” (or ‘root causes’) · Given the multiple angles and interactions in complex systems, you “can really construct “causes” from everywhere”… Continue reading “there is no such thing as a root cause [and therefore] there is technically no such thing as the beginning of a mishap” — Dekker
Workplace Psychosocial Factors and Their Association With Musculoskeletal Disorders
More data on the links between workplace psychosocial factors and injury – this time specifically on musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). 47 studies met inclusion. Findings: · The most common MSDs investigated were lower back pain, neck and shoulder pain, and upper extremity symptoms and disorders · Workplace psychosocial factors that were statistically significant were support, collaboration, job control,… Continue reading Workplace Psychosocial Factors and Their Association With Musculoskeletal Disorders
Work injuries and mental health challenges: A meta-analysis of the bidirectional relationship
This meta-analysis investigated the relationship between work injuries and mental health challenges. 139 studies included. Background: · Mental health challenge is defined as prolonged deviations from the state of an individual’s psychological well-being · “These deviations manifest as noticeable shifts in cognition, emotion, or behavior resulting in psychological distress” · “various studies have documented that work injuries are… Continue reading Work injuries and mental health challenges: A meta-analysis of the bidirectional relationship
Co-exposures to physical and psychosocial work factors increase the occurrence of workplace injuries among French care workers
Psychosocial and physical workplace exposures found to be co-related in workplace injury (WI), according to this study. It’s one of heaps of studies highlighting the interactions between psychosocial factors and physical and psychological injury. E.g. Physical exposures were on their own were not great predictors of self-declared injury, and it was the interactions that best… Continue reading Co-exposures to physical and psychosocial work factors increase the occurrence of workplace injuries among French care workers
Compendium: Sleep & Fatigue Risk Management
Here’s an assortment of papers on sleep and occupational fatigue. Focus is on articles I’ve summarised or full-text I could locate. A few themes are covered: Sleep & Fatigue Fatigue impairment vs BAC / accidents / error Shiftwork design & research / Fatigue Risk Management Systems Fatigue codes and guidelines Fatigue as a performance shaping… Continue reading Compendium: Sleep & Fatigue Risk Management
Mini-Compendium: Psychological Safety
Given the prominence of Psychological Safety (PS), it’s worth sharing some research. It’s likely among the most studied modern concepts in organisational theory – so I can barely scratch the surface. Focus first is articles I’ve summarised, and then on any other full-text items I can find. In my haste, I’ve probably included some psychological… Continue reading Mini-Compendium: Psychological Safety
The systems approach to medicine: controversy and misconceptions — Dekker & Leveson
This was a really brief discussion paper from Dekker and Leveson, covering systems thinking in medicine. Three parts – see comments. Nothing new for most, but they cover: · “The ‘systems approach’ to patient safety has recently led to questions about its ethics and practical utility” · E.g. A recent paper from a retired neurosurgeon questioned systems… Continue reading The systems approach to medicine: controversy and misconceptions — Dekker & Leveson
1910 Pittsburgh Survey challenging worker ‘carelessness’ as main ’cause’ of accidents
Really interesting findings from 1910 challenging the concept of carelessness and workers as the main ‘cause’ of traumatic accidents. From Eastman’s book 2 of the Pittsburgh’s Survey. Was meant to be a mini-post. But, too many interesting statements. Extracts: · Eastman starts with “So you’ve come to Pittsburgh to study accidents, have you?” says the… Continue reading 1910 Pittsburgh Survey challenging worker ‘carelessness’ as main ’cause’ of accidents
Human Error: Trick or Treat?
This 2007 chapter from Hollnagel unpacked whether we really need the concept of “human error” (HE). It’s a whole chapter, so I’ve skipped HEAPS. Tl;dr according to Hollnagel: · “there is no need of a theory of “human error” because the observed discrepancies in performance should be explained by a theory of normal performance rather… Continue reading Human Error: Trick or Treat?
