This PhD thesis from Stephen Young was interesting. They studied evidence supporting the hierarchy of control (HOC), constraints on its efficacy, and more. Way too much to cover. Some extracts: · There isn’t a lot of evidence supporting the efficacy of the HOC · One reason is: “An unequivocal demonstration of efficacy [of the HOC] is problematic,… Continue reading Efficacy and Understanding of the Safety Hierarchy of Controls
Tag: zero-harm
The Illusive Pipedream of Zero Harm: A South African Mining Industry Perspective
Not much to say here – nor anything particularly new to practitioners – just thought this was an interesting extract from a study that unpacked South African mining company OHS annual reports. They highlight: · “where the injury rates and OD rates show a decreasing trend over time, this should not be construed to mean that health… Continue reading The Illusive Pipedream of Zero Harm: A South African Mining Industry Perspective
The harms of promoting ‘Zero Harm’
This brief editorial discussed some challenges to zero harm approaches (‘absolute safety’) in healthcare. I particularly liked how the author argued that not only is zero harm not attainable, in an absolute sense, but “is unknowable”. Some points: · The authors encourage shifting away from ‘absolute safety’ “towards doing a better job of actively managing risk,… Continue reading The harms of promoting ‘Zero Harm’
Making zero work for construction safety in a post-zero world
This study critically discussed theoretical and empirical arguments on the use of zero thinking in construction. They also evaluated performance differences between a sample of zero adopters vs non-adopters in the US. I’ve skipped a lot – so check out the free paper. First, they state that “Zero remains the biggest number in occupational safety”… Continue reading Making zero work for construction safety in a post-zero world
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