Safety Info Posts

What is the difference between “root cause” and “direct cause”? (Please note that I am only using the single tense of these terms in the question; I am not implying these causes can only be singular.) But I tend to see a lot of “direct causes” being tagged as “root causes,” and in my eye,…...

“A major flaw in our system of government, and even in industry, is the latitude allowed to do less than is necessary. Too often, officials are willing to accept and adapt to situations they know to be wrong. The tendency is to down-play problems instead of actively trying to correct them. Recognizing this, many subordinates…...

Most of us who were adults in the 2000s can recall some silly claims made by “Infomercials.”  You know… “The Juicer,” the “no-stick pan,” the “Snuggie,” the knives that slice a beer can and tomatoes, the “Shamwow” towel, and the list go on and on.  Oh man, could they make the product seem as if…...

Disclaimer:  I am not a psychologist but have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express once or twice!  This is my take on why “safety affirmations” like “Safety is #1“, “Safety is our top priority,” etc. fail time and again.   Most everyone has heard of “affirmations.”  These are the daily and deliberate things one says…...

Ten (10) core principles shape a “culture of safety.”  Each may need a specific plan to develop, improve, or maintain while the others develop.  Safety Culture – The shared values, actions, and behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to safety over competing goals and demands…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View...

This 5-minute video from our friends “way down under” in New Zealand (NZ) is just three safety pros explaining their roles in implementing and managing risks using the NZ Aviation Safety Management System (SMS).  These are three pros talking like real safety pros from the trenches, and they nailed it.  Many organizations struggle with the…...

In essence, Quality Assurance is about determining gaps in the SMS elements based on non-compliance with regulatory or organizational requirements. It is looking at weaknesses in the safety management system, which increases risk.  Like the quality assurance process, the safety assurance process includes requirements for analysis, documentation, auditing, and management review to meet performance criteria…....

What do I mean when I say, “we want our SMS to be more like a diesel engine than a bottle rocket“?  It is a simple analogy that almost anyone can relate to. A bottle rocket may be easy to launch, but it is FAST, UNCONTROLLABLE,  and in the end, it COMES APART soon after…...

One missed opportunity for many businesses is an SMS Training Orientation for the new Safety Pros and Management Team members. The safety pro usually does not even sit through the “new employee safety orientation” when they arrive at the facility. But even rarer is an orientation for the safety and management team members on the…...

It is so sad when I hear a management team talk about how their employees are the problems with safety like they are some beasts that can’t be controlled.  And the look on their faces is priceless when a “consultant” tells them they should be proud of the “beast they have created.” A review and…...