Earlier this month, I wrote Cuts so deep that workers can’t participate in their safety process concerning how reorganizational changes can lead to a lean workforce that the workers who need to participate in their safety process do not have the time to. Now, let’s take a look at what happens when the layer of…...
Cuts so deep that supervisors can’t supervise (Part II) Read More »
Professor James Reason had a similar image to today’s “Work as imagined vs. Work as done” model. This image is from his 1997 book titled “Managing the Risks of Organizational Accidents“ It shows the “ideal” layers of protection model (i.e., the pieces of cheese with no holes) vs. the “reality” (i.e., the pieces of cheese…...
The 100-Hour Rule is the theory that to master a topic and get the benefits of greatness doesn’t need to take 10,000 hours. Rather, it can often take approximately 100 hours if you break down skills into rare and valuable micro-skills. It is an exciting study that seems to have some validity to it. Basically,…...
Safety and the 100-hour rule theory Read More »
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,…...
Let’s talk Direct Cause vs Root Cause Read More »
“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…...
Safety Thought of the Week… The downward spiral of mediocracy in safety Read More »
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…...
Has industrial safety become an “infomercial”? Read More »
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…...
Do affirmations work in changing safety mindsets within organizations? Read More »
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...
Ten (10) core principles shape a “culture of safety” Read More »
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…...
Safety Pros explaining their role in implementing and managing risks via a SMS (Video) Read More »
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 is Quality Assurance/Safety Assurance in a Safety Management System (SMS)? Read More »
There is a push by the transportation businesses to allow for single-crew cockpits in planes and trains, like what is allowed in commercial trucking. But is the risk the same across all three modes of transportation? Take the worst-case scenario you can reasonably identify in all three (3) modes and ask… what layers of protection…...
Single staffed cockpits (Commercial Planes, Trains, and Trucks) Read More »
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…...
We want a diesel engine, not a bottle rocket Read More »
