MORT was first developed in the USA to analyze the root causes and causal factors for incidents in the nuclear power and aviation industries, but it has now been applied in many industries. However, it seems to be a “lost art” these days! MORT is a pre-populated tree based on a model of an organization’s…...
Management Oversight and Risk Tree (MORT) Read More »
Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 225 requires railroad carriers to report all employee injuries that fall under the regulations to ensure FRA is provided with accurate information concerning the hazards and risks that exist on the Nation’s railroads. Part 225 also requires all railroads to abide by their Internal Control Plans, including…...
FRA’s position on injury incentive programs mirrors OSHA’s Read More »
Since we are in a snow apocalypse here in the Midwest, I thought I would lose my mind hearing all the “weather professionals” declaring that with wind chills below zero, the roads will freeze as the salt won’t work below 15F. And I thought these were “science-based” professionals. TIP: Wind chill is how the temperature…...
Safety Thought of the Week… Wind Chill Read More »
The risk assessment process must identify what could cause harm in the workplace, who and how it could harm, and consider what control measures are required to reduce the risk to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP)and tolerable. Control measures that have been identified must be implemented, clearly communicated to personnel, maintained, and used properly…....
Risk Assessment Fundamentals (UK’s HSE) Read More »
The environment, organization, economics, capabilities, technology, and regulatory context all change over time. This backdrop of continuous systemic change ensures that hazards and how they are managed are constantly changing. Progress on safety concerns anticipating how these kinds of changes will create new vulnerabilities and paths to failure even as they provide benefits on other…...
Safety Thought of the Week – Systems exist in a changing world Read More »
Now, I’m 100% certain that Mr. Gogh did not have the safety profession in mind when he said the following, but it could not be more true in the context of our profession. Few professions need passion like that of the safety profession. Find me a world-class safety pro, and we will have one who…...
Safety Thought of the Week… from Vincent van Gogh Read More »
Please remember, these principles were proposed over 100 years ago! Mr. Heinrich may not have been 100% correct in all his beliefs, but I would go as far as to say that if a business today were to embrace his principles from the 1920s, it would see significant improvements in both culture and performance. Industrial…...
Safety Thought of the Week…Defending Heinrich again Read More »
When it comes to safety and health, internal consequences to support the right behavior are terribly important. Remember, external and intrinsic (natural) consequences for safe behaviors are not readily available, and we cannot expect to receive sufficient support (extra consequences) from others to sustain our proactive, safe, and healthy choices. So, we need to talk…...
Safety Thought of the Week… Internal Consequences Read More »
Post-accident remedies for “human error” are usually predicated on obstructing activities that can “cause” accidents. These end-of-the-chain measures do little to reduce the likelihood of further accidents. In fact, the likelihood of an identical accident is already extraordinarily low because the pattern of latent failures changes constantly. Instead of increasing safety, post-accident remedies usually increase…...
Growing up in the Process Safety world with OHSA’s PSM and EPA’s RMP standards, I thought everyone had a “Safety Management System.” In school, we learned about OSH Management Systems and all they could do for a business. However, when I started consulting in 2005, I realized that SMSs were elusive in industrial facilities. Even…...
Safety Thought of the Week… BENEFITS of a formal SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Read More »
A few weeks ago, I was asked to spend a morning with an executive team discussing “safety metrics.” In this discussion, I realized this team was somewhat confused with all the “lingo” thrown at them by many consultants over the past 10-12 years. They were lost in what mattered and had tried a rash of…...
Leading Indicators can be EASY, but they are a shift in how Safety is managed! Read More »
As an accident investigator this has to be one of my favorite books. Of course, I am a massive fan of Dekker’s books and videos. He has a newer book on this topic that is also a MUST-READ for safety professionals and accident investigators. After nearly 16 years as a safety professional in the chemical…...
Safety Thought of the Week – Reacting To Failure (Sidney Dekker) Read More »
