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…...
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…...
Who is this guide for?Professional organizations that play an important leadership role in adopting workplace safety and health strategies. An effective method for improving workplace safety involves creating workplace safety and health recognition programs. This guide will help you build an impactful recognition program. Recognition and appreciation motivate organizations, teams, and individuals to achieve at…...
Which model do you prefer? The Classic Inverted PyramidThe conventional representation of the hierarchy of controls is an inverted pyramid structure conveying the prioritization of strategies. Current versions orient the pyramid differently, depending on the agency or application of the controls. The clearest conflict in visual representation between the inverted and typical pyramid is found…...
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…...
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…...
A review of BLS data shows there were 15,400 work-related hearing loss illness cases in 2022. Of those cases, approximately 68% occurred in the manufacturing industry. The incidence rate of hearing losses in wood product manufacturing was 23.1, compared to 1.3 for all Private Industries. The incidence rate for hearing losses in poultry processing was…...
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…...
Please keep in mind that I am speaking strictly in terms of “complying” with required baseline standards and codes. Is 10,000% compliance a pipe dream? Should it be an expectation of the business leaders? 10,000% means 100% compliance -100% of the time. Remember, these are baseline standards/codes that have been in place for 40-50+ years…...
For example, the popularity of flammable refrigerants. The risk is real! R-600a is an isobutane, a flammable substance like you might find in a cigarette lighter…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
A couple of KEY items, reading between the lines: https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/6/cuisine_solutions_investigation_update_-_final_to_publish1.pdf… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
A few years ago, I put forth the idea that workers pass through the 3 Cs in their decision-making process as they learn to take more and more risks. Those three (3) Cs were: That article stirred quite a bit of debate among the SAFTENG community and so I thought it was time to share…...
