The diving industry faces challenges in maintaining high safety standards due to a lack of effective feedback mechanisms and a fear of reprisal for reporting substandard practices. Feedback is essential for improving performance and preventing dangerous "normalization of deviance," but it’s often viewed as blame rather than an opportunity for learning. Without proper acknowledgment or action from agencies, divers and instructors lose trust in the system, leading to fewer reports and greater risks. To protect the self-regulating nature of the industry, the community must embrace constructive feedback, report unsafe practices, and demand accountability from agencies to ensure safety and uphold standards.

Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/standard-you-accept

Links: Blog about normalisation of deviance: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/being-a-deviant-is-normal

Willful blindness: https://www.ted.com/talks/margaret_heffernan_the_dangers_of_willful_blindness

Case study from healthcare in the US: https://news.aamc.org/patient-care/article/best-response-medical-errors-transparency/

Tags: English, Gareth Lock, Just Culture, Reporting

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