Learning From Normal Safety Work

11 snips

Apr 24, 2023

In this episode, Brent Sutton, safety author, consultant and podcaster, shares insights on learning from normal safety work. He emphasizes the importance of variability and complexity in safety systems, highlighting weak and strong signals. Brent discusses the 4 Ds technique for meaningful conversations and the benefits of post-work reflection. He challenges traditional safety practices and encourages workers to lead safety initiatives with organizational support.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Learning from Normal Work

01:39 • 8min

The Reality of Normal Work

09:22 • 4min

Finding Weak Signals in Safety Work

13:23 • 19min

Enhancing Critical Thinking and Capacity

32:26 • 9min

The Power of Context in Learning

41:07 • 16min

Exploring Learning Teams and Resources

56:53 • 2min

In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Brent Sutton, safety author, consultant and podcaster. Well regarded as a safety coach, he takes organizations on a learning journey to understand how people are seen as the solution so everybody benefits without replacing your existing health and safety system.

Brent actively advocates for doing safety when both workers and the organisation learn and improve, and he begins by explaining why HSE professionals need to shift from learning through accidents to learning through normal work.

Listeners will learn the importance of variability, comlexity and coupling in in safety systems and the difference between weak and strong signals as Brent reveals how “death hides in normal work”.

He shares a simple technique - the 4 Ds - to help safety professionals instigate meaningful conversations with the frontline and explains how making space for post-work reflection can significantly improve workers curiosity, resilience and overall workplace safety.

Increased reflection is a key theme of this thought-provoking interview where Brent isn’t afraid to challenge existing safety practice. He questions the over-reliance on contextless data, observations without engagement and even suggests that workers should lead safety initiatives, with the organization supporting them.

Forget everything you’ve been taught about safety management and let Brent show you new ways to support the frontline and allow them to lead in understanding and managing the adaptability of the work they do every day.

Find out more about Brent’s work:

Home | Learning Teams (learningteamscommunity.com)

Download Brent’s ‘Learning From Everyday Work’ White Paper:

Everyday Learning | Learning Teams (learningteamscommunity.com)

Brent’s podcast:

The Practice of Learning Teams (bcast.fm)

Brent Sutton on LinkedIn:

Brent Sutton | LinkedIn

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