PreAccident Investigation Podcast PAPod 535 - Reimagining Safety: Lessons from the Resilience Master
13 snips
Mar 1, 2025 
David Woods, a professor and pioneer in resilience engineering at The Ohio State University, discusses the nuances of safety and adaptability in complex systems. He highlights the importance of balancing comfort with safety in engineering decisions, using personal anecdotes from a nuclear control room. Woods also warns against the dangers of compromising on safety, referencing the Boeing 737 MAX incidents. The conversation emphasizes building resilient systems, understanding interdependencies, and fostering innovation to tackle today's challenges.
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Balancing Compromise
- Never compromise your job, but also, never not compromise your job.
- Navigating compromise is crucial for pushing people beyond their comfort zones regarding safety.
Early Career Compromise
- At 27, David Woods faced pressure to compromise while studying post-Three Mile Island control room upgrades.
- He had to "compromise and not compromise" to conduct a meaningful study.
Foot in the Door Fallacy
- The "foot in the door" approach to safety is often ineffective, leading to superficial changes.
- Organizations may claim to have human factors considerations but haven't implemented them meaningfully.