Ep 116. Do audits improve the safety of work?

Ben's expertise guides us through an analysis of audit reports and accident investigations, laying bare the counterfactual reasoning that often skews post-incident narratives. It's an eye-opening examination that calls for a reimagined approach to audits, one that aligns with the genuine complexities of organizational culture and safety. Together, we confront the silent failure of safety audits and management systems, debating the need for a fundamental shift in how these are designed and conducted to truly protect workers. Join us for this critical dialogue that challenges preconceptions and seeks to reforge the link between safety audits and the real work of keeping people safe.

Discussion Points:

• Ben’s background and papers authored
• The reality of safety audits
• Safety plans - often perceived as comfort, not change
• Documentation versus actual safety
• "Audit masquerade" reveals gaps between theory and practice
• Examination of 327 audit corrective actions and their efficacy
• Administrative intentions vs. practical safety
• The weak connection between audits and physical safety improvements 
• Concerns about evaluating work practices 
• Audits can ‘fail silently’, giving false security assurance
• Practical steps for ensuring audit effectiveness
• A critical examination of safety management systems
• Key takeaways
• Ben’s answer to our episode’s question is, “Possibly, but it depends.”

Quotes:

"Some audits were very poorly calibrated to actually exploring and eliciting work - day-to-day work and operational risk.." - Ben

“you've got to pick and choose what to pay attention to. So unless something is really standing out as needing attention, then it can be hard to be curious and to notice these weak signals.” - David

“I'm proud to work in safety. I'm proud to call myself a sector professional. What really drove me to understand these systems was my love for safety, and I had just become so disillusioned with the amount of safety work I had to do. It wasn't helping.” - Ben

“Audits, like most activities, are very socio-political. There's a lot of vested power and conflicting interests.” - Ben

Resources:

Paper: Audit masquerade: How audits provide comfort rather than treatment for serious safety problems

Paper: How audits fail according to accident investigations: A counterfactual logic analysis
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