Together, Jop and I discuss a topic on which Drew and I previously touched: We revisit how stop-work decisions are made and why this is such an interesting topic of research. Topics:Jop’s research methods.How to interpret and explain procedures.Why rules don’t always lead to a work stoppage.Why stop-work happens.The perception vs. reality of stop-work.Myths and expectations of safety culture.The main takeaway. Quotes:“I think I’ve probably been guilty myself of not fully defining what I’m talking about.”“Only one case I found where a rule actually led to stopping work.”“First of all, compared to current interventions we see around stop-work...they all paint this picture of real significant decisions...and well, I found that plenty of stop-work decisions are basically considered insignificant.” Resources:Deciding to Stop Work or Deciding How Work is Done?Feedback@safetyofwork.com

This topic interested us mainly because of a paper we encountered. It’s a very new peer-reviewed study that has only just been published online. We will use that paper as the framing device for our conversation.Join us for this interesting and exciting conversation about the capacity index. Topics:The belief in required metrics.Low injury rates and what they actually mean.The regulator paradox.The six capacities.Due diligence.The problem with the study’s names for metrics.Measuring activities.Practical takeaways. Quotes:“Injury rates aren’t predictive of the future, so using them to manage safety, using them as your guide, doesn’t work.”“And while I think you could always argue that there are different capacities that you could measure, as well, I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with the capacities that they have suggested.”“Basically, what we’re doing is we’re measuring activities and all of those things are about measuring activities. Now, unless you already know for sure that those activities provide the capacity that you’re looking for, then measuring the activity doesn’t tell you anything about capacity.” Resources:A Capacity Index to Replace Flawed Incident-Based Metrics for Worker SafetyFeedback@safetyofwork.com

As our workplaces become more automated, it becomes the task of human workers to monitor the automated actions. At times, this may require a physical response or action on behalf of the human worker. So, while the physical load of workers has been lessened, their mental and emotional load has increased.Tune in to hear us define pointing and calling and the ensuing discussion about its efficacy within the workplace. Topics:What is pointing and calling?The lack of research on pointing and calling.How pointing and calling potentially slows down work.Measuring mental and physical demands.Practical takeaways. Quotes:“You point your index finger directly at that thing and you say aloud what that thing is currently showing”“But this pointing gesture also acts as a cue to trigger this attentional shift towards the information.”“The researchers did not state clearly what their hypotheses were. For those of you out there who are doing research, this is a big no-no when you’re doing an experiment…” Resources:The Effects of “Finger Pointing and Calling” on Cognitive Control Processes in the Task-Switching Paradigm

We came across this topic, because of a conversation happening on LinkedIn. Thus, we thought it would be a good idea to dig into this subject and discuss it further.Listen in as we discuss what actually makes humans most visible in unsafe situations and what some studies have concluded. Topics:Why the results between lab and natural environments vary.How studies determine visibility.Which colors are best for high visibility.What makes humans most visible.Using high-vis colors to identify objects and humans.Practical takeaways. Quotes:“The general goal of this, is they just want to compare a whole heap of different factors.”“The ability to just spot high-vis and the ability to spot a human wearing high-vis, seem to be actually two different mental tasks.”“There’s been some suggestion in the research that we should actually standardize a human high-vis color.” Resources:The Roles of Garment Design and Scene Complexity in the Daytime Conspicuity of High-Visibility Safety ApparelFeedback@safetyofwork.com

This topic came directly from our Safety of Work portal, which you can locate on our LinkedIn page. Rhys Thomas was good enough to submit this topic and also provided us with some great resources.Join us as we dive into this topic and decide whether double-check policies help improve safety. Topics:What double-checking is.The difference between a practice and mandatory policy.Armitage and his history of papers regarding the medical field.Deference to authority.Formal risk assessment and internal risk assessment.Independent checking.What the evidence shows.Practical takeaways. Quotes:“How do you know whether an error has happened, if no one notices it?”“I think you’re doing a good job of qualitative research, if readers want to then go and actually read the raw data.”“And I am completely unwilling to say, ‘This is a bad practice, we should get rid of it’ until we’ve got the evidence.” Resources:Double Checking Medicines: Defence Against Error or Contributory Factor?Feedback@safetyofwork.comSafety of Work on LinkedIn

So, on today’s episode, we discuss Occupational Health and Safety management and if it can be considered a profession. We’d love to hear from our international listeners if our findings match their experiences. Topics:Making generalizations about work across Australia.Collecting and defining OHS knowledge.Three broad criteria for defining a profession.Defining a role and career path.The OHS body of knowledge.Claim over decisions.Technical problems and social problems.How to define a professional organization and determine which is the premiere org for your profession.Do you need to be part of a professional organization?Why there need to be professional education programs.Practical takeaways. Quotes: “A profession should have an established hierarchy, it should have some consistency in role titles, and it should have a career path.”“We’ve got this wonderful project called the body of knowledge, but in the professional sense, we don’t have a stable body of knowledge; we have a really contested body of knowledge…”“Either you put up barriers to entry and say ‘safety work should only be done by recognized professionals’. Or you say ‘we want to grow as an organization and anyone can be a recognized professional, just send us the cash’. And either way, you end up diluting what it means to be recognized as a safety professional.” Resources:The Emergence of the Occupational Health and Safety Profession in AustraliaFeedback@safetyofwork.com

Russell is a safety practitioner based in New Zealand. He joins us to tell us about his work and together we wonder if safety and design processes change the design itself. Topics:Is safety and design effective?Risk shuffling.Russell’s key findings.The hierarchy of controls.The proper use of safety and design.Evaluating design to minimize risk.Practical advice from Russell. Quotes:“We don’t always have opportunities in safety science to get some objective artifacts…”“I’ve never heard of a designer saying they’ve got plenty of time and a ton of budget, so let’s, you know, get down and optimize for safety.”“And if we start by listing the operations before we list the hazards or risks, then we’re going to be in a much better place.” Resources:Russell McMullan on LinkedInFeedback@safetyofwork.com

The discussion dives into the looming crisis surrounding safety cases and their effectiveness. Topics include the burden of proof shifting and the paradox of identifying hazards. The podcast explores data-sharing challenges and the significance of turning motivations into testable theories. Collaboration is highlighted as essential for improving safety processes, while the need for rigorous research methods is emphasized. Ultimately, it questions if safety cases enhance safety or lead to overconfidence in hazardous industries.

The podcast explores the importance of constructive dialogue in safety theory debates. It discusses finding original sources, understanding context, and the balance between old and new safety ideas. Emphasizes the need to move debates forward with knowledge and evidence, avoiding dismissing entire fields or theories.

The final chapters cover such issues as creating functional reporting systems and the pitfalls in creating such systems. Topics:Creating a solid reporting system.At what point does something become an incident?Voluntary vs. mandatory reporting.When your organization is facing prosecution.How reporting gets stifled.The problem with penalties.Looking after all parties involved in incidents.The outcomes safety professionals want.Practical takeaways. Quotes:“I think this is the struggle with those sort of systems, is that if they are used frequently, then it becomes a very normal thing...but that means that people are using that channel instead of using the line management as their channel…”“I think unless we work for a regulator, we need to remind ourselves that it’s not actually our job, either, to run the prosecution or even to help the prosecution.”“If you think your system is fair, then you should be proud of explaining to people exactly how it works.” Resources:Just CultureFeedback@safetyofwork.com