Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving

In this podcast episode, we explore the concept of "common sense" and how it relates to decision-making, especially in uncertain situations like diving. Often, the hindsight bias leads us to believe that situations should have been obvious, but in reality, decision-making is influenced by various factors, including previous experiences and social interactions. We delve into the mechanisms behind decision-making, highlighting the importance of shared narratives and tribal learning in developing practical wisdom rather than relying on a vague notion of common sense. The episode emphasizes the role of debriefing and reflection in improving decision-making and fostering a psychologically safe environment for learning. So, next time someone mentions "common sense," consider the complexity of human decision-making and the context in which choices are made.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/common-sense   Links: Article about naturalistic decision making: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/seeing-what-others-dont/201602/the-naturalistic-decision-making-approach AquaCORPS magazine: https://aquacorps.online/ Blog about hindsight bias: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/joining-dots-is-easy-if-you-know-the-outcome TED talk from Barry Schwartz about Practical Wisdom: https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_using_our_practical_wisdom?language=en Blog about debriefing: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/debriefing Jenny and Mike’s DEBrIEF webinar: https://youtu.be/xzOdjNC5szU DEBrIEF guide: https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief   Tags:  - English Decision-Making Gareth Lock Leadership Situation Awareness Teamwork

In this podcast episode, we delve into the crucial concepts of psychological safety and a Just Culture in the context of diving, teams, and organizations. These two terms, while closely related, have distinct roles in fostering learning, improvement, and safety. The episode begins with a scenario illustrating the interplay of these concepts in a diver's training journey, highlighting the impact of trust, vulnerability, and communication. Psychological safety, as defined by Professor Amy Edmondson, is explored in four stages: Inclusion Safety, Learner Safety, Contributor Safety, and Challenger Safety, each contributing to a learning-focused environment. A Just Culture, aimed at organizational improvement, is introduced as a way to analyze adverse events without resorting to blame. The episode provides insights into the proactive nature of psychological safety and the retrospective approach of a Just Culture in promoting safety and learning in diving and other domains. It emphasizes the need for open communication, understanding human error, and exploring conditions that influence behavior to enhance safety and performance.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/speaking-up-to-prevent-an-adverse-event-looking-back-to-learn   Links: Blog about near misses: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/were-you-lucky-or-were-you-good-2 European aviation regulations: https://www.caa.co.uk/media/sf3eiszu/fwm20160629_06_just-culture.pdf Blog about hindsight bias: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/joining-dots-is-easy-if-you-know-the-outcome Psychological safety toolkits by Tom Geraghty https://psychsafety.co.uk/tool-kit/ Video about Psychological safety and Just Culture: https://vimeo.com/410128892   Tags:  - English Gareth Lock Just Culture Psychological Safety

In this episode, we explore the journey of Nic Emery, a graduate of the Human Factors in Diving course, as she shares her experiences in cultivating psychological safety within her dive center, The Fifth Point. Nic emphasizes that this endeavor is a continuous process, requiring self-reflection, time, and commitment. She narrates how her team began quietly building a culture of psychological safety since 2021, influenced by the principles of Human Factors in Diving. Nic highlights the importance of open communication, vulnerability, and feedback in fostering psychological safety, both within her team and among divers. She shares a pivotal moment when they decided not to dive due to challenging conditions and how it led to a realization about the authority gradient and the need for psychological safety among customers. Nic's story showcases the gradual integration of these concepts into their dive center's culture and the steps they are taking to make it a part of their customer experience. The episode provides insights into creating an environment where individuals feel empowered to speak up and contribute to safety.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/what-are-we-pretending-not-to-know   Links: The Fifth Point diving: https://fifthpointdiving.com/ https://thehonestdiver.com/ Nic’s blog about why dive pro’s should talk about bad dives https://fifthpointdiving.com/the-dive-pro-hub/why-dive-pros-should-talk-about-bad-dives/ Display design https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1a84tbFQcJe4RTbzxb20MWUMwJLX45gLZ?usp=sharing More blogs about psychological safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog?tag=psychological+safety Building a team series https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4   Tags:  -English Leadership Nic Emery Psychological Safety Teamwork

In this podcast episode, we delve into the realm of Human Factors in diving, breaking down its fundamental concept of designing systems that facilitate correct actions and deter mistakes. Human Factors in diving encompasses various aspects, including improving teaching techniques, minimizing errors in equipment use, and promoting a culture of inquiry and learning within the diving community. We explore its history in aviation and nuclear power industries, highlighting the shift from blaming individuals to understanding system limitations and human performance. The episode introduces the SHELL framework, emphasizing the interdependence of hardware, environment, software, and people in complex systems. It discusses four perspectives of Human Factors: the psychology of humans, human characteristics, factors affecting humans, and socio-technical system interaction. Additionally, we examine survey results that reveal diver perceptions of Human Factors. The episode clears misconceptions, emphasizing that Human Factors is not common sense, politeness, or just the cause of accidents. It explores the role of checklists and the challenges of implementing Human Factors in diving. Ultimately, it underscores the importance of understanding the specifics of Human Factors for effective teaching and safety improvements in diving, and the need for training agencies to integrate Human Factors into their programs for the betterment of diver safety.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/human-factors-in-diving-what-it-is-what-it-isn-t-why-you-need-to-know   Links: Insight into the background of Human Factors: https://youtu.be/iHaQjoxQlLs?si=K0CGhCzvu8pwf6wr The ‘SHELL’ framework used by the aviation community: https://skybrary.aero/articles/icao-shell-model The first of Steven Shorrock’s blogs about what Human Factors is: https://humanisticsystems.com/2017/08/11/four-kinds-of-human-factors-1-the-human-factor/ Gareth’s presentation at Rebreather Forum 4.0 https://gue.tv/programs/rebreather-forum-4?cid=3312565&permalink=5-gareth-lock-human-factors-in-diving Another series of blogs from Steven Shorrock: https://humanisticsystems.com/2019/07/10/what-human-factors-isnt-1-common-sense/ How to build a checklist (part 1 and 2) https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-building-an-effective-checklist https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-improve-diving-checklist-design-and-use The training courses that The Human Diver run: https://www.thehumandiver.com/training GUE tv- Human Factors for beginners: https://gue.tv/programs/human-factors-basics-for-divers Resources from RF 4.0https://bit.ly/rf4-resources   Tags:  - English Gareth Lock Human Factors

In this podcast episode, we explore the concept of Situation Awareness (SA) in diving. We learn what SA is, why it's crucial for safe diving, and how to recognize when it's compromised. The episode introduces a model by Mica Endsley that breaks SA into three layers: perception, comprehension, and projection. It then discusses why SA matters, emphasizing its significance in avoiding accidents and mishaps. The episode also provides valuable tips on how to improve your SA, such as conducting briefings, gaining experience in diverse conditions, practicing technical skills, and engaging in debriefings for shared learning. Developing habits and routines to maintain SA during dives is highlighted as a key takeaway for enhancing safety and decision-making underwater.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-improve-SA   Links: You can’t pay MORE attention blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/cant_pay_MORE_attention   Tags:  - English Brief Debrief Decision-Making Mike Mason Situation Awareness

In this podcast episode, we delve into the concept of "Normalization of Deviance" in the context of diving. While it may seem like rule-breaking, it's actually about the social acceptance of deviating from established standards and practices. The episode explores how this phenomenon occurs in diving, where 'safety' is a social construct based on the absence of adverse events rather than legal rules. It delves into examples of drift at various levels, from industry-wide issues to individual behaviors like reducing gas minimums or exceeding depth limits. To address this, the episode emphasizes the need for performance-based standards, psychological safety, leadership development, and a Just Culture to prevent and correct the normalization of deviance.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/normalisation-of-deviance-not-about-rule-breaking   Links: Blog about rule breaking and rule following https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/they-broke-the-rules Cognitive biases and heuristics https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/i-am-biased-you-are-biased-we-are-all-biased Drift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jud_9k6fTHw Minimums become targets https://humanisticsystems.com/2019/10/24/shorrocks-law-of-limits/ UK HSE CCR report 2011 https://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr871.htm Psychological safety blogs https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog?tag=psychological+safety Challenger safety blog https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/challenger-safety-control Tags:  - English Decision-Making Gareth Lock Normalisation of Deviance Risk Risk Management

In the final installment of the series on building psychological safety in instructional and ‘fun diving’ environments, this podcast episode explores "challenger safety." It underscores the importance of creating an environment where team members feel comfortable questioning or challenging unsafe practices, including instructors. This safety aspect encourages open dissent aimed at constructive improvement and urges leaders to welcome disruptive ideas and bad news with a positive response. It also advocates for diverse teams to foster divergent thinking and emphasizes the need for leaders to revisit and explain past decisions, avoiding groupthink and encouraging critical thinking. The episode concludes by highlighting the role of leaders and instructors in setting the cultural tone and ensuring a safe environment where team members can end a dive when necessary.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4   Links: “If Only” documentary https://www.thehumandiver.com/ifonly Why is it so hard to create a team quickly in diving, especially in classes? Part One: Inclusion Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 Part Two: Learner Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 Part Three: Contributor Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 Tags:  - English Communications Gareth Lock Leadership Teamwork

You might think that students have little to contribute when they are part of a team. However, if you think back to the inclusion safety and the need for a shared purpose of mutual learning, your students can help you improve as an individual and as a team. Look for opportunities whereby they contribute. In the context of fun diving, by allowing team members to contribute, then you can increase the chance of having more fun and using the cognitive diversity in your team to solve problems you face, this includes in an incident or adverse event. Don’t dismiss others, they might have an answer you haven’t thought about. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3   Links: Why is it so hard to create a team quickly in diving, especially in classes?: Part One: Inclusion Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 Part Two: Learner Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 Part Four: Challenger Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4   Tags:  - English Gareth Lock Leadership Psychological Safety Teamwork

Building on the foundation of inclusion safety, the second part of this podcast series explores "learner safety" in instructional diving settings. Learner safety involves creating an environment where students and team members feel safe to make mistakes as they learn new skills and knowledge. To foster learner safety, adopting a "student mindset" is crucial, emphasizing that learning is a lifelong journey and no one reaches permanent competency. Sharing what you are learning with enthusiasm and optimism can inspire others to do the same, while sharing past mistakes and the lessons learned from them encourages a culture of vulnerability and growth. Celebrating failures within defined limits is vital, recognizing that they are opportunities for learning and improvement. Additionally, asking for feedback at the moment of need and encouraging collaborative problem-solving contribute to learner safety, creating thinking divers who continually improve and push their boundaries in the world of diving.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2   Links: DEBrIEF template: https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief Why is it so hard to create a team quickly in diving, especially in classes?: Part One: Inclusion Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 Part Three: Contributor Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 Part Four: Challenger Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4 Tags:  - English Gareth Lock Leadership Psychological Safety Teamwork

Creating a team quickly in diving can be challenging due to the litigious nature of the sport, especially in the US, where instructors fear legal repercussions for acknowledging mistakes or deviations from standards. This fear hinders the development of psychological safety within a team. Psychological safety, defined as the shared belief within a team that it's acceptable to take interpersonal risks, plays a crucial role in diving, as every instructional dive is a team effort. To build psychological safety, it's essential to foster trust, humility, and good communication. Psychological safety consists of four stages: inclusion safety, learning safety, contributor safety, and challenger safety. This podcast series explores each stage in detail, beginning with inclusion safety, which involves making everyone feel included, moving to mutual discovery, defining and communicating the team's purpose and values, active listening, following through on commitments, and forbidding personal attacks. These practices promote inclusion and ultimately enhance team cohesion and safety in diving.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1   Links: Amy Edmonson’s book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fearless-Organization-Psychological-Workplace-Innovation/dp/1119477247/ About Prospect Theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospect_theory Timothy Clark’s book https://www.amazon.co.uk/4-Stages-Psychological-Safety/dp/1523087684/ Why is it so hard to create a team quickly in diving, especially in classes? Part Two: Learner Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 Part Three: Contributor Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 Part Four: Challenger Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4   Tags:  - English Gareth Lock Leadership Psychological Safety Teamwork