Embracing Differences

Do you believe in Zero Harm? Is that your goal for avoiding injuries and ensuring safety of your people? Is that an expectation imposed upon your organisation?Here is a true story and an attempt to challenge the Zero Harm ideology prevalent in almost all safety critical industries. Earlier this year, I interviewed a seafarer whose brother went missing at sea. We don’t know under what circumstances Captain Mathew (name anonymised) went missing or, if you like, what was the cause of this accident. Unfortunately, the sea does not provide many answers but this painful story, told from his brother’s perspective who also happens to be a seafarer, reveals the dark side of the Zero Harm ideology. There’s a lot of debates and discussions in the risk and safety industry whether Zero should be a goal or not. There are practitioners, academics and researchers who believe that there is nothing wrong with having Zero as an aspiration. I hope that this story will serve to slow people down and think about how a seemingly aspiring goal translates into practice in global shipping. I call it a true story but it is shaped by my biased and subjective views. True only to the extent that some may find resonance with this story while others find it deeply uncomfortable.This story touches upon several themes:The unintended effects of absolute and binary goalsWhy perfection (Zero) cannot be a goal to motivate fallible humans.Why compassion, empathy, listening and understanding cannot coexist with absolute and binary goals?Why safety inspections, audits and investigations are so far from an objective exercise?And finally, the entire culture of the risk and safety industry is based on the idea of harm aversion. The power of this story lies in understanding how the ideology of harm aversion translate into practice. More specifically, absolute goals such as Zero Harm lead to more harm in a risk-averse society.  This story was first published in the book, 51 stories in Culture, co-authored by Dr Nippin Anand and Dr Robert Long. Link to the book: https://novellus.solutions/product/51-stories-in-culture-to-live-and-to-be/

The conversation delves into the complex nature of safety as a value within organizations. Through a personal narrative from a young woman aboard a ship, it highlights the gap between theoretical safety values and real-life experiences. The discussion challenges listeners to reconsider how personal realities shape their understanding of safety, justice, and integrity. It emphasizes that while safety is often declared as a value, the unpredictable nature of human behavior complicates this notion.

This podcast is based on the work of the American Anthropologist Ernest Becker's perennial thesis - 'the denial of death'. In this podcast, Professor Sheldon Solomon explains how death anxiety, which is unique to the human species, leads to a quest for meaning, self-esteem and cultural worldviews. Solomon explains why it is so important for us take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding culture and why we must synthesise the wisdom of ages and sages and combine it with science if we truly want to make sense of human behaviour. YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecYC_Y1UnE8

In less than 12 hours, President Trump blamed that DEI was behind the Washington mid-air collision. How did Trump connect so many dots at the speed of light and establish what went wrong with such conviction? And why do so many buy into this DEI ideology as the cause of the accident? In this podcast, I suggest that the president is using fear of death to heighten public anxiety, create a divide and spread hatred in the society.  We will discuss: Why do humans fear death? How do we react and how do we relate with others when we are confronted with death? How does this explain President Trump’s reaction to Washington midair collision?

Myth busting i.e. viewing a myth as a false story, is a political ideology. It is not science. Myth busting creates differences and it spreads hatred in the society. In a culturally diverse society, understanding myth busting is our pathway to cultural intelligence and improving our relationships with others. In this podcast, I will explain what is a myth and why myth busting should concern the risk and safety industry and our society at large. What are the dangers of myth busting and how we can avoid falling into this trap.    We will discuss: What is a myth? A short story of a myth. What is the power of a myth? What is myth busting? Why myth busting is an ideology (not science)? Why myth busting should concern us?  

In this engaging discussion, Kathleen Mahoney, a human rights expert, and Larry Philip Fontaine, a former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, delve into the historical impact of the Canadian residential school system. They explore the need for cultural understanding and the significance of resilience among Indigenous communities. The conversation also highlights the importance of empathy, storytelling, and culturally aware approaches to justice and safety. Their insights emphasize the transformative power of acknowledging past traumas to foster healing and reconciliation.

John Soria, a young seafarer, shares his gripping experience of falling into a tank, opening the door to a rich discussion on human decision-making. The conversation dives into how cognitive errors occur in high-pressure situations and emphasizes the need for deeper understanding beyond a mere brain-focused approach. Soria stresses the importance of communication and relationships in preventing accidents, while also exploring the impact of unconscious decision-making. His insights shed light on learning from our mistakes through storytelling and empathy.

In this engaging discussion, Francisco Scatino, the former captain of the Costa Concordia, shares his unique perspective on the infamous 2012 sinking. He delves into what constituted 'normal practices' in the cruise industry and how these beliefs can lead to catastrophic decisions. The conversation shifts to the cultural dynamics of safety management, emphasizing the need for understanding human behavior in high-risk environments. Scatino's anecdotes illuminate the complexities of navigation, safety protocols, and the normalization of risky maneuvers in maritime operations.

The guest, an experienced ship captain involved in the 2012 Costa Concordia disaster, shares insights into the critical dynamics of communication and authority on the bridge. The discussion delves into why competent officers failed to speak up, emphasizing the role of framing in shaping perceptions of the tragedy. The captain critiques existing narratives around psychological safety and explores how hierarchical structures may silence voices. Listeners gain a nuanced appreciation of the complexities of decision-making in high-stakes scenarios and the importance of rethinking our assumptions about risk and safety.

Rosa Antonia Carrillo, an expert in risk management and organizational behavior, joins the discussion to unveil the transformative role of mindfulness. They explore how cultivating self-awareness can enhance risk reduction in healthcare and beyond. Rosa emphasizes the significance of 'weak signals' in organizations and how mindfulness sharpens our ability to detect them. Additionally, the duo highlights the power of workplace friendships, revealing how genuine connections foster personal growth and improve team dynamics, ultimately leading to a safer, more empathetic workplace.