PreAccident Investigation Podcast

Safety Moment - Improving Safety by Recognizing Who Was Not Surprised

The next time you experience a potential failure or safety issue, pause and ask, "Who, within the working sphere, wasn't surprised by that?" Todd Conklin hosts the Pre-Accident Investigation Safety Moment podcast episode and emphasizes this query's importance. Unexpected safety issues or near-miss incidents can sometimes be anticipated by individuals targeted in your work environment, and recognizing these signals can guide you to improve precautions.Understanding that some employees weren't startled by the risks and closely examining these situations is key. Significantly, however, creating a psychologically safe atmosphere is crucial to encourage employees to communicate freely and genuinely. This episode aims at creating an environment where employees feel secure enough to admit that the eventual risk was foreseeable.Conklin further points out that fully grasping these 'low-level' or 'weak' signals and timely risk identification can prevent potential disasters. It therefore becomes the leadership's responsibility to ensure these almost unnoticeable signs aren't neglected and, instead, are proactively addressed. It also means refining the company's sensitivity towards detecting these quiet alarms earlier rather than after mishaps.Once safety risks are acknowledged, learning from them and implementing the necessary measures to avert future occurrences is the following step. An essential part of this process is identifying what employees specifically anticipated might go wrong. The information established as a result is valuable data that will drive safety advancement within the organization.This informative yet intriguing episode emphasizes the significance of continuous learning, mutual respect, fun, kindness, and above all, safety in the workplace. Join us on this safety-focused episode and learn how to improve your organization's safety approach today.

PAPod 493 - A 20 Year Look Back at Fundamentals of Human Performance

In this engaging episode, Todd revisits the genesis and evolution of the 'Fundamentals of Human Performance' class developed over 20 years ago at the Department of Energy at Los Alamos National Laboratory with teammates Martha Costa, Andrea Baker, and Bob Edwards. Together they reflect on the journey of this revolutionary concept, its global influence on safety practices, and the power of innovative thinking within a small group of committed individuals. The conversation provides an intimate look at the origin of their ideas, their growth, and their impact. It's more than a trip down memory lane; it's a testament to their ongoing commitment to global safety practices and standards.
Todd and his guests also delve into their transition from operational learning to 'Learning Teams' within their organization. Despite skepticism and pushback, they highlight their struggles, successes, and the lessons learned in implementation. They candidly discuss the stumbling blocks faced, such as blame culture, and how they ultimately successful in overcoming these issues. This segment encapsulates their views on accountability as a group effort, their learning experiences, and the evolution of their methodology over time.
The episode also hones in on some of their most groundbreaking solutions, including innovative ways to address efficiency issues. These industry trailblazers share their unforgettable 'eureka moments', the initial frustrations, and the broad impact they have had on an array of workplaces. The conversation intertwines their professional achievements with their heartfelt personal sentiments, providing listeners with a deeply moving and inspiring journey.
The episode winds up with a discussion on the joy of bringing about change and how credit becomes secondary when the true reward is the ability to make a difference. Tune in for a mix of thought-provoking stories, personal reflections, and insights into a journey of professional innovation that changed the dynamics of safety practices globally.

Safety Moment - Enlightening Insights for Leaders

In this enlightening episode, Todd Conklin explores the paradoxical concept that as a leader, not knowing can actually be a superior position to knowing. Sounds contrarian? Not in the slightest once you understand the reasoning behind it.The tenet of this discussion is founded on the notions of cognitive and confirmation biases - biases we unknowingly nurture. You might be wondering, "How is ignorance beneficial to a leader?" It's simple. Admitting ignorance gives you the licence to learn, often leading to you shedding your ego while entering a prolific phase of self-improvement.However, there is a common misconception that acts as a stumbling block for many leaders. It is the belief that displaying any form of ignorance is a sign of weakness, possibly raising questions about their competence. This episode aims to debunk such misconceptions, arguing that there is immense value in conceding ignorance and turning it into a powerful tool for learning.This intriguing discussion is topped with insights drawn from the scientific world, where every experiment stems from a state of not knowing. These scientists, open to learning and discovering, create fruitful research environments led by the spirit of curiosity and ignorance. Their attitude emphasizes the potency of not knowing – it propels you into a position where learning is more than just acceptable, it is actively sought after.Join us in this episode to challenge your preconceived notions and learning to embrace the unknown. Let's remember that every day brings new opportunities to learn, have fun, show kindness to one another, and most importantly, keep safe!

PAPod 492 - An Insightful Conversation with Georgina Poole and Sidney Dekker

In the recent episode of the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast, we unveil a new voice in the safety scene, Georgina Poole. Teaming up with Sidney Dekker, Georgina provides fresh insights into understanding a firm's safety performance in their new book "Random Noise."
The book brings a deep dive into the complexities of measuring safety within an enterprise. An insightful exploration, "Random Noise" is all set to burst common misconceptions about safety metrics and their importance, helping businesses enhance their comprehension and utilization of the same.
With Georgina's first-hand experiences within the mining, oil, and gas sectors, and their profound journey of writing this book, they expose the critical aspects at the convergence of safety, performance and metrics. The book also points towards the repercussions of overemphasizing safety records.
Filled with thought-provoking discussions on multilingual safety books, total recordable incident rates, injury frequency rates among other topics, this podcast episode presents an enlightening talk on the necessity, validity and challenges of safety metrics.
The transcript reveals some surprising revelations, curated statistics, and thorough research studies revolutionizing safety methods globally. The conversation unearths the implications of safety protocols across diverse industries, the potential for manipulation or failure, and the significance of sustainability in safety implementation.
This conversation will certainly inspire professionals, management-level leaders and safety enthusiasts. It behooves a global shift in risk and safety management, while providing a preview into the creation and successful launch of a safety book addressing these potent issues.
Ready for a renewed perspective on global safety measures? Engross yourself in the valuable insights and compelling experiences shared in this transcript.

Safety Moment - A New Perspective in Safety Management

In this informative episode from Pre-Accident Investigation Safety Moment, Todd Conklin presents an invigorating discussion on the contrasting concepts of recovery and restoration in the realm of safety management. While at first glance, these terms may seem interchangeable, Conklin explains that they imbibe very different meanings.Recovery, as Conklin describes, is about bringing a system back to its original state post disruption. On the other hand, restoration brings in an evolved perspective. It goes beyond mere recovery by probing deeper into three significant queries - identifying what or who has been harmed, determining what needs to be done for improvement, and assigning accountability for ensuring necessary actions.According to Conklin, the true efficacy of restoration surfaces during challenging times such as the last four years of continuous change and uncertainty. It has been observed that organizations employing a restorative approach have bounced forward rather than simply bouncing back, arriving at a configuration that is distinct, better suited to the changing environment, and in many ways, superior.Encouraging listeners to mull over these ideas, Conklin concludes his insightful session with a safety moment. In line with his belief in continuous learning and fostering goodness and safety, this episode provides an enlightening perspective on the multifaceted nature of safety management.

PAPod 491 - Empirical Vs Emotional Decision Making with Drew Rae

In this enlightening podcast episode, Todd delves into resonant discussions on safety practices with guest expert, Drew Rae, professor at Griffith University and authority in safety science. Discover riveting debates on the essence and future of safety science, inconsistencies in research practices and the intriguing topic of safety culture.
Witness how the conversation deepens as they unmask the contentious topic of Empirical vs. Emotional Decision-making in safety. Delve into revealing anecdotes on how empirical evidence is often overlooked, organizations resist change and hold on to traditional practices despite concrete proof. Drew stresses on the enormous value of evidence-backed decisions, shedding light on an intriguing case of deep-rooted emotional decision-making.
The discourse then shifts onto the dynamic dimension of 'Safety Science'. Through intense discussion, they explore its multidisciplinarity, veneering of its indispensable role in credible research's foundation. They scrutinize the pitfalls stemming from the lack of expertise in peer-reviews and flaws in research designs in the field.
Drew gladly shares his focus on the role of digital transformation research and the amalgamation of safety with other aspects of organizational expansion and technology adoption. He also articulates the challenges faced by 'Safety Science' in registering itself in universities, highlighting the necessity of industry collaborations for the evolution and continuity of research.
This episode offers a deeper understanding of making effective safety decisions within an organizational framework and keeps you abreast of emerging research in Safety Science. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by organizational behavior, safety decision-making, and 'Safety Science' as a unique domain.

Safety Moment - The Vital Relationship Between Risk and Control

Welcome to this episode of Pre-Accident Investigation Safety Moment, with your engaging host, Todd Conklin. In this insightful talk, Todd delves into the theory that simply identifying risks isn't enough to ensure safety and efficiency.He emphasizes the importance of understanding what's risky and critical, acknowledging this as vital data. However, he coins the term "necessary but not sufficient" to explain that knowing what's risky alone is not enough. Instead, Todd stresses the critical need to match risk with control, posing it as a requisite approach for mitigation, barrier, or safeguard implementation.Todd elucidates how the relationship between risk and control within a system is crucial for maintaining balance. Identifying an imbalance in this relationship translates to a problem that not only impedes the system's reliability but also its efficiency. He further explains the interconnectedness and coexistence of robustness, reliability, and efficiency—basing all on the identification of risk.Todd criticizes traditional safety methods that solely focus on hazard identification and encourage workers to be careful as inadequate. Instead, he insists on the indispensability of risk identification matched with efficient control as the ideal safety approach.In this spirited safety moment, Todd imparts profound insights that challenge normative thinking on safety methodologies. He emphasizes the need for both fun and safety at work, advocating for kindness and care among all workers. Whether you’re a health and safety professional or just someone aiming for a safer workspace, this is a must-hear episode.

PAPod 490 - A Panel Discussion on Safety Practices

Discover the art of managing effective panel discussions, understanding complex topics like accountability, and handling leadership roles in safety podcasts. This episode of the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast features insights from Zoe Nation, Martha Acosta, and Andrea Baker as they dive deep into the nuances, challenges, and importance of individual and collective accountability.
Join an engaging conversation between four safety professionals about accountability in complex systems. Learn how accountability acts as the bonding thread in any organization, defining the clarity and complexity of daily operations. Also, discover how effective accountability practices can redefine the culture of a workplace.
Much attention is paid to the role of accountability in restorative and retrospective contexts. The panelists explore why leaders place staggering importance on accountability and how it influences their leadership practices. Aptly, the discussion attempts to reinterpret the concept of accountability, presenting it as a proactive process rather than a punitive tool. Probing the provocative question, 'if not traditional accountability, then what?' is another highlight of the episode.
The episode also explores the transformative roles of empathy and accountability in modern work environments. We delve into the three core tenets of empathy - curiosity, vulnerability, and compassion - and explore how these attributes contribute to creating safer, more cohesive workplaces.
Moreover, the discussion debunks the common misconception that empathy equates agreement; more often, true empathy leads to healthier debates and better ideas. The shift towards remote work, generational changes, and the emphasis on diversity are reshaping leadership, underlining the need for systemic changes in leadership training.
By honing the emphasis on providing leaders with the right answers so that they can ask the right questions, an atmosphere of growth and learning can be cultivated. Listen in to this compelling episode for invaluable insights into empathy's role in leadership and workplace dynamics.

Safety Moment - Integration and Competency in Safety Practices

In this insightful episode, host Todd Conklin delves into an essential concept underpinning functioning safety practices in organizations. He emphasizes the need for competence in implementing innovative, quality safety measures through a quote that encapsulates the episode's primary message: "You can't have integration without competency."Throughout the podcast, Conklin engages listeners with his vibrant delivery, reiterating the impossibility of effective integration without the foundational competency within an organization. The discussion takes listeners through the necessity of not just the adoption of new safety ideas but also the critical role of skill and expertise in making them work within an existing infrastructure.In seeking a way to convey this crucial relationship to the audience, he recounts a moment of realization, when an acquaintance's words ring true: "You can't have integration without competency." He considers this one of the most significant messages he has ever imparted, touching on the core principle of integrating safety, quality, production, operations, and financial measures in a way that strikes at the heart of effective management within any organization.To conclude the safety moment, Conklin's message resonates with advice on personal progression and interpersonal relations. Listing essential values such as learning, fun, kindness, and safety, he rounds off the episode on a positive, unified note.

PAPod 489 - A Deep-diving Conversation with Sidney Decker

Unlock a whole new perspective on safety, accountability, and the transformative power of forgiveness in the professional realm with this insightful podcast episode. Sit in on a meaningful conversation with Sidney Decker, prolific Griffith University professor, as he skilfully unravels the 'don't blame' approach in companies and its deep tie-ins with learning.This discussion moves beyond the commonplace views on safety and accountability to place forgiveness at the fore. The narrative seamlessly weaves in elements from literature and philosophy to help demystify the intricate concepts of blame and forgiveness. It powerfully contests the conventional wisdom with a bold proposition: that forgiveness fuels learning, in direct contrast to the prevailing belief that blame hampers it.Enter into the complex world of forgiveness—not a weak act but a formidable force of evolution within an organization. This world opens the gates to learning and betterment for all members. From engaging banter to the nuances of drafting a 'don't blame' policy, we explore diverse experiences all centered around the conviction that the professional world should become a platform for learning and forgiving.This episode goes beyond imparting reflective moments to engaging listeners in a riveting dialogue on unexplored facets of their professional lives. Join our enriching dialogue between host Todd Conklin and Sidney Decker for deep insights.The episode illuminates profound aspects of crisis management as Sidney Decker delves into topics of atonement, forgiveness, and resilience. These conversations provide a fresh human-centered perspective to handling workplace tragedies and issues, steering clear from a detached, mechanical approach. Sidney Decker's wisdom from his latest book, 'Stop Blaming, Create a Restorative Just Culture', underscores human resilience, and the vital role of compassion and kindness in shaping a healthier work environment. The podcast touches upon self-forgiveness, broadening the discourse on workplace errors, and the role of spiritual resilience in crisis scenarios.It also sparks intriguing questions about guilt, shame, and the necessity for a healing, emotionally supportive culture amidst the capitalist world. Enhance your comprehension of crisis management dynamics with this stirring discussion, tailor-made for leaders and organizations aiming to cultivate a more forgiving, restorative atmosphere in their workplace.