For some, the term “observation,” as typically used in safety, has a negative connotation. It is often associated with checklists and a search for “bad behaviors” in need of correction. Clumsily conducted worker-focused observations/inspections can easily appear patronizing and leave … Read More
Author Archives: Jim Loud
How’s It Really Going: The Importance of Management Observations
How often after a significant incident does your management act surprised? “We had no idea,” or “We have a really low TRIR rate; how could this have happened to us?” Well, of course, surprises do happen. But far too often … Read More
Are Your Corrective Actions Really Fixing Your Problems?
Many highly successful companies are actively looking for trouble and are pleased when they find it. These companies know that you can’t improve if you don’t know what to improve. They establish various work feedback loops, encourage their managers to … Read More
Get Control of Your Corrective Actions
If you hope to limit repeat incidents, regulatory non-compliances, lawsuits, and serious incidents you need a robust corrective management system. Audits, incident investigations, inspections, assessments and worker input all generate action items. Larger companies may have several thousand to deal … Read More
Don’t Confuse Compliance with Safety
The view of safety as little more than employee obedience to the rules may be old school but it remains foundational in the safety practice. Shortly after the Three Mile Island nuclear incident, E.L. Zebroski, a nuclear safety analyst, performed … Read More
