Safe As Podcast

Can AI help us identify critical safety blind-spots before disaster? Part 2 interview with Professor Robin Dillon-Merrill (Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business), who unpacks her 20+ years of research on decision-making under risk, outcome bias, and how organizations misinterpret near misses. We discuss:a) why near-miss biases shape human decision-making & how we can build robust...

Today we unpack a study tracking 1,422 procedural steps across 40 petrochemical operations. Using their Skip-Order-Action (SOA) Framework, they explored how frontline personnel navigate written instructions in practice: revealing that roughly 1/3 of steps depart from prescribed methods even when tasks are completed successfully. We explore how: a. the SOA framework functions b. how workers using p...

What happens when a high-authority automated system operate with an incorrect model of reality? This question is explored via Dekker & Woods’ (2024) article on automated systems that are Strong, Silent, and Wrong. We explore the breakdown of human-automation coordination, mode confusion, and automation surprises, using the Boeing 737 MAX MCAS accidents as a central example. Learn how complex s...

Can fatigue cause visual blindness in plant operators and drivers? In this video, I review a 2019 study from Li et al. (Automation in Construction) who used wearable eye-tracking tech to measure how prolonged excavator operation / time-on-task fatigue impacts hazard detection and visual attention. Namely, whether the operators notice workers walking behind the excavator over a shift. Key findings:...

Do we routinely mistake good luck with systemic resilience – until something blows up? Today I speak with Professor Robin Dillon-Merrill (Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business), who breaks down her 20+ years of research on decision-making under risk, outcome bias, and how organizations misinterpret near misses. We discuss: • The differences between resilient vs vulnerable near misses...

Does a Human & Organizational Performance (HOP) initiative improve learning and the quality of actions? And what happens when the initiative stops? This quickisode unpacks Christopher Mastrangelo’s 2026 Master’s thesis examining a multi-year HOP implementation at a large biopharmaceutical company. His project tracked operational data from 2020 through July 2025 across key metrics: a. deviation...

In a 5-year petrochemical study examining over 1,400 work steps, 1/3 were performed differently from what was written in the procedure, but every task was completed successfully. Is this non-compliance or a display of worker aptitude and resilient skill? In Part 2 of our series on procedures, we look beyond the "100% compliance" rhetoric and unpack the gap between work-as-imagined (WAI)...

Do traditional approaches unintentionally blame front-line workers instead of fixing broken organisational systems? This Quickisode unpacks how an international energy company redesigned its Just Culture (JC) framework to shift focus from individual culpability to systemic weaknesses. This company found that traditional approaches relied on judgement terminology, like violation or negligence, and...

Part 2 discussion with Dr Linda Bellamy on SIFs, fatal accidents, and barrier failures. Resources & Links:Website & Articles: https://safetyinsights.orgSupport the channel: https://buymeacoffee.com/benhutchinson

Do your investigations often conclude when you've identified 'human error', or a pesky person not following rules? Do you want to improve the quality and depth of your learning opportunities? One way is via local rationality: understanding why decisions & actions made sense to people at the time. It's a core feature in human factors / safety-II / and Human and Organizational Pe...

Why are so many procedures technically accurate, but barely workable in practice? In Part 1 of this two part series on procedural systems, we unpack the technical side of writing better, more useable procedures: exploring how to reduce safety clutter, choosing the right type of rule, and structure instructions so they support work. We unpack:• Types of rules: performance goal vs. process vs. actio...

This quickisode races through a Safety-II / HOP inspired debrief tool which can help unearth 'hidden' insights about work that doesn't rely on incidents for learning. Resources & Links:Website & Articles: https://safetyinsights.orgSupport the channel: https://buymeacoffee.com/benhutchinson

Is there a relationship between fatal and minor hazard exposures? Recent SIF research & movements suggest 'NO' - what kills people aren't the same as what hurts them. But is that scientifically accurate? Part 1 discussion with Dr Linda Bellamy, who undertook perhaps the largest study of this kind exploring the connection - and, there ** is ** a connection. We discuss barrier/contro...

A bowtie or critical control register may be useful tools, but they aren't the work. In Part 4 of this series, I unpack what control / barrier models can leave out: e.g. changing conditions, competing goals, control dependencies, unintended consequences and the adaptations people make to keep work functioning. I also explore how controls can change the systems they are introduced into, why mor...

Today I interview Dr Marcin Nazaruk, who shares his practical experience and research on learning from normal work / daily work, HOP / New View / Safety-II, to improve learning and risk management. The discussion also explores themes around risk controls, work constraints, risk assessments, and error traps. Support the channel: https://buymeacoffee.com/benhutchinson

How do we set realistic and effective human performance expectations in our barrier approaches? In part 1 we looked at definitions of controls and barriers, whereas in part 2 we explored a deeper dive into their applications and escalation factors. This episode unpacks a few key sources to explore critical human factors and human performance considerations for barrier / control systems. Website &a...

Today I interview Dr Marcin Nazaruk, who shares his practical experience and research on learning from normal work / daily work, HOP / New View / Safety-II, to improve learning and risk management. The discussion also explores themes around risk controls, work constraints, risk assessments, and error traps. Support the channel: https://buymeacoffee.com/benhutchinson

How do we translate a paper barrier system into one that's functional and verified as effective? Whereas part 1 looked at key definitions of control, barrier, safeguard, support, and verification activity - this episode dives deeper into the use of such frameworks. In particular, we unpack escalation / degradation / erosion factors, and the necessary support mechanisms to ensure controls work...

Part 2 of our interview with Dr. Guido Carim Junior, Associate Professor of Aviation, pilot, researcher, and safety scientist. We pick up the conversation with digital checklists, examining the potential role of AI and how "smart" features risk narrowing human decision-making rather than supporting it. Guido shares critical thoughts on the line between genuine organizational resilience a...

Is that a control, barrier, safeguard, support, or verification activity? Is it an object, a human act, a system or just a procedure? Does it actually address the hazardous energy, or does it sound good on paper? If we label every single checklist and administrative task a "critical control," do we risk diluting the operational focus required to prevent high-consequence events? If everyt...

Interview with Guido part 1

When you're standing on the front line making an operational call, risk doesn't come with a green or red light. You have to make a binary decision: stop or go. We don't necessarily make it easy for our decision-makers to make good, defendable decisions. This video unpacks Andrew Hopkins’ 2011 Safety Science article, "Risk Management & Rule Compliance: Decision-making in hazard...

On April 15, 2010, BP CEO Tony Hayward reassured shareholders that the company was safer and more efficient than ever. Five days later, the Deepwater Horizon disaster happened. This video unpacks a study that evaluated CEO speeches and how rhetoric and slogans can be disconnected with actual behaviour and resourcing. It explores how relentless cost-cutting and corporate rhetoric set the stage for...

In 1994, two US Air force F15 fighters shot down two friendly US Army Black Hawk helicopters. This event shouldn't have been possible: there were experts, radio communications, radar, AWACS and more. However, this isn't a tragedy due to human error or a lack of safeguards, it happened in spite of the safeguards. This episode unpacks a few findings from the seminal book from Scott Snook cal...

Can our safety reporting and indicators mask signals that organizations are drifting to major accident? This episode unpacks two reports from O'Neill and colleagues looking at the pitfalls of safety reporting measures, and also explores weaknesses in annual safety reports - particularly how reports may be 'safewashing'. More research at SafetyInsights. Org Intro/Output "Dark Synth...